Accordingly, Criste was lightly recruited in high school.  Continuing the analogy, the Huskies, however, saw 400 meter potential other teams did not.  For starters, Criste played for Mission Viejo.

November 12, 2011; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Steve Sarkisian watches game action against the Southern California Trojans during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

Mission Viejo High School coach Bob Johnson has been a head coach for 42 seasons, and head coach at Mission Viejo for the last 13 during which his teams have won the league title 10 times, and were CIF champions three times.

“No, he was not highly recruited in high school,” said Johnson.  “There were a lot of lesser colleges interested in him but, besides Washington, only a couple of other Pac-10 schools.  But that was fine because Mike really liked it up there [U of W], and was very happy when he got the offer.  And I was happy for him.”

Mission Viejo High has more assistant coaches than most college teams.  Behind Johnson are two assistant head coaches – his sons Bret and Rob, both former NFL quarterbacks – as well as 10 additional position coaches, and a team physician, a team trainer, manager, assistant manager and two videographers.  Mission Viejo is possibly the best organized high school football program in southern California.

In 2010, Coach Johnson was named by the NFL as High School Coach of the Year, nominated by former Mission Viejo and now New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez.  Unsurprisingly, every year Mission Viejo sends players to Division I schools – last year they sent five.
In summary, Criste was well-coached in high school as evidenced by All-CIF Southern Section Pac-5 first team and All-State 2nd team honors his senior year.
What did Johnson believe the Huskies liked about Criste?

“I thought that his best was in front of him,” said Johnson, “and it would take a year or two for him to get to a point where he could make it into the rotation.  They [Washington coaches] really recruit hard here [Mission Viejo] and he’s an athlete.  He has feet – athletic as heck!  His brother was a swimmer and came close to making the Olympic team.”
Criste’s brother, John, a 6’ 6” All-American swimmer who holds the 100 and 200 meter breaststroke records for Stanford, competed in the Olympic trials. Obviously, athleticism runs in the family.  Washington coaches looked at Criste’s size and athleticism, and liked his long-term potential.

With that evident potential, why were other schools hesitant to recruit Criste?
“Increased strength was the biggest thing he had to achieve,” said Johnson.  “His pass blocking was always good.  He was a big kid with great feet but to be a good run blocker at that [Pac-10] level he had to get much stronger.  He’s smart, and doesn’t shy away from being physical; but he had to get stronger.”

In summary, the Husky coaches saw a large athlete with great upside potential if, as with most young linemen, he committed himself to the weight room.  The opportunity was there as was Strength Coach Ivan Lewis.  Then it was up to Criste to realize his God-given potential.
Now in the third season, Criste has grown stronger and practiced every position on the offensive line including center.  This ability and versatility were evident last Saturday when, due to injuries to Ben Riva and Erik Kohler, Criste started at right tackle.  It might have been premature because, while he’s cerebral, doesn’t take plays off, and moves well, strength-wise Criste may not be to the point of competing as a regular starter.

But that will come.

At the 200 meter mark, Mike Criste’s best is still well in front of him.

Colin Tanigawa (gohuskies.com)

Following recruiting is interesting.  Especially after the recruit has been in the program for a couple of seasons.  It’s then that the head coach’s talent evaluation ability often becomes most evident.

When Steve Sarkisian was named the U of W Head Coach, the first thing he did – immediately (snap your fingers) – was hire strength coach Ivan Lewis away from USC.

That was indicative of what USC and other coaching staffs thought of the Washington strength program.

Next Sarkisian evaluated the recruits who had verballed to the prior coaching staff, and told several they were not of the caliber Sarkisian needed – “low-hanging fruit,” as some said at the time.

The difficulty bringing good players on board continued as, of the recruits signed during Coach Steve Sarkisian’s first recruiting class, 2009, several, e.g., Daniel Mafoe and Johnny Tivao, did not make it into school while, of the remainder, others such as Kimo Makaula and Victor Burnett, are no longer with the program.  Of course, a few such as Desmond Trufant and Keith Price have done exceptionally well but Sarkisian obviously needed much more talent and soon.  As expected at that time, Sarkisian’s first real recruiting year would be 2010, and the staff was under extreme pressure to recruit excellent athletes both because of and in spite of the team’s previous dismal record.  For the Husky faithful, accurate talent evaluation had never been more important.

In that class, Sarkisian recruited several offensive linemen of which the best at the time was considered to be Colin Porter, now unfortunately retired due to injuries.  Recruiting analysts considered the next two best O-linemen to be Erik Kohler and Micah Hatchie.  The others were Michael Criste, James Atoe and Colin Tanigawa, all rated two-stars.

Criste verballed in January 2010, and video of Criste showed a player who had quick feet and played with intelligence.  There was definite upside there.

Although Tanigawa verballed earlier in October 2009, I never watched video of Tanigawa because there didn’t seem to be video accessible.  Atoe came as a surprise to everyone so video was also unavailable there.  As Husky fans recall, however, on signing day Sarkisian said the under-the-radar Atoe had the potential to be a first-round NFL draft choice by the end of his senior year of eligibility.  A favorable assessment.

Although what was about Tanigawa was also favorable, relatively little was said.

At the beginning of last season, when prominent sportswriters anointed Erik Kohler as starting weakside guard, with Porter at the other guard, I wrote that, based on his performance on the 2010 scout team, it was going to be very difficult to keep Tanigawa off the field.  He had been game-day captain twice while on the scout team where his play was indicative of what should follow during his redshirt freshman year.

Tanigawa moved into the starting position during fall camp and, until he was injured, never looked back.

A person who was not surprised was his coach at Loyola High, Adam Guerra, who said, “I would love it if all my players were like Colin.  He set an example for the rest of the team.  He would get to school at 6:00 a.m. and watch film.  He loved the weight room, loved the film room.  He never missed a practice and never did not practice.  I loved coaching Colin every day of the week.”

Loyola is an all-boys school off Venice Blvd. about a mile west of the Los Angeles Convention Center.  Guerra called Loyola “one of the elite high schools in southern California, comparable to Seattle Prep,” and indicated Loyola has had some pretty good athletes in the past but, in his opinion, none like Tanigawa.

“Colin’s parents are great, and their expectations were high.  So each year he got better and better.”  Although Tanigawa’s father played high school football, Colin is the first college athlete in his family, so he does not follow in the steps of an older brother or father in that regard.  Under Guerra’s coaching, Tanigawa simply developed a go-for-broke attitude that remains constant from one play to the next.

“Colin was always a very serious and quiet as a child,” said Colin’s mother, Pam.  “His fierceness was a pleasant surprise, and Coach Guerra was instrumental in positively directing Colin.”

“Colin never stopped until the whistle blew,” said Guerra.  “We would watch film and at the end you’d see a defensive player flying in the background after getting hit by Colin.  I cannot say enough about Colin.  He’s my favorite player of all the players I’ve ever coached.”

When watching Chris Polk’s inside runs last season, especially during the Colorado game, it was interesting how many times Polk followed Tanigawa – and it was impressive how many times Tanigawa had a hole open for Polk.

Last year, defensive tackle Alameda Ta’amu said that Tanigawa was extremely tough to practice against and, while stopping short of stating that Tanigawa was Washington’s best offensive lineman, in context that was the implication.

There are still those who believe Erik Kohler will take over at one of the guard positions this season.  With no disrespect for Kohler, look at the photograph at the top of this article.  Short of injury, it won’t be weakside guard.  Center Drew Schaefer is the senior O-line leader at center, no questions asked, and one of the best centers in the Pac-12.  But who is Washington’s best lineman?  Based on how Tanigawa has played in practice and in games during the past two seasons – and how quickly he was back in the starting lineup when fall practice began – if Tanigawa isn’t considered Washington’s best lineman, it will be difficult to explain why not.  He’s certainly Washington’s most underrated lineman.

But that should change this season.  Coach Sarkisian hit a homerun with Tanigawa.  With respect to recruit evaluation, Steve Sarkisian would look like the smartest football coach in America if every Washington two-star recruit turned out like Colin Tanigawa.

Colin Tanigawa will find a home on this front. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

March 10, 2011; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Scott Suggs (15) goes in for a shot against the Washington State Cougars during the second half of the quarterfinal round of the 2011 Pac-10 tournament at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

Saw it again.

“In spite of having two first round NBA draft picks and a potential future first-rounder in Aziz N’Diaye, the Huskies significantly underachieved last season.”

