Milloy To Sit Out Sun Bowl

Iowa might want to consider running the ball up the middle in the Sun Bowl.

Washington coach Jim Lambright had that unlikely bit of advice for Hawkeyes coach Hayden Fry after receiving confirmation that two of the Huskies’ key defensive starters would be missing Friday’s game.

All-American free safety Lawyer Milloy, the team’s leading tackler with 115 stops this season, will be out because of a broken bone in his left foot. A sprained knee sustained in practice Dec. 17 will sideline defensive tackle David Richie.

“From the beginning, we’ve been a little scared of this,” Lambright said Wednesday.

He said the loss of the two would leave the 20th-ranked Huskies (7-3-1) vulnerable in the middle of the defense, creating a sort of tunnel that can be exploited by the Hawkeyes (7-4).

Lambright said Richie, who started all 11 games this season, is a key component of the Huskies’ run defense. He had 46 tackles and led the team in sacks with five.

Milloy, he said, is irreplaceable and his inability to play will be a disappointment to all his teammates.

“He’s played such a big role as a team leader,” said Lambright. “We’ll just try to move that role onto the sideline. He’ll be a cheerleader for us, a coach.”

Strong safety Tony Parrish will be shifted over to fill Milloy’s spot. Stephen Hoffmann will start in Richie’s place.

Milloy, a junior, who is trying to decide whether to forego his senior year and try to make the jump to the NFL, was philosophical when asked if he was disappointed about being robbed of an opportunity to play in a bowl.

“As long as my teammates have a smile on their face, I’ll be smiling,” he said.

He added he also had to consider the possible ramifications of playing with the injury, which occurred during the Huskies’ 33-30 victory over Washington State on Nov. 17.

“My health is more important than a bowl game,” Milloy said.

Milloy said a key was to rally around the younger players, something also mentioned by Lambright.