UW gets boost from review of program

The University of Washington released findings Thursday from an outside study of its athletic department, a so-called “culture review” that was ordered by former president Lee Huntsman in the wake of several high-profile problems.

The review was handled by former NCAA president and ACC commissioner Gene Corrigan and former Texas Tech and Tulsa president Robert Lawless, former chairman of the NCAA’s executive committee and presidents commission.

According to a university news release, the report found that more faculty were supportive of athletics than were opposed. Investigators found “substantial support” from the faculty for students who are involved in athletics.

The report will be presented to the university’s regents today.

Corrigan and Lawless told Huntsman: “Our quick conclusion is that your athletics program and its culture, in relation to the rest of the university, is better than you might think.”

Washington’s athletic department has been rocked by a series of embarrassing events over the past 15 months.

Among the most glaring — the firing of football coach Rick Neuheisel for gambling on the NCAA basketball tournament, and the disclosure that a now-departed compliance officer issued an erroneous interpretation of NCAA rules against gambling.

The softball program had a team physician who has been accused of improperly handing out powerful prescription narcotics to players for years. Softball coach Teresa Wilson subsequently was fired.

In January, athletic director Barbara Hedges retired early.

Since last summer, the university has installed new leadership in president Mark Emmert and athletic director Todd Turner.

It’s official: Paus will start

Sorting out Washington’s quarterback situation, junior Casey Paus will be the starter Saturday against UCLA, with freshman Carl Bonnell in reserve and sophomore Isaiah Stanback likely unavailable, Huskies coach Keith Gilbertson confirmed to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Unlike previous days, Gilbertson showed no reluctance in defining roles for his three quarterbacks as the Huskies head into their Pac-10 Conference opener.

Paus “doesn’t have to go out there and be Dan Fouts,” Gilbertson said. “… but it has to be better than it was.”