UW recalls big letdown

The losses have come a lot more frequently than wins in recent years, but Washington football players keep insisting that things are different, that the culture of Husky football is changing.

With Stanford in town Saturday, the Huskies will have a chance to prove it. It’s only fitting that this week’s game, a game that gives Washington a chance to prove the season is not lost, comes against the Cardinal.

Two years ago, a reeling Stanford team came to Seattle looking like a much-needed easy win for the Huskies. Washington was struggling, having lost five in a row after a 4-1 start, but Stanford was 0-9 that season and had lost 11 straight. Surely the Huskies could win that game and, with only the Apple Cup remaining, a 6-6 finish seemed possible.

Instead, the Huskies played one of their worst games in recent memory, losing 20-3 to Stanford in what would end up being the Cardinal’s only win that season.

“That game, that was a terrible game,” said senior fullback Luke Kravitz. “It was embarrassing, really. At that point, there was building within our team kind of an acceptance to the culture of losing. And it showed in that game more than ever. We were way better athletes and a way better team, so why did we lose, why were guys giving up?

“That was definitely one of those games that I can put my finger on as one of the worst games since I’ve been here.”

Kravitz said this year’s team won’t bottom out against Stanford like the 2006 Huskies did.

“Stanford has a good team this year, but the attitude is definitely changed on our team,” he said. “That’s not going to happen.”

Notes

Freshman defensive tackle Craig Noble, who missed fall camp and Washington’s first three games because he was academically ineligible, participated in his first practice. Despite the fact that Noble has missed so much time, head coach Tyrone Willingham and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said they have not ruled out the possibility of him playing this season. … Freshman tailback Chris Polk, who tore his labrum against BYU, was scheduled to have surgery on the shoulder injury Wednesday. He is expected to miss the season and will likely be granted a medical redshirt since he played in only two games. … Freshman cornerback Anthony Gobern, who suffered a shoulder injury early in fall camp that required surgery, has left school in what Willingham said is a mutual decision, and will reenroll when winter quarter begins in January. By enrolling after this season, Gobern will be a true freshman in 2009, rather than a redshirt freshman, which he would have been had he stayed in class and attended team functions. … Former walk-on receiver Charles Hawkins will be on scholarship again this season. Hawkins came to Washington as a walk-on from Graceland University in 2006 and earned a scholarship last season. It was renewed recently for the 2008 season.