Schedule
AUG 30 @Ohio St.
SEP 6 Indiana
SEP 20 Idaho
SEP 27 *Stanford
OCT 4 *@UCLA
OCT 11 Nevada
OCT 18 *@Oregon St.
OCT 25 *USC
NOV 1 *Oregon
NOV 8 *@Arizona
NOV 15 *@California
NOV 28 *Washington St.
SEP 6 Indiana
SEP 20 Idaho
SEP 27 *Stanford
OCT 4 *@UCLA
OCT 11 Nevada
OCT 18 *@Oregon St.
OCT 25 *USC
NOV 1 *Oregon
NOV 8 *@Arizona
NOV 15 *@California
NOV 28 *Washington St.
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Arizona St.
Cal
Oregon
Oregon State
Stanford
USC
UCLA
WSU
Husky Stadium
After a tumultuous summer new head coach Keith Gilberston is firmly entrenched at the top of the tower overlooking the practice field. As a cleansing act for the program, legendary general Don James attended a scrimmage, gazed up to the heights he once dominated and nodded casually at Gilby. The longtime offensive genius will face a difficult attitude set by Jim Lambright that career specialized assistants cannot be the glue that holds together a team.
In a brilliant act of sceduling the Dawgs face off against the defending national champions in front of a sure sellout crowd exceeding 105,000. After the Ohio State affair the level of competition drops from the radar screen in consecutive games against Indiana, Idaho and Stanford. With of without running back Maurice Clarett, the Huskies need a strong showing and keep the game close, something good teams did with frequency against Ohio State last year.
Run to Win
Quarterback Cody Pickett put up record numbers, but the win-loss record reflected a lack of balance on offense. During the late season winning streak the offensive line was able to open up some holes and the run evolved into a threat for opposing defenses. If the running game can produce 120 yards every Saturday, the Pac-Ten title will return to Seattle.
The Injury and Bad Attitude Bug
During the summer, three of the better players on the squad were lost to injury and personality conflict. Pass rusher Josh Miller and wideout Justin Robbins bowed out with physical ailments while offensive tackle Aaron Butler quit the team. Depth is an immediate concern and if youngsters Graham Lasee, Bobby Whithorne, Sonny Shackleford, and Clay Walker mature quickly, good things will happen.
Positive Kicking
A new punter and kicker will escort the team to Ohio State. Walk-on Evan Knudson takes over for all-star John Anderson at kicker, while Garth Erickson booms punts. The margin for error is thin and if each can commit only two major blunders all season, the Dawgs should survive and move on.
The Dawgs are destroyed at Ohio State and win their next three games gaining a sense of overconfidence. As was the formula with last year's mediocrity, disinterest sets in and the team struggles to a .500 season.
Rick's departure had such an adverese effect on the program that players go into Columbus still in shock and without a clear sense of team. Only a mid-season reality check and winning streak saves the season from obscurity.
Gilby cannot find an identity in the offense has a result of over-analyzation. He tries the run, enjoys mild success, but quickly loses confidence and goes full on with the passing game only to switch to a balaned attack. The productive combo and strength of the team in Reggie Williams and Cody Pickett cannot find a rhythm and lose two or three winnable games.