Sarkisian and Locker Turn Corner With Washington's Holiday Bowl Bid

When the University of Washington hired a young offensive coordinator from USC to head its faltering program two years ago, there were naysayers who said that a more experienced coach should be hired to head the program. 

Sarkisian said as a QB in high school, Washington was the leading team in the Pac-10, and that this was his dream job. In his second year Steve Sarkisian has lead the Huskies to a 6-6 record with the second toughest schedule in the nation (per Phil Steele) and a bowl bid in the Holiday Bowl. 

And instead of placing seventh or eighth in the Pac-10, as many predicted, they ended tied for third with USC.  A team they had beaten for the second straight year.

This is a Huge turnaround for a program that was just 0-12 24 months ago. Washington was considered one of the worst teams in the country.  They had not been to a bowl game since 2002.  Sarkisian talked about what the program had been, with its 1991 national championship, and that it could become that again. 

Many prognosticators thought it would take much longer for the school to dig itself out of the morass it was in.  Sarkisian came in talking about the storied program it had been and how as a quarterback, for an unbeaten BYU team, he had come into a very loud Husky Stadium and had been humbled.

Last year when Jake Locker, Washington's all everything quarterback, walked into Sark's office trailing his dog named 10 and stated I'm staying for one more year, it set off fireworks in Husky nation.  Many in the media thought he should jump to the pros.  He was a redshirt senior in his fifth year and should not pass up a possible first round choice and all the money that would come to him. 

But instead Locker chose to stay. He said he talked it over with his dad and his dad told him make sure that you won't regret later that you did not stay.   He was touted for the Heisman and was lined up for a first round choice.  That was not going to happen as Locker got hurt mid way through the season.  It was later announced he had been playing with a cracked rib that later developed into a broken rib. 

He missed the Oregon game but came back to play with pain and literally pushed the Huskies into winning their last three games to become Bowl eligible.  Now with a healthy Locker, and his ability to run without pain, they will have a rematch with Nebraska that humbled them on national TV.   

To put this turnaround in perspective you can look at another program and coach who has had a similar turnaround.  Stanford in 2006 went 1-11.  They hired Jim Harbaugh who has led the Cardinal to prominence this year in his fourth year.  In his first two seasons with the cardinal Harbaugh had a 4-8 2007 season and in 2008 he had a record of 5-7.

Sarkisian has taken an 0-12 Husky team to a 5-7 first season and  to a 6-6 record in his second with a Holiday Bowl bid.  Under any measurement this is a huge turnaround for a program that played 16 freshman at times during the season.

How has he done this?  First he hired his friend and cohort from USC the defensive coordinator that coached with him, Nick Holt, a  knowledgeable and fiery young coach. And In his first full year of recruiting Washington was ranked 11th by scout.com with the noted pickup of Joe Montana's son Nick Montana the number 10 rated QB in the nation.

In his second year Washington is currently ranked 17th in recruiting with two, five star receivers from the state of Washington.  Sarkesian said he would recruit in California, but a fence had to be built around Washington and get the Washington prospects.  He seems to be doing that. 

He has a mostly young coaching staff that can really recruit and coach.  He has re-instilled the mantra of expect to win. If they don't win in the Holiday Bowl they have won anyway. 

Washington with Sarkesian and Locker have turned the corner and have brought the program back to respectability.   Now they are eyeing future Pac-12 championships.