Polk takes charge

SEATTLE – Keeping promises, it turns out, is not one of Steve Sarkisian’s best personality traits.

The University of Washington football coach has promised time and again this season that he’s going to give some of his backup running backs more playing time. The problem is, starter Chris Polk just won’t let him do it.

“It’s hard to take that kid out of the game when he ran the way he did,” Sarkisian said, referring to Polk’s 136-yard rushing performance in a 37-30 loss to Notre Dame on Saturday. “We’ve got to find a way – and I keep telling you (reporters), week in and week out, we’ve got to put those other guys in there. But in that game, again, it was hard to take him out.”

Polk has been making a believer out of the UW coaching staff all season long. Once regarded as part of a five-tailback rotation, Polk has emerged as the workhorse of the Huskies’ offense.

His 106 carries rank second in the Pac-10, trailing only Heisman hopeful Toby Gerhart of Stanford.

“I’m OK with it,” Polk said of carrying a heavy load in the UW backfield. “I like playing. But if I’m tired, I’m not going to stay in there. I’ll take a play off because I know we’ve got guys who can fill in.”

Polk, a redshirt freshman who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, has rushed for 452 yards – 24th in the nation.