“Underachieved.”

A word used frequently to describe last season’s Dawgs.  That team had some talent but did not make it to the Dance.  So they “underachieved.”

Let’s be fair.  There was a moment where the bench was effectively Darnell Gant, Martin Breunig and Hikeem Stewart.  Senior Darnell Gant said, “Since I’ve been here, I can’t remember it ever being like this.”  Under those circumstances, it was a Godsend when Husky football tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins joined the basketball team.  Remember that?

C. J. Wilcox was hurt; Elston Turner and Clarence Trent had transferred; Isaiah Thomas went to the NBA; Tyreese Breshers retired due to injuries; Scott Suggs broke a toe and redshirted; Shawn Kemp had been out of basketball; and Jernard Jarreau and Andrew Andrews were redshirting.  The only depth was in Lake Washington.

But when two players get drafted in the first round, in hindsight many believe bigger things were possible during the season.

“Underachieved.”

And there has been another weakness bruited about.

Basketball historian John Halverson, when asked about the “team” phenomenon, said, “The right collection of players will beat a team of superstars who don’t play well together.  But talent is indispensable.  Ideally, you want a talented team that plays well together.  [Purdue’s] Rick Mount dropped 63 points on Iowa before the 3-pointer [was instituted] but Iowa won because Rick Mount really didn’t do too much else.  Larry Bird, on the other hand, took Indiana State from mediocrity to one of the best teams in the country because of his team-oriented versatility.”

Former Husky guard Tony Wroten was in the spotlight beginning in the eighth grade, and while his teams, e.g., Garfield High, would go far, still, that seldom-used word “underachieve” would occasionally come off the lexicon bench.  Some have suggested that at times Wroten’s presence at Washington was a disruption more than a means toward focus and team cohesion.  However, while the cohesion of, say, the ’79 Sonics, was never evident last season, it would be unfair to suggest the Husky team should have done better.  Considering the personnel issues mentioned above, Wroten and the Huskies did well.

Now Terrance Ross, Tony Wroten and Darnell Gant are gone.

Who’s left?  Which group would constitute the “right collection of players” next season?

While Aziz N’Diaye will most certainly be in the middle, Halverson says that N’Diaye “…is not as good as people think” and believes that Washington Head Coach Lorenzo Romar might have better success going “small,” complementing from a combination of, say, Abdul Gaddy, C. J. Wilcox, Scott Suggs, and Mark McLaughlin or Jernard Jarreau or Desmond Simmons.  Not enough size underneath?  Dennis Rodman, at 6’ 6”, led the NBA in rebounds-per-game for seven straight years, and was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year twice.  The Worm just did what needed doing.  Without Ross and Gant, a player with exceptional desire like Desmond Simmons, a high school work horse, may surprise people.

Nov 4, 2011; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies forward Jernard Jarreau (33) guards Seattle Pacific Falcons wing Scott Morse (right) during the game at Alaska Airlines Arena. Washington defeated Seattle Pacific 77-60. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

Inside scoring?  When the Husky Bigs scrimmage against each other, the most effective scorer is usually seldom-mentioned Jernard Jarreau because of his versatility.  Some fans have expressed hope that next season Jarreau will remind fans of Oklahoma Thunder forward Kevin Durant.  Durant?  Perhaps among current NBA players – but the comparison is still weak.  A better comparison might be a taller Keith/Jamaal “Silk” Wilkes who teamed with Bill Walton under John Wooden at UCLA.  The versatile but extremely slender Wilkes, at 6’ 6” 180 lbs., had a high basketball I.Q., a quick inside game, and a great outside shot.  When asked for the ideal player description, Wooden said, “I would have the player be a good student, polite, courteous, a good team player, a good defensive player and rebounder, a good inside player and outside shooter.  Why not just take Jamaal Wilkes and let it go at that.”

Is Jarreau as good as Wilkes?  No, but it is well to remember that at this stage in his development, neither was Wilkes.

In the late 1990s, the Sonics were terrible until the new coach Lenny Wilkens put together a revised lineup that included Jack Sikma, Marvin Webster, John Johnson and Gus Williams, none of whom played for Seattle the previous year.  None were superstars.  But they were a talented team that meshed and played well together both offensively and defensively – some said they “overachieved” – as results proved.

The prospect of Wilcox, Suggs, McLaughlin and Jarreau on the floor together would create considerable scoring possibilities, favorable defensive schemes, and there is enough height to do the job around the glass – although some, e.g., Wilt Chamberlain (who would know), say height is overrated, and to a certain extent that’s true.  For example, during past Husky games, 5’ 9” Isaiah Thomas occasionally led the Huskies in rebounding, as did 5’ 8” Nate Robinson.  As Dennis Rodman often demonstrated, positioning and desire go a long way.

If one group of the above Husky players is, as John Halverson said, the “right collection,” demonstrating above-average basketball I.Q., they could be a pleasure for fans everywhere to watch.  The odds of that happening?  Not high.  But that’s the funny thing about odds.

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

That it should come to this.  Unbelievable.  Washington playing in CenturyLink Field.

Well, I’ll come right out and say it: Seahawks fans are unprincipled and disgusting, and at the heart of the problem is CenturyLink Field.

For example, at the north end-zone bleacher-seat area, there is the infamous Hawks’ Nest that looks down on the field as well as field-level suites and undercover seating equal to 70 percent of the 67,000 fixed seats.  For those who do not yet know, the Hawks’ Nest is the NFL’s dedicated insane asylum, a psychiatrist’s candy store, specifically designed for the most undisciplined, immature fans – unschooled hooligans, the NFL’s equivalent of Liverpool soccer fans.

Oh, yes!  That bad!

Exacerbating the problem, the Hawks’ Nest has the lowest-priced seating at CenturyLink Field, enabling attendance of rabble who paint themselves garish blue and green, and who (although probably on limited budgets) swill beer by the bucket while screaming obscenities at anyone who will…well, anyone.

Sordid, disgusting people.

Ghastly, repulsive and nauseating.  The bane of the NFL.

People like Mark Knight and Jeff Taylor.

Oh, yes!  That bad!

But it wasn’t intended to be this way.  CenturyLink Field, nee Qwest Field, was meant for much better things.

For example, CenturyLink Field was initially designed for intimacy but that kind thought was immediately trampled underfoot, and intimacy replaced by more common and, dare I say, abusive behavior.  What was intended for the display of sportsmanship is now being used to display the basest of public manners.  On the north side of the stadium, it’s the insane asylum.  Meanwhile, the south end zone is bordered by field-level suites that naturally lend themselves to conduct unbecoming of a professional athlete: those most unsportsmanlike touchdown celebrations.

Making matters worse, the Hawks Nest seats and aisles are constructed of metal, adept at transmitting great volumes of sound when consistently stomped upon by inebriated, overweight patrons.  During Marshawn Lynch’s 67-yard touchdown run last year, crowd behavior registered at a 1 or 2 magnitude earthquake on a nearby seismometer.  As shown on the graph below, aftershocks were then registered with the successful PAT and the stadium replay.  But, I ask you, is such unbridled enthusiasm what our children should witness?

Jan. 3, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; West quarterback (5) Jeff Lindquist against the East during the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl high school football game at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Roy Newton, a Mercer Island High School Spanish teacher and one of the track coaches, knows Jeff Lindquist well.

When asked about Lindquist’s relationship with Mercer Island students and athletes, what Newton described was someone of integrity, intelligence, above-average athletic ability, and with a natural gift for leadership.

“He is so well-liked and respected by the other students,” said Newton.  “He doesn’t just hang with the jocks but spends time with friends from various school classes, and kids with whom he goes to church…in fact they sing songs together.  He’s smart, cerebral, a good student.  He works hard.  He works hard at everything.  And he’s always ready to help someone else, even an underclassman he doesn’t really know.  So he’s a popular kid, gifted in all respects but, from my vantage point, still exercises genuine humility.  He’s the type of kid who makes teaching and coaching enjoyable.”

Lindquist is an incoming, 6’ 3” 230 lb., four-star-rated quarterback who, in the competition with redshirt freshman Derrick Brown and incoming freshman Cyler Miles, has all the tangibles and intangibles to potentially move into the No. 2 spot behind starter Keith Price.  Hopefully that won’t suddenly become a crucially important spot this season…but it could.

