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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Cool character

Fouch takes over Huskies with relaxed style

The Huskies are counting on Ronnie Fouch as he steps in for injured quarterback Jake Locker.  (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
By John Boyle Everett Herald

SEATTLE – When Ronnie Fouch took over the Washington offense from an injured Jake Locker last Saturday, Stanford did what any defense would do to a redshirt freshman coming off the bench.

The Cardinal brought lots of pressure.

But Fouch, who had just entered a close game with his team driving, recognized the pressure before it came. He audibled out of the third-and-8 pass play to an option run, and David Freeman took the pitch for 12 yards and first down, keeping alive an eventual touchdown drive.

“That was the game plan call,” said Fouch, a 6-foot-1, 209-pounder from Redlands, Calif. “Whenever we see that front that their defense was in, we were to audible to a speed option. So my first play I got in I had to run the game plan and run the show and act like I was meant to be out there, so I had to make that audible.”

The calm demeanor Fouch showed in that situation and for the rest of the game is why Washington players and coaches aren’t panicking despite losing Locker for six to eight weeks with a fractured thumb.

“He looked like a veteran out there Saturday,” said offensive coordinator Tim Lappano. “It was never too big for him. They blitzed him, all out, eight-man blitz the very first play he went in there. He made the check and pitched it off the end man and had a 12-yard first-down gain in a critical situation in the red zone. It’s not too big for him and he’s very confident.”

Facing reporters on Monday, the Huskies newly minted starting quarterback was equally composed, answering questions unemotionally, sounding unflappable.

“I’m pretty relaxed and confident,” he said. “I don’t think I’ll get too nervous, because I’ve been thrown in games where I haven’t been prepared to go. I’ve prepared for a lot of stuff now, and my mindset is just to beat Arizona right now.”

A calm Fouch is nothing new to those who know him. Fouch grew up around football, having a grandfather who played for USC and a father who played quarterback at University of Redlands. He’s been a quarterback since he was 8 years old and he long ago learned not to panic in big situations.

“He’s very levelheaded,” said Fouch’s mom, Rhonda, the athletic director at Redlands East Valley High School. “He’s been like that since he was young. He’s never been one to be overtly excited or a hyper amped-up, bouncing-off-the-walls kind of kid. He’s never been that way, that’s just his personality.”

But Fouch is more than just a cool customer hoping to complete a few passes until Locker gets back. He wants to help the Huskies win, even if the team’s star quarterback is sidelined.

“It’s a tough loss, but we can’t give up now,” Fouch said. “We’ve only played four games. We’ve got a long season ahead of us still, so we’ve got to keep moving forward, and our main focus right now is Arizona. I’ve got to do whatever I can to get the ball in our playmakers’ hands and produce and put points on the board. So I’m just trying to get focused and ready to go against Arizona.”

Here’s a stat that ought to give a tiny glimmer of hope to Husky fans: Before Fouch took over at quarterback in high school, East Valley had a 2-47 record over the previous sevens seasons. In three years with Fouch running the offense, the Wildcats went 24-8-2. So he knows a thing or two about helping struggling programs right the ship.

Just how Fouch will perform as a starter remains to be seen, but it’s safe to say the Huskies will look a little different without Locker. Fouch isn’t a statue in the pocket, but he doesn’t run like Locker, meaning more work for the tailbacks and likely more passing as well. Though Lappano understandably didn’t want to go into details about any changes the offense might make this week, it’s a safe bet that Fouch will not lead the Huskies in rushing as Locker did in Washington’s first three games.