College Football - Dawgs Show tusks, Washington Classified 3rd disorders USC Trojans, 16-13

Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley

One month Saturday hit the calendar when the Southern California Trojans traveled north to Seattle recently to 0-12 last year against the Washington Huskies.

Yes, Southern California is currently ranked No. 3 in the nation in the AP Top 25 Poll. Even Coaches Poll Top '25 had their number 3. And yes, the Trojans had beaten No. 8-ranked Ohio State 18-15 a week earlier in a last minute drive by its new, first-year wunderkind quarterback Matt Barkley.

Southern California USC heading to another typical season, at least 11 wins and BCS bowl aspects of the game for 7 consecutive years most successful football program in the country during the current streak. Much of the success story was USC Steve Sarkisian, his offensive coordinator, and Nick Holt, his defense coordinator.

But that was 7 years ago. This year, both Holt Sarkisian and lack not only at USC, but it was the opponents as the Trojans flew north. When last year's success was said and done, Sarkisian took the job as head coach in Washington and brought along Holt. And the coaching changes have only all the difference in the world of the Huskies.

Washington was a team that had forgotten what it was to win, only the week before had beaten the Huskies Idaho, 42-23, to break a 15-game losing steak that was tied for the longest in Pac-10 Conference history. And now being asked to believe the impossible, which might not only decoding, but beat the mighty juggernaut of USC.

Never underestimate the difference coaching can make. Some sports experts dealing to make us believe that players are more important than the coaches. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is the hiring of coaches who train the players, not vice versa. Never, ever forget.

Sarkisian and Holt could decipher the steamroller of USC, but as much as any other, who had built next to Head coach Pete Carroll. Part of the genius of Carroll is hiring good people like Sarkisian and Holt. Now the University of Washington, Mark Emmert and athletic director Scott Woodward had done the same.

The results have been nothing short of amazing. In three games under the new coaching staff that he inherited a 0-12 team, Washington broke a streak of 15 games, upset No. 3 ranked USC 16-13, and jumped into the AP Top 25 Poll at No. 24. The ranking was the return to the first Huskies Top 25 since September 2003.

The game itself did not look good for Washington since the beginning. USC quickly ran up a 10-0 lead in their first two albums and made it look as easy as touching a high school team. The Trojans opened holes than a Mack truck could drive through, and USC accelerated back to runs of 38, 25 and 27 yards to set up a touchdown and a field goal.

It seemed that Washington may be defeated 50-0.

Then junior quarterback Jake Locker, Washington's most versatile player, completed passes of 12, 16, 14 and 18 to 4 yards of different receivers before taking it in from 4 yards for make it a game at 10-7. Two albums later, sophomore Erik Folk added a field goal 28 yards to tie the game at 10.

Once it became clear the Husky offense failed to score, their defense led by linebacker Donald Butler and Mason Foster used his newfound belief to dig in, stop progress of Troy, and let his teammates on the offensive Huskies go to work. Butler had a game-high 12 tackles (2 for losses), a forced fumble and intercepted a pass. Foster forced another fumble on a 4th and the game run-1, and 3 pass breakups, 2 of which are set out in the 3rd play.

USC near a favorite 3-touchdown, there were 3 units inside the end line 30 yards Husky turnovers, committed 8 penalties and had an 0-for-10 conversion rate on 3 down moves.

Neither team scored in the 3rd quarter, then Erik Folk added a 46-yard field goal yards to put Washington up 13-10. USC answered with a FG of 25 yards of his own to tie the game a second time at 13 with 4:07 to play.

Jake Locker, which is quickly becoming a pocket passer in the NFL for the first time in his career as a player, and then engineering and 63 yards 10 plays that consumed 4 minutes and 4 seconds leaving only 3 seconds left in the final game when Erik Folk made a 22-yard FG to win the game, 16-13.

It is called clock management by Steve Sarkisian, and the Huskies have not had a good game day coach in the field from the legendary "Dawgfather James" Don.

During the Final drive, criticism, locker was at his best, completing a 21-yard pass to Jermaine Kearse on a 3 and-15, running for 4 yards on a critical 3-2-and the game, completing a 9-yard pass to James Johnson, and complete a pass of 19 yards to Kearse. Locker was 21-for-35 (60%) for 237 yards on the day.

After his stunning upset victory, the Washington Husky football program was once again on the national radar, as evidenced by their movement in the AP Top 25 Poll.

So what is happening with these dogs? Many of them played in the same team last year that went 0-12. The difference is clearly the leadership and enthusiasm of the body led by coach Steve Sarkisian and Nick Holt.

The players now believe in the coaches, I believe in the new system, believe in themselves and understand their improvement is really about work, work and more work, and constant, unrelenting hard work.

An excellent example of getting players came after of Washington's first victory of the season against Idaho, when sophomore wide receiver Jermaine Kearse had this to say:

"The philosophy is, if you make plays, and play hard, you get more playing time. I tried to do everything right this week, and I was rewarded. "Amen, Jermaine, Amen. Work hard and play hard. Pay attention. Then work harder and play hard. And did I mention having fun? Fun? Yes, all this work Hard is just that.

It seems that Sarkisian has two rules for success. The first is: work hard, play hard, have fun and win. And the second rule? That would never forget the first rule.

Steve Sarkisian, who is an Armenian-Irish heritage, and is one of the most popular people in Seattle. It has opened the field training for a Husky and all, came to the boosters and fans, and welcomed back Husky heroes of yesteryear.

People already feel comfortable referring to him as "Sark". Sark nickname I give another-the hammer "Armenian". He is the coach with the Velvet Touch in hand and hammer in the other.

Week 6 NCAA College Football AP Top 25 Picks

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