When both Miles and Lindquist committed to Washington, recruiting pundits considered it a coup because both could have gone to just about any university they wanted.  So why Washington?  Football aside, weighing academic reputation, campus characteristics, relative location by the lake and the city, etc., obviously Washington is not a bad place to go to college.

gohuskies.com head-shot of Derrick Brown

Considering football directly, the football program is again on the rise with a large, loyal fan base and a storied history in a dominant conference.  More specifically, the school has a history of great QBs from Don Heinrich to Jake Locker, and a head coach with a reputation 1) as being among the best, young head coaches in the country (the primary reason Washington Defensive Coordinator Justin Wilcox gave for coming to Washington) and 2) for putting QBs into the NFL.

Lindquist wanted to “stay home” and had good reason to.  How will he fare in the three-way competition behind Price?

“He has that intangible characteristic,” said Newton, “that makes other kids want to follow him; he just sticks out as being ‘the man.’  You watch him.  He unites and galvanizes teammates.”

gohuskies.com head-shot of Keith Price

Character aside (never a good idea), how naturally talented is Lindquist?

“People are surprised at how fast he is, considering how big he is,” said Newton.  “He competes in various events wherever he’s needed – the long jump and 4 X 400 meter relay [50.5-seconds relay split], for example.  Interestingly, before a race, he’ll shake everyone’s hand and wish them well – no one else [on any team anywhere] does that.  At the same time, he’s very competitive.  I think he has his teammates’ ‘back’ in that regard; he wants to win because he wants Mercer Island to win.  And I can understand that – winning as an individual is rewarding but winning as a team is ultimately more satisfying.  And the other guys are with him; he’s the leader.”

How fast is Lindquist?

When shown the 2009 Arizona run by Jake Locker, Newton, who does not follow Husky football closely, smilingly exclaimed, “Whoa!  No, [Jeff’s] not that fast!”

Comparisons with Locker have already occurred but, when it comes to foot speed, Locker has a unique gift.  And Cyler Miles is faster than Lindquist.  And bigger.

Lindquist, on the other hand, has depended more on his arm, and has worked repetitively on his velocity, accuracy and timing, while improving his field vision and ability to read defenses.

Cyler Miles Running Track (image courtesy of colorado track xc)

And, of course, Lindquist has been studying Washington schemes and plays.  When fall practice starts, with his maturity and intellectual acumen, he could be a sophomore in freshman’s clothing.  The plan is that Keith Price will play every down, and Jeff Lindquist and Cyler Miles will redshirt.  But if Price, God forbid, is seriously injured, and there are still football games to win, Coach Steve Sarkisian’s philosophy consistently has been that, regardless of year-in-school or past experience, the best players play.  Jeff Lindquist will approach fall practices with the understanding that, if his mind and arm eventually earn the No. 2 position, his services could be needed sooner than hoped for.

“With Jeff, if that happens,” said Newton, “he’ll be ready.”

Sep 17, 2011; Lincoln, NE, USA; Washington Huskies receiver James Johnson (3) catches a touchdown pass against Nebraska Cornhuskers defender Austin Cassidy (8) during the second half at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 51-38. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-US PRESSWIRE

With the departure of Devin Aguilar and Jermaine Kearse, preseason pundits suggest there will be a drop-off at wide-receiver and that, consequently, Keith Price’s second year as a starter will not be equal to his first.
There will be no drop-off at wide-receiver.

Kasen Williams is still Kasen Williams; after a year’s experience, perhaps more so. Washington again has a healthy James Johnson who played considerably as a freshman but has been hampered by injuries since. Redshirt freshman Jamaal Jones played surprisingly well during spring ball. Kevin Smith, at 6’ 0” and 210 lbs., transforms into a tailback after catching the ball. And Cody Bruns has displayed great hands and route running since he arrived at Washington.

Williams is the preseason pick to win post-season accolades, stepping into Kearse’s role, and is the receiver that will generate the most interest – from both Husky fans and opposing secondaries. Apart from Williams, any of the other receivers mentioned above could break-out this fall.

There are two additional receivers, however, who could actually get fans excited – even though neither has yet to play a down.

Jon Nielson is the offensive coordinator for Gahr High School in Cerritos, Ca. and, having played QB in the NFL for seven years (teammates included Kevin Gogan, Napoleon Kaufman, Lincoln Kennedy and several other former Huskies), he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to wide receivers.

Two years ago, Gahr High School led the state of California in passing offense. The top receivers for Gahr were Josh Perkins, now a redshirt freshman at Washington, and Dwayne Washington, an incoming Husky freshman this fall.

“He’s actually taller, probably closer to 6’ 4”,” Nielson said about Josh Perkins, listed at 6’ 3” and 217 lbs. “And he’s the closest thing I’ve seen to Randy Moss [6’ 4” 210 lbs.] when the ball is in the air. His ability to adjust to the football is the best I’ve ever coached.”

Nielson emphasized that Perkins is an excellent combination of size, speed (22.19 second 200 meters), athleticism, desire and character. Video of Perkins also shows toughness, with Perkins having no reservations about really nailing a defensive back when blocking. As might be said of Kasen Williams, Perkins could be considered a football player first and a receiver second. The word “tough” applies to both players. And, of course, toughness wins football games. The combination of toughness, size, speed and Randy Moss-type catching ability will make it difficult to keep redshirt freshman Perkins off the field. That Perkins did well in spring ball came as no surprise to Nielson. “Just throw it to Josh; he’ll catch it.”

Dwayne Washington?

“He’s something special,” was Nielson’s initial description of 6’ 2” 210 lb. Washington, an incoming freshman. Nielson expects Washington to play right away, at least on special teams, but probably also on offense because of Washington’s explosiveness, size and violent style of play. Watching video of Washington shows a receiver with great hands who invariably gets yards after contact. “When he runs with the ball after catching it,” Nielson said, “he’s like [Minnesota Vikings running back] Adrian Peterson. He’s a violent runner.”

When asked if Washington’s purported 4.4+ 40 time was accurate, Nielson responded with, “He’s actually faster.” It was then that Nielson volunteered the comment, “If he were a car in a parking lot, he’d be a Porsche.”
Baring injury, Nielson expects Washington to show Husky coaches the “Wow” factor early on, and summed up Washington by saying, “Dwayne is the most explosive player I’ve coached in high school.”

Is it likely that two guys who haven’t played a down can come in and make a difference? No, it’s not likely. If Dwayne Washington brings the same toughness as Randy M…, er, Josh Perkins, however, the Huskies may have a repeat of Timu/Fuimaono – two unheralded, young guys from the same high school starting at the same position.

As always, it comes down to desire. When I first saw John Timu and Princeton Fuimaono, they were with a bunch of other recruits at a Husky basketball game. The other recruits were joking and talking, socializing like normal teenagers.

Timu and Fuimaono sat together in the middle of the row and, expressionless, said nothing to anyone, looking out at the basketball floor with a unique intensity. What I saw was “the eye of the tiger.” At the time, I thought to myself: those two guys are tough.

I haven’t studied Perkins and Washington up close but Jon Nielson has, and Nielson believes both young men, although they have yet to play a down, bring a level of toughness which, together with their size and talent, translates into the potential to 1) have an impact as early as their freshman year, as well as 2) become seasoned NFL veterans like Nielson.

So, between the returning veterans and the talented new guys, no worries, Keith.

National champions!

(Men’s Freshman Eight)

National champions!

(Men’s Open Four

National champions!

(Men’s Varsity Four)

National champions!

(Men’s Second Varsity Eight)

National champions!

(Men’s Varsity Eight)

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

What are the odds of pulling that off?

Every Washington shell finished first.

Impossible.

Almost.

It’s certainly never been done before. It will probably never be done again.

The tale of the tape below tells the story!

Men’s Freshmen Eight
1 Washington 5:31.902
2 California 5:35.659
3 Northeastern 5:43.629
4 Cornell 5:45.817
5 Harvard 5:46.381
6 Brown 5:52.331

Men’s Open Four
1 Washington 6:15.257
2 Wisconsin 6:17.344
3 California 6:20.029
4 Harvard 6:25.176
5 Brown 6:27.851
6 Navy 6:36.954

Men’s Varsity Four
1 Washington 6:12.258
2 California 6:14.098
3 Brown 6:21.372
4 Northeastern 6:26.643
5 Georgetown 6:29.823
6 Navy 6:36.268

Men’s Second Varsity Eight
1 Washington
2 Brown
3 Harvard
4 California
5 Syracuse
6 BU

Men’s Varsity Eight
1 Washington 5:21.482
2 Brown 5:23.476
3 Harvard 5:24.658
4 California 5:29.497
5 Syracuse 5:32.861
6 BU 5:34.888

In the 110 years of the IRA championships, Washington has won 15 times, including last year. Washington also won its sixth straight Ten Eyck trophy given annually to the overall points champion at IRAs. But first in all five categories?

