UW at Syracuse | Coaches have things to prove

Washington coach Tyrone Willingham isn't known for making bold proclamations, and one he uttered Monday was so under-his-breath that it was easy to overlook.

But during his weekly news conference, Willingham said today's 5 p.m. game against Syracuse at the Carrier Dome carries a particular importance.

"Usually in order to have a good and successful season you need to win that first ballgame," Willingham said.

Especially when that ballgame might be among the two or three most winnable on a team's schedule, as is the case tonight.

The Huskies are playing a schedule generally judged to be among the most difficult in the country. Other than being a unique environment (UW hasn't played in a dome since beating Houston at the