Huard Looks Like Best, But Fortney To Start Huskies Loyal To Junior Qb As He Returns To Face Stanford

A perfect example of the incongruous relationship between the obvious and reality is Brock Huard.

Statistics say the redshirt freshman is the starting quarterback for the University of Washington, having passed for nearly twice as many yards and touchdowns as the guy ahead of him.

Videotape reveals the Huskies offense is more productive with Huard at the helm. The spread offense clicks and, under his guidance, Washington has scored on 7 of 17 drives (41 percent).

Common sense suggests that if he is indeed the quarterback of the future, why not play him now? He was the Pac-10 player of the week after a brilliant performance against Arizona in which he passed for 311 yards and three touchdowns in his first collegiate start.

However, statistics and awards count little at Washington.

“I talked to my brother (Damon) about this and he told me loyalty means so much at this place,” Huard said. “Around here, we do things differently.”

UW will stick with junior Shane Fortney, who twice beat out Huard for the job in spring and summer drills. He missed the Arizona game two weeks ago after hyperextending his right knee the previous game and Huskies coaches were adamant that players don’t lose their position because of injuries.

Fortney said he’s 95 percent healthy, but will wear a brace today against Pac-10 foe Stanford.

“I’m a little antsy; I haven’t played in three weeks,” said Fortney, who knows that all eyes will be on him.

Washington coach Jim Lambright said that if Fortney falters early, Huard will get the call.

At first, Fortney was amused by the situation, but admits it has worn thin. He doesn’t read newspapers or watch nightly news reports anymore.

“It’s not that I’ve been getting bad press, it’s just the kind of press that makes you feel the pressure,” Fortney said.

Fortney hasn’t been bad in the two games he’s played, but he hasn’t been great, either.

His only failure was an uninspired showing in the season-opener. But he had little support from a running game that accounted for 69 yards in the first half.

So far, no matter how well Fortney has played - 172 yards passing, 39 rushing and two TDs in a 29-17 win over Brigham Young - Huard has been better.

If the choice of quarterback were left to the players, most would opt for Fortney.

“I’d pick Shane because of experience and his ability to run,” receiver Fred Coleman said. “But when we’re in a 2-minute offense, I’d go with Brock. He’s a pure passer, able to read defenses before the snap and knows instinctively who should be open.”

The decision is Lambright’s alone and he made his choice.

Said Huard, “I can live with it, but I’d be lying if I said it’s not going to be different going back to the sidelines. It’s like now that you’ve tasted a little bit of something, you want more of it.

“But that’s not my role now, that’s Shane’s, and I can accept that.”