Washington completely swept the IRA!

Impossible.

Almost.

It might not have happened. In the last race, the varsity eight had a sloppy start but another crew had a false start, and the Huskies were given a second chance.

Their second start was nearly flawless, as was the rest of the race as they flew to a Cooper River record time of 5:21.482 and then let loose with yells that could be heard all over Camden, N.J.

Gentlemen, we’ll celebrate in Seattle as well! Congratulations to crew chief Michael Callahan and the Washington crews!

Chris Williams (gohuskies.com)

Led by All-American junior Chris Williams, the Husky golf team is pushing to overtake others at the Pacific Palisades Riviera Country Club. On one hand, this dream is realistic because they recently defeated No. 1 seed Texas. On the other hand, the dream is challenging because, well, it’s golf. And regardless of who is attempting to control the direction, a golf ball has a mind of its own.

Nevertheless, in the U.S. where there are approximately 245 million people of ages 18 and above, according to the National Golf Foundation (NGF) there are 26.2 million golfers. The NGF defines a golfer as anyone ages 18 and above who played at least one regulation round of golf in the past 12 months.

In other words, over 10% of the American adult population plays golf.

The majority of those who play golf, however, are not exceptionally good at it. Most golfers claim to be less-than-stellar but continue to play golf regularly, attempting but failing to get better because golf proficiently requires a knack, a gift with which one is born.

Those few who play golf well are consequently revered by the vast majority of golfers. While football fans will affectionately reminisce about former gridiron greats, when past golfing legends become the topic of conversation, golf fans speak reverently.

I was in Moore County, North Carolina this past week-end. Moore County is the “Home of American Golf” and within a radius of 15 miles there are 43 golf courses led by Pinehust which hosted the U.S. Open in 2005 and will host it again in 2014. Walking through the halls of older golf resorts in Moore County, looking at photos on walls, is like going through a golfing museum dedicated to the Who’s Who of golf.

Nelson, Jones, Hogan, Palmer, Nicklaus, Snead, Boros, Rodriguez, Norman, Woods…

I stayed at the Mid-Pines Golf Club resort where Julius Boros was once the golf pro.

Boros? For starters, Boros won the U.S. Open twice and was a Ryder Cup member four times. Known for his quick play on the ball, he would walk up to the ball, maybe take a practice swing, and then do whatever was needed. When asked why he didn’t take more time to line up his shots, Boros, who once did a Sports Illustrated article entitled, “Play Golf My Easy Way”, with wit replied, “By the time you get to your ball, if you don’t know what to do with it, try another sport.”

Boros died in 1994 and seemed to know his time had come. Physical disabilities dictated he no longer play golf but Boros would climb in a cart every morning and drive the fairways, 18 holes, absorbing the sights, sounds and smells along the course. He loved the game. Two club members found him in his cart parked under some trees near the 16th green, his favorite at that particular Florida course. To the men who knew him and found him, it seemed evident he had intentionally gone to that spot to pass on.

And although it’s been over 18 years since Boros passed away, they still love him at Mid-Pines. The second floor hallway is lined with photos of Boros. The conference room is named after him. There’s a “Boros Burger” on the bar menu. And these things are not named after Boros to make money for the club. In memoriam.

A good friend of Boros was the University of Washington’s second most famous golfer: big George Bayer. Bayer never played golf in college, however. At 6’ 5” 245 lbs., the Bremerton native was a three-year starter at tackle. While Bayer was not an All-American, he was all-conference, and an NFL draft pick.

Bayer quit pro football, however, in a dispute with Washington Redskins owner and micromanager George Preston Marshall, whom Bayer inwardly – and sometimes outwardly – detested.

After football, Bayer sold cars for a while in southern California, and took up golf for recreation.

He discovered he was average at most aspects of the game of golf. Except for one. He could tee-off further than any other man alive.

As Bayer’s reputation spread, he was ‘discovered’ by the comedian and avid golfer Bob Hope who introduced him to Toney Penna, a scout for MacGregor sporting goods. Penna convinced Bayer to forget about car sales, turn pro, and Penna signed Bayer to a MacGregor contract.

George Bayer with Willie Shoemaker and Eddie Arcaro

As Bayer’s professional participation became prominent, he, too, became a celebrity, and besides Bob Hope, Bayer began playing golf with well-known people in the entertainment and sports worlds including (much smaller) jockeys Eddie Arcaro and Willie Shoemaker.

Bayer always attracted a crowd whenever he pulled out his hickory-shaft driver. As highly literate writers of contemporary prose would say, “OMG.” People wanted to see George hit it. In a 1961 Sports Illustrated article entitled, “Golf’s Human Howitzer,” Bayer’s reputation was summarized: “Hardly a golf course where George Bayer has played during his six years on the professional golfing circuit is without a legend about one of his enormous drives. On the 250-yard 8th hole at Tam O’Shanter [Sharon, Pa], he scored a hole-in-one, using his one-iron. On the 445-yard 7th hole at Tucson…Bayer drove his tee shot 10 yards past the flag-stick…”

In 1956 at Sydney, Australia, Bayer hit a shot that stopped about 50 yards from the 589-yard hole.

This was before titanium and graphite shafts, and the modern variety of ‘live’ golf balls. What might Bayer do today?

If Bayer is Washington’s “second most famous golfer,” who’s first?

Don James

He’s not considered a pro golfer, and his foremost reputation has nothing to do with golf …although there’s a good possibility that by now, playing year around, he has accumulated more time on the golf course than he accumulated on the gridiron. A few years ago when serving as a keynote speaker at a large Bellevue banquet, Don James showed up in a green Master’s jacket, emphasizing what he had been doing since he retired from coaching.

Football will always be Coach James’ foremost passion but golf is not too far behind, and his name is actually becoming associated with golf – although the association is indirect. In its infancy, the Don James Classic tournament wasn’t much but now, in its 19th year, the Newcastle tournament fills up quickly at healthy fees – recession be damned – and is growing. It will be interesting to see where the Don James Classic is when present Washington Head Coach Sarkisian wins his first national championship. Becoming associated with golf can only perpetuate the James mystique, considering the grasp golf has on America.

“Who was Don James?” someone might ask in 30 years.

“He was a famous golfer, of course! That’s why the Don James Classic is named after him.”

For good reason, top golfers are well-remembered, more so than stars in other sports, e.g., pro football. Here’s a quick quiz to make that point.

Who are the two guys below? At one time, every sports fan knew the answer in the blink of an eye.

O.K., now, who are these two guys?

Arnie and the Bear were performing admirably well before and at the same time as Super Bowl MVP Len Dawson and Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Hank Stram (first photo). During their brief time in the limelight, however, Dawson and Stram garnered larger headlines. Palmer and Nicklaus, on the other hand, continued to perform well after Dawson and Stram were done (Nicklaus retired in 2005; Palmer finally retired in 2006). In addition, as indicated at the start of this article, many people could do, can do, and will do what Arnie and Jack did although, obviously, not as well. Few, however, can do or will do what Dawson and Stram did.

Consequently, in much greater numbers, people relate to Nicklaus and Palmer for much longer, maintaining interest in golfing celebrities long after celebrities in other sports are mostly forgotten.

With respect to becoming immortalized, if one is good at assisting that little ball up and down fairways, and successful when encouraging it across greens, one will be remembered.

While, at worst, Chris Williams will be remembered by Husky golf enthusiasts, it will be interesting to see where Williams and teammates such as promising freshman Cheng-Tsung Pan wind up in years to come. Cheng-Tsung, from Taiwan, is being closely covered by the golf-happy Taiwanese press, receiving more publicity back home than in Seattle.

Cheng-Tsung (gohuskies.com)

Will the fame of Williams and Cheng-Tsung surpass George Bayer and Don James? Is Cheng-Tsung in a position to kick off golf’s version of Lin-mania back home? It’s possible. The timing is good because in Taiwan golf is very popular, and courses and driving ranges are packed daily. The same is true in Japan, and mainland China is following suit as poverty declines and the middle class grows. In fact, in China golf is exploding.

Although no longer on the greens, Nicklaus, Boros and Palmer are being spoken of with reverence in more places than ever, as others discover that if they are able control the little round, dimpled ball, the world is their oyster. Chris Williams, Cheng-Tsung Pan and gang, the world is watching.

Psalm Wooching (image via gohuskies.com)

When watching Kealakehe (Kailua-Kona) high football video with the intent of evaluating Husky fullback recruit Psalm Pulemagafa Wooching (#44 or #28), the first thing you notice is, well, Psalm Wooching. He jumps out at you. A big (6’ 3.5” 210 (now around 220)) lb. tailback, it’s difficult not to notice Wooching.

Other noticeable things are his vision, balance, lateral quickness and aggressiveness. Perhaps the best indications of Wooching’s natural abilities appear in video clips of him on defense and special teams.

Watching Hawai’ian high school football is always enjoyable because all of those kids play hard and go to the whistle. Wooching, nevertheless, stands out. Like most Hawai’ian players, Wooching plays with intensity but, invariably, when he hits an opposing player, the opposing player stays hit. Some don’t get up right away.

Wooching has an attitude that every recruiter wants to see. On the field, he enjoys a combination of size, talent and mental toughness which should result in relatively early playing time. Off the field, his reputation is one of rectitude.

When watching Wooching run, the first thing that comes to mind is the kid’s already a horse. His speed is not bad but it’s not Div. I tailback speed. Fullback? That makes a lot more sense, and there is little doubt that Wooching can muscle up to around 245 lbs., getting much stronger and a little faster. Think of Rick Fenney or a taller Pat Conniff.

Wooching was a hot commodity when he was being recruited, and initially committed to UCLA after his junior year but, with coaching changes at UCLA, was ultimately swayed to Washington by Head Coach Steve Sarkisian. Not long thereafter, Wooching was joined by his Big Island friend, O-lineman Shane Brostek out of Hawai’i Prep.

Being a hot commodity, by the way, is nothing new for Wooching who is a competent fire dancer. For those who are planning to go to Hawai’i for the first time, when making arrangements, attempt to attend a luau where fire dancing is part of the show. It’s quite impressive, particularly if you can find a performance where several big kanakas get on a roll together, essentially preparing for war – “Is no boolshit, man” – and you’ll quickly appreciate what Wooching can do.

Kona Sunset (image via Marijke Wilhelmus)

For a more relaxing moment, if you’re in the vicinity of Wooching’s hometown of Kailua-Kona, find the Manta Ray Bar & Grill and watch one of Kona’s renown sunsets (enhanced by volcanic particles and partial cloud cover) with live Hawai’ian music in the background. You’ll get some insight as to another reason why many people call Hawai’i “paradise.”

Video also shows that Wooching has soft hands, and he was used as a receiver on occasion at Kealakehe High. In fact, various video clips ultimately show Wooching doing just about everything at one point or another including convincingly leading the haka. When it comes to versatility, Washington Head Basketball Coach Lorenzo Romar would be impressed. And if Psalm can learn to sing as well as his beautiful sister, Hero, then he’ll have everything covered. Seriously, give Psalm a redshirt year to learn and get Pac-12 strong, and it will be very difficult to keep him off the field.

Josh Banks playing for St. Mary's.

Defensive lineman Josh Banks wasn’t conspicuous by his absence during spring practices because he’s not quite yet on the average Husky fan’s radar.  That should change this fall.

Banks was three-year starter at St. Mary’s High, a Stockton private school where Banks developed a formidable reputation on the D-line.  Opposing teams would sometimes change a play at the line-of-scrimmage depending on where Banks was lined up, and he was constantly double-teamed.

As a high school senior, Banks had above-average athleticism, a 4.8+ 40, and a good weight room work ethic.  Various scouting sites listed him at between 230 and 250 lbs., a little light for defensive tackle, his natural position.  Following his senior season, he garnered all-area first-team honors and accepted a scholarship to the University of Nevada where they expected him to play defensive end.

Academic obstacles – according to Banks, “one science class” – precluded University of Nevada acceptance, and Banks went the junior college route, enrolling in nearby (one mile east) San Joaquin Delta College where he stayed out of football for one year in order to focus on academics.

He subsequently played two seasons at Delta, growing bigger, stronger and a little faster.  During his sophomore season, when No. 1 ranked City College of San Francisco (CCSF) played Delta, CCSF had won all previous games by an average victory margin of 53 points, racking up 527 yards per game in total offense.  The Delta defense held San Francisco to 16 points primarily due to tough Delta D-line play led by defensive tackle Josh Banks.

His best individual performance was during the previous game against San Jose City College (SJCC) when Banks sacked the SJCC QB four times.

Banks was Defensive MVP of the Valley Conference last season, and subsequently named to the California junior college all-state first-team.

Delta teammate, offensive lineman Kevin Speer, who practiced against Banks daily and played against some formidable competition last season, considered Banks “…the best defensive lineman I’ve ever faced.  He gets off the ball really low, so it’s hard to get under him, and he makes [O-linemen] look pretty bad sometimes.”

Banks is now 6’ 3” 285 lbs. with a 4.7 40.  The Husky coaches hope to use Banks’ speed and leverage alongside Danny Shelton.  Of course, Andrew Hudson, Semisi Tokolahi and others will have something to say about that but it is safe to say that Banks will be very much in the mix at the beginning of fall practice.  Should he become a starter, hopefully Banks will make some Pac-12 linemen look “pretty bad” this coming season.

Russell Westbrook Speaks to Media After Game 1 vs. Lakers. (image NBAtv)

Back in the day, listening to Wilt Chamberlain give an interview was pleasurable.

His perspective was interesting, and his responses were intelligent and well-reasoned but, above all, like with so much else, Chamberlain’s English – both word selection and diction – was exact, superior to that of most peers. The same could be said for Michael Jordan.

Televised interviews with most NBA players, however, are often cause for leaving the room or switching the channel. What I hear all too often is offensive, sometimes mentally grating, occasionally almost mindless gibberish.

I was listening to an interview the other night where I held my head. Yes, certainly that player was making an enormous amount of money but does the enormity of a salary compensate for an enormity of English impoverishment? More to the point, does making a lot of money playing basketball preclude the importance of speaking well?

Obviously not. In fact, never. Certainly, Wilt made a great deal of money at everything he did, in part because of his ability to effectively communicate.

Too many players have been pampered academically because they could play basketball well, and their conversational ability has suffered accordingly. This is, of course, a travesty.

The other night, when I held my head, the thought of the opening song to my favorite musical, My Fair Lady, came to me. The song is entitled Why can’t the English learn to speak? In a fit of pique, I’ve taken the lyrics of that song and tweaked them to fit the NBA.

Professor Higgens
“Look at him, a prisoner of the gutter!
Condemned by every syllable he utters!
By rights, he should be taken out and hung
For the cold-blooded murder of the English tongue!”

NBA player
“Shiiiiiiyihh.”

Professor Higgens
“‘Shiiyihh.’ Heavens, what a sound.

“This is what the American population
Calls an elementary education.”

Colonel Pickering
“I think you’ve picked a poor example.”

Professor Higgens
“Did I?

“See them down at Madison Square
Garden in short outerwear,
Slurring English any way they like.
You, sir, did you go to school?”

NBA player
“Wun-a’-dun a’ LSU.”

Professor Higgens
“I hope he never stands before a mike.

“Hear a Cavalier…or worse,
Hear a Timberwolf converse.
I’d rather hear a choir singing flat.
Chickens cackling in a barn…
Just like this one.”

NBA player
“Aaaywuzzupdawg?”

Professor Higgens
“‘Aaaywuzzupdawg.’ I ask you, sir, what kind of word is that?

“It’s ‘shiiyihh’ and ‘aaaywuzzupdawg’ that keep him in his place,
Not ‘one-and-done’ or ring-pierced face.

“Why can’t the NBA teach their players how to speak?
This verbal class distinction by now should be antique.
If you spoke as he does, sir, instead of the way you do,
Your “vocabulary” would be multiple tattoos.”

Colonel Pickering
“I beg your pardon.”

Professor Higgens
“A player’s way of speaking absolutely classifies him.
The moment he talks he makes someone literate despise him.
One common language I’m afraid we’ll never get.
Oh why can’t the players…learn…to…
Set a good example for people whose English is painful to your ears?
Carmelo Anthony leaves you close to tears.
There even are places where English completely disappears.
In Denver they haven’t used it in years.

“Why can’t the NBA teach their players how to speak?
J. R. Smith is incoherent; Kenyon Martin slobbers Greek.
Derrick Rose’s verbiage makes you wonder what he said…
(The Bulls don’t care what they say, actually,
Since no-one understands the others anyway).

“Dwayne Wade does a crossover at the speed of summer lightning.
Nate Robinson does it backwards which is absolutely frightening.
But use proper English? You’re regarded as a freak.
Why can’t the NBA…why can’t the NBA…teach…their players…to speak?”

A solution? Perhaps the NBA Players Association Player Services division could establish a literacy program with vocabulary, grammar and elocution segments. A player would have the option of completing the program before, at some point, stepping in front of a microphone.

You smile. Unrealistic? Too little too late? Oh, be serious, you say?

If player welfare is to be taken seriously – not to mention that of their younger fans – some type of effort should be made. It would be beneficial for the players under any circumstances, if for no other reason than there is life after the NBA.

Will something like this be considered? Probably not unless the Players Association is convinced there’s money in it, so, no, it probably won’t. And players will continue to unremittingly embarrass themselves while grating the ears of more sensitive listeners, and reinforcing poor English among those to whom they are role models.

Wilt, yet once again, we miss you.

Nike co-founder Phil Knight (Kirby Lee - US Presswire)

A good title for a comprehensive book on entrepreneurial success would be: Philip Hampson Knight: a biography.

If Knight was a University of Washington supporter, not a University of Oregon supporter extrêmement généreux, every husky supporter would agree with the statement that Phil Knight did it right and, from an entrepreneurial perspective, continues to do so.

There is a problem at Oregon, however, and while the problem is certainly not limited to the university, Phil Knight is in an ideal position to implement and enhance the solution.

Knight’s contributions to Oregon have been more than financial.  For Oregon, Knight has also contributed conceptual strategy, extensive image remaking, and innovative recruiting psychology.  Comic books featuring recruits.

Normal brains couldn’t have done that.

Phil Knight’s brain, however, would be exceptional anywhere, and Phil Knight has the money to transform his inspiration and vision into reality.  Every good thing recently happening at Oregon has had Phil Knight’s hand on it.

Why the extensive involvement?

To simply suggest that billionaires have their toys – Paul Allen has the Seahawks and the Trailblazers, for example – is trite and not truly applicable to Knight’s relationship with Oregon.  Phil Knight simply has an unbridled passion, a love, for his undergraduate alma mater.

Loyal Washington fans subsequently demonize Phil Knight but, again, were Phil Knight’s passion and loyalty directed toward Washington, Husky fans might mention Phil Knight and Don James in the same breath.

Heresy?

Hardly.  Essentially, Knight is a very intelligent, savvy visionary who, in the eyes of Washington fans, happens to be backing the wrong horse.

In a sense, Knight is repaying a debt of gratitude to Oregon.  If it weren’t for Oregon, Nike wouldn’t have happened.  Phil Knight went to Oregon as middle distance runner, lettering three years with a best time of 4:10 minute in the mile.  The coach was Bill Bowerman, head Oregon track coach from 1948 to 1972, who had four NCAA championship teams and 64 All-Americans during his career.  By the time Knight graduated from Oregon, the name Bowerman was eponymous with track and field in the United States.

After serving a year on army active duty, Knight went to Stanford Business School where he concluded in a Small Business class that the word best describing him was “entrepreneur.”  His passion was still running.  His master’s thesis was entitled, “Can Japanese Sports Shoes Do to German Sports Shoes What Japanese Cameras Did to German Cameras?”  Knight thought so.  After getting his MBA in 1962, Knight, the entrepreneur, was anxious to find out.

Knight approached Bowerman with Knight’s idea for revolutionizing running shoes in the U.S., inviting Bowerman to contribute some of Bowerman’s ideas about shoe design.  Excited by the prospects, Bowerman not only agreed to help work on shoe designs but lent his name, reputation and credibility to the effort.  It was Bowerman and Knight.

Initially, the Bowerman/Knight enterprise was called Blue Ribbon Sports but later changed to Nike, renamed after the winged Greek goddess of victory.

Time progressed, Bowerman eventually retired but, with Knight at the steering wheel, Nike continued to grow.  And grow.  And became one of the top shoe designers, manufacturers and marketers in the world.  Sort of.  Like competing shoe companies, Nike doesn’t directly manufacture their shoes.

In the mid-1990’s, “progressive” gadfly Michael Moore attempted to obtain interviews with greedy capitalist entrepreneurs throughout the U.S. but no one would talk to him…except Phil Knight.  Having Moore criticize a business operation is analogous to having Wallis Simpson (former Duchess of Windsor) criticize the British monarchy.  Knight somewhat naïvely believed he had nothing to worry about because he was understandably proud of Nike, believed any criticism was undeserved, and he could prove it.

But that’s not what Michael Moore is about.  Moore reflexively called into question “Nike labor practices” and use of foreign manufacturers, implying things that weren’t necessarily true.

Knight countered that Nike does not own any of the factories but if Moore built a factory in the U.S. that could compete with foreign manufacturers, Knight would use Moore to manufacture Nike shoes, and any question about labor problems would be moot.

In theory, it was a golden opportunity for Moore: a chance for patriotism and providing a solution to a problem while making money.  But, again, solutions, productivity, are not what Moore is about.  Moore is an American entrepreneur who makes movies critical of American entrepreneurs.

While those who would not consent to interview with Moore remained unscathed, Nike briefly became the bete noir du jour (it’s a pun).  Excited labor leaders grabbed the opportunity.  Even Jay Leno jumped on the wave, hammering Nike in a monologue.

Anti-Oregon fans bruited the phrase “slave labor” although none knew what the hell they were talking about.  Nonetheless, Moore’s crusade had spotlighted the issue.  So Nike monitored their manufacturers, requiring minimum age limits, factory safety standards, and reasonable working hours.  Not much changed because Moore’s implications were overstated.

Moore went on to make other films all indirectly featuring Michael Moore.

Meanwhile, back in Eugene, with assistance from Nike, Oregon recruiting innovation blossomed.  Michael Moore never asked whether a star high school football player could be swayed by a gift of Nike shoes?  From Nike’s perspective, everyone should be swayed by Nike shoes.  Nike’s strategy is simple: identify a common group of people participating in a certain sport, and design a shoe for them.  Demand, here, meet Supply.  They’ve even designed limited edition shoes specifically for the Pit Crew, Oregon students in the student section.  The shoes are functional, attractive and can be earned through attendance and proper behavior at games.

Oregon gives Nike shoes to recruits as well.  A few years back, my youngest son, Max, was friends with Lake City High (Coeur d’Alene) offensive lineman Carson York who was being heavily recruited by Oregon.  Returning from his official visit, York showed Nike shoes and other gifts, and York had a photo of the gifts on his Facebook page for a while.  Whether York was ultimately swayed by Nike products is conjectural but that the 17-year-old seemed quite enthused at the time is not.

DeAnthony Thomas was enthused too.  Unexpectedly so.  He had been verbally committed to USC for 10 months.  Why did he change his mind at the last moment?  On the day he switched, Thomas volunteered one non-reason: “A lot of people say I’m going to Oregon because of Nike.  I’m not going for Nike. I’m going to be a baller.”  But “a lot of people” hadn’t said that.  They hadn’t had time to say that.  Yet.  A perplexed Lane Kiffin, on the other hand, said, “He was telling other guys to come to ’SC.  We don’t know what happened.”

Something happened.

It wasn’t like Oregon, after waiting until the last moment, all of a sudden swooped down out of the nearest Crenshaw palm tree, bearing gold, frankincense and myrrh.  They’d been on Thomas as long as USC.  Something happened and, while nothing has surfaced publicly, Thomas’s immediate denial of what changed his mind is prima facie evidence of what changed his mind.  Based on Phil Knight’s modus operandi, however, it was perfectly legal, whatever it was.

Phil Knight is sensitive to image and marketing, and Nike is outstanding at marketing.  At the same time, Knight goes by the letter of the law and suggestions that Nike does things illegally have no substance.  Adhering to the letter-of-the-law is commendable but the law is elusive and, as anyone with a sense of reality knows, 1) we are no longer a nation of laws but a nation of lawyers, 2) better lawyers are expensive, and, other things being equal (or unequal), legal decisions in general favor the side with the most money, and 3) as a consequence, what will ultimately be ruled in court can be anyone’s guess.  Nike has both money and lawyers, and enjoys relatively strong corporate legal security.  Phil Knight is, therefore, in a good position to take chances based on expediency.  Therein lies the common flaw.

How Knight thinks was evident from his Joe Paterno eulogy where he defended Paterno, saying Paterno notified the athletic director about accused pedophile Jerry Sandusky and, therefore, was absolved of any wrongdoing.  Ultimately, Paterno was also a victim.

“If there was a villain in this tragedy, it lies in that investigation, not in Joe Paterno’s response to it,” said Knight.  That remark garnered a standing ovation.

But, no, it was Paterno’s response.  Or, more to the point, lack of response.

After being confronted for the second time in 1998 by the mother of one of his victims, Sandusky was reported to have said to her, “I wish I was dead.”  If he truly had such remorse, and those who knew about his proclivity had acted, subsequent pedophilic acts may not have occurred.  I know a man who, as a boy, was raped by an older man.  Besides the despicable heinousness of the act itself, young boys who get raped grow up with problems they should not have.  Sandusky needed to be stopped – even he knew that.

Imagine Gil Dobie, Jim Owens, Don James, Jim Lambright, Keith Gilbertson or Steve Sarkisian discovering that a former assistant coach was performing pedophilic acts in the Husky football facilities, and doing nothing other than notifying the athletic director.

Whose football program is it?

An inner sense of outrage, moral obligation at least, would have driven them far beyond that.  In contrast, interestingly, Knight thought the same way as Paterno.  Notify the chain of command, and you’re legally uninvolved.

Legally, perhaps, but morally, no, you’re not uninvolved.  Kids need men willing to step to the fore.  That’s why the Penn State Board of Trustees dismissed Paterno, believing he had a moral (there’s that annoying word again) obligation to go much further than he did.

If Knight meant what he said, and since Knight and Oregon athletics are interminably intertwined, after leaving Penn State, perhaps Sandusky missed the boat by not applying to Oregon.  Based on the implicit premise of Knight’s eulogy, Sandusky would have only legal obstacles, not an issue of morality, to worry about.  As it is, between the “legal” mindset, and the American legal system, Sandusky’s present obstacles are only legal – but a competent legal team can breech most, perhaps all, of those.

Meanwhile, Oregon continues to exercise recruiting innovation.  The reader can provide the examples – it’s not like they’re never discussed.  And it’s probably all legal.  If not, the fault lies with Oregon Head Coach Chip Kelly, not Phil Knight.

From my distant perspective, Phil Knight is basically a good man with uncommon gifts in organization, innovation and marketing but who is misled by a legal mindset – it pervades corporate America; Knight isn’t alone – that needs to be tempered by conscience.  A CEO myself, a businessman for over 40 years, my perception is that the business world needs fewer lawyers and more individual moral integrity.  Inwardly, I believe Jerry Sandusky, in spite of (or, perhaps, because of) his monstrous sins, knows what I mean.  I have no doubt that Phil Knight does too.  At the risk of sounding naïve, in the near future hopefully both will embrace their conscience and follow its direction, especially Knight who is in a position to make the world a much better place, a place where the Jerry Sanduskys would be self-governing, not daring to do what they do.

(AP) Several construction workers at Husky Stadium reported a pungent cigar odor when there were no cigars around. None of the construction personnel smoke cigarettes, much less cigars, on the job, they explained.
An OSHA investigative team found nothing that would lead to the smell of cigar smoke. No further explanation was given.

Future Husky Stadium (Washington.edu)

I spoke with a long-time (he’s now 96) Husky fan about this last weekend, and he said that the construction workers weren’t the first to experience that smell, that it’s been around Husky Stadium since late 1948 and he gave me this explanation.

Go back to 1908.

The previous season Washington went 4-4-2 including losses to Oregon and Washington State. Avid Washington fans wanted something better and let the college know what they thought. The college fired the coach, hiring a new guy who had done very well at his previous two coaching positions, winning all his games over a four-year period.

At first the players disliked the tall, gaunt new coach. At 30, he wasn’t much older than his players, and he didn’t say much, but what he said was usually uncomplimentary and critical. The new coach wouldn’t tolerate limited effort. Wouldn’t tolerate obvious imperfection. And he wasn’t a real nice guy.

“No smile, no handshakes, no slap on the back — nothing but a pair of eyes peering coldly out of a dark face that was hidden partially by a slouch hat drawn loosely over a head of mussed black hair,” said former player, quarterback Wee Coyle.

The new coach usually wore a three-piece suit and a black topcoat, and smoked a cigar.  Think of a slender, gaunt Al Capone.

Growing up a loveless orphan, he was indentured out four times as a child laborer, ran away, was eventually adopted by a well-to-do family but, although very bright, did not graduate from high school until he was 21.  He continued on at the University of Minnesota and received a law degree.

New Head Coach Gilmour Dobie’s first game at Washington was against Lincoln High in the day when Washington played anybody who would play.  Washington won 22-0.  Dobie was livid.  His players were going to have to do a lot better than that.

As the season progressed, toughness began to kick-in.  By the Washington State game – a brawl that ended in a 6-6 tie (touchdowns were five points) – Dobie was instituting what later generations would call Husky football.  Dobie’s Indians (they weren’t the Huskies yet) went on to beat Oregon 15-0 and OSU 32-0.

The 1908 tie would be one of three experienced by Gil Dobie teams – the others in 1914 against Cal, and 1916 against Oregon in Eugene (on a field that “resembled a lake”).

Dobie’s teams won all other games.  They never lost.  58-0-3.  In 69% of those games, the opponents failed to score.  In 1913 they beat Whitworth 100-0.

Dobie’s method was simple: pessimism and discipline.  He continually reminded his players that they had “a fine chance of being whipped and only a small chance of winning.”  His players feared his disapproval, and never wanted to face the wrath of “The Apostle of Grief,” as he was known.

“You’re a pack of bums. Lucky you had the breaks with you. Half of you fellows who played today will be lucky if you are on the sidelines on Thanksgiving day.”

He had only a dozen plays but they were practiced to perfection.  Gil Dobie was a disciplinarian who emphasized repetition in practice, particularly blocking and tackling.  His system was discipline uniquely spiced with pessimism.

“…he always called me ‘kid’…and he’d say, ‘Kid, listen to me, we’re going to get licked.’  He’d say the opponents were ‘great, big monsters…we haven’t got a prayer…’”(Coyle)

His players believed him.  They were too afraid not to.  “We were always scared of him,” said Coyle.  Inwardly, however, they all wanted to show the son-of-a-bitch he was wrong – as he had hoped they’d want.  It was part of his motivation.

As the winning continued, so did the pessimism, however.  Dobie later explained, “Overconfidence has lost more battles than superior opposition.”  Dobie did his utmost to insure no one became overconfident.

At the same time, the players began to understand Dobie better, and a deep respect grew.

“He was held in the highest respect and admiration by the men over whom he held his mailed fist because he was fair and honest.  He was a natural leader of men.” (Coyle)

And Dobie was loyal to his players.  When left tackle Bill Grimm was expelled for “irregularities in an examination,” the players went on strike, jeopardizing participation in an important upcoming game against Cal.  Dobie stood behind Grimm who, because of National Guard responsibilities in the war against Pancho Villa, had been called to temporary active duty with no time to prepare academically.  The circumstances were unique and Dobie, who never pampered his players, suggested there must be some alternative, compromise.  University President Henry Suzzallo said, no, Grimm was gone.

The rumor began that Dobie actually planned the strike.  Citing insubordination and unacceptable ethical standards, Suzzallo fired Dobie, saying,

“It has become quite apparent that Mr. Dobie and I disagree as to the functions of a university coach.  He has not accepted in practice the obligation to be a vigorous moral force as well as an excellent technical instructor.  In such a disagreement it is natural that we cannot utilize Mr. Dobie. Every part of the university organization must cooperate toward one end, character building.”

While it became evident from player interviews years later that Dobie had not planned the strike, the entire incident took its toll, and Dobie stated,

“I have fought for Washington for nine years on the field but have met with too much opposition in my own university to consider another year of it.”

The interesting thing is – stop and think – this all sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Dobie left Washington for other coaching jobs including a stint at Cornell where he won two national championships and shared a third.

Henry Suzzallo had a library named after him (he was stepping down about the time the building was being finished); otherwise his memory would be gone.  Essentially it is; few know who Suzzallo was or anything about him unless it’s that he was the one who fired Gil Dobie.

Gilmour Dobie doesn’t have anything named after him but, like the library, Dobie is still around…and apparently still smokes cigars.

He knows he should stop smoking.  My golly, what has it been, 96 years since Dobie coached Washington?  My 96-year-old Husky fan believes there will come a time when Dobie will quit: when his statue goes up next to a kneeling Jim Owens along Montlake Boulevard.

Until then, construction workers will continue to experience a sensation of cigar smoke when it appears no cigars are around, as the ghost of Gil Dobie busies himself watching stadium construction with pessimistic glum, silently expecting the best.

Gil Dobie

Aaron Gordon (image from simply basketball)

When Matt Shingley committed to San Diego State University, SDSU fans were delighted.  He was considered “one of the best players in the state [of California].” His team, La Costa Canyon-Carlsbad, north of San Diego, was one of the best (35 – 2) teams in its division, and on its way to the state championship game.

In the state championship game against the San Jose’s Archbishop Mitty, however, the normally excellent La Costa Canyon-Carlsbad team lost 78 – 57 in a game that wasn’t as close as the score.  Shingley struggled to get 13 points and 5 rebounds.  The primary problem?  Two words.

Aaron Gordon.

Archbishop Mitty’s five-star recruit, 6’ 8” Gordon, ranked by ESPN as the No. 3 junior in the country, was both guarding Shingley and, in general, being a disruptive force against the entire La Costa Canyon-Carlsbad team.

La Costa Canyon-Carlsbad knew Gordon was coming.  Knew all about him.  Spent considerable practice time anticipating Gordon’s game.  Nevertheless, Gordon scored 33 points and pulled down 20 rebounds (almost half of Archbishop Mitty’s rebounds, and five less than the entire opposing La Costa Canyon-Carlsbad team).  Gordon hit 14 of 23 shots including both 3-point attempts.  Gordon had 21 rebounds in the 2011 championship game (Archbishop Mitty also won in 2011) and probably would have equaled or exceeded that in the 2012 championship game if he were not pulled with 1:14 left, and Archbishop Mitty well out in front.

“Aaron performs the best when the lights are brightest,” said Archbishop Mitty Coach Tim Kennedy.

Although at center stage, Gordon is a team player, as is evident by his post game comments.  ”This was one of the best games we’ve played,” said Gordon.  “All around, this was our best effort.”  He added, “I’m really proud of our seniors.  Everyone on the team stepped up tonight. It’s a great feeling. I get a lot of the attention but I couldn’t do it without these guys.”

Coach Romar has been at many of Aaron Gordon’s games.  At the moment, although Gordon receives at least 15 recruiting letters per day, and NCAA finalists Kentucky and Kansas are also calling, Gordon is leaning toward the University of Washington.

Ian Powers, national recruiting analyst for NBADraft.net, said of Gordon, “Aaron’s definitely the best draft prospect to come out of this area [South Bay].  There have been other good guys but they weren’t the athletic freak that Aaron is.  If his jump shot develops and becomes a consistent weapon, he could be a top five pick.”  Few players have springs like former 2011 Washington recruit Norvel Pelle out of Price High in Long Beach, who signed with St. Johns but failed to qualify and is reportedly attending Philadelphia’s Rise Basketball Academy (no pretense there) in an effort to become academically eligible, but Gordon has similar hops with better athleticism.  Powers added, “NBA teams would draft him on his upside alone.  That one thing that sticks out more than anything is he has a rare motor for a kid that talented and athletic.”

How athletic is “athletic”?  The following YouTube highlight video gives a good indication.

Aaron Gordon highlight video

Everyone can dunk.  Fortunately Gordon does much more than dunk because, as Wilt Chamberlain once wrote, “When the [young] athlete is faster, stronger or taller than his opponent, he depends on those attributes; more often than not the athlete relies on them too much.  As a result, these natural attributes keep the athlete from becoming more diverse, more of a complete player…Larry Bird and Dominque Wilkins [a phenomenal leaper] are classic examples…One of them always thinks his jumping ability is enough; the other knows he has to do something else to get that ball [Bird had superior rebounding stats].”  Wilt would like Gordon’s versatility and motor.

Gordon, still just a junior, is already more of a complete player, considered a potential top five pick “if his jump shot develops and becomes a consistent weapon.”  His jump shot is already developed, and should be a consistent weapon during his freshman year in college.

Gordon is also probably a one-and-done type.  As Kentucky demonstrated, a team can go the distance with one-and-done types although, obviously, it doesn’t happen often.

Regardless, between Aaron Gordon and Jabari Bird of Salesian High in Richmond, Ca (and the usual surprises), Lorenzo Romar is doing a commendable job recruiting for the class of 2013.

Dexter Charles (image from GoHuskies.com)

At Washington under Coach Steve Sarkisian, the same philosophy holds, and when talent is relatively equal, who starts comes down to who wants the job the most.  The most competitive time in Husky football history was the early Owens era, peaking with the national championship team in 1960-61.  Every guy on second string was breathing down the neck of the guy in front of him.  In that regard, 2012 may remind older Husky fans of what once was.

Watching Dexter Charles walk down the Stanwood High School football field track during a cold, overcast graduation ceremony almost a year ago was much different than watching him walk down the same track in football pads.  In cap and gown he appeared like a good-looking athlete but, to a casual observer, that appearance would not rouse the thought of an offensive tackle headed for the University of Washington.  As always, looks are deceiving.  Not appearing like the stereotypical offensive lineman only meant Charles’ weight was solid.  Now a redshirt freshman, Charles stayed solid during the past winter, gaining strength while his not-that-evident 293 lbs. declined modestly to 287 lbs.

With Colin Tanigawa out for spring practices, Colin Porter forced to retire, and Erik Kohler dinged up, Coach Dan Cozzetto has Charles at weakside guard (Colin Tanigawa’s spot) on the first string, and weakside tackle on the second string behind Micah Hatchie.  As with James Atoe, the coaches are taking a long, serious look at Charles to see where he best fits on the O-line.

When senior center and O-line leader Drew Schaefer was asked which of the younger O-linemen impressed him during this past week, he immediately responded, “Dexter Charles.”  Schaefer added, “All through winter workouts we were impressed [with Charles].  He competes; doesn’t turn down anything.“  The relatively unheralded Charles has the athleticism, strength, tenacity and desire to move into a first-string O-line position and stay there.

Norm Dicks

During the early Jim Owens era, competition was continual and fierce, and the second string players were barely a drop-off from the first stringers.  They didn’t really hate each other – although sometimes you wouldn’t know it.  The competition made both first and second strings even better, with three Husky linemen, Chuck Allen, Roy McKasson and Kurt Gegner, earning All-American honors, and a fourth, Norm Dicks (who backed up Allen on offense), eventually becoming the ranking democrat on the U. S. House Appropriations Committee.

What’s the latter have to do with football?  The photo to the left is from Congressman Dicks’ website.  It’s prominent, one of the first things a website visitor sees.  After all these years, he hasn’t forgotten where his competitive edge was cultivated: pneumonia flats, as the field at Husky Stadium was called when the weather got bad back before synthetic turf.

Although unlikely, it’s possible that the 2012 competition could be equally continual and fierce with similar results.  As former Husky D-lineman Alameda Ta’amu has stated, Colin Tanigawa isn’t one to ever back down, and Colin Porter is one tough hombre, starting as a true freshman.  But Charles and Atoe, on the other hand, will not want to benevolently give up their positions.  In fact, next fall could see real dogfights at positions everywhere because the players all know they have a shot.  Several have reiterated what the coaches have said: regardless of experience or who did what last season, if a player is good enough, that player will start.

Like Atoe, when fall rolls around, it may be difficult to dislodge Charles from whatever position he takes.  Now that Senio Kelemete is headed for the NFL, perhaps Charles will find himself in a battle with Micah Hatchie for the important weakside tackle position or, as good as Colin Tanigawa is (watch 2011 video of Chris Polk and see who is often ahead of him when he hits the line), the starter at weakside guard next year could be Dexter Charles.

It could come down to, as in 1960-61, who wants it the most.  Considering the desire, talent and work ethic of many Husky players, the competition of 1960-61 may not be that distant.  Along the O-line, expect Dexter Charles to be in the thick of things, and don’t be too surprised if he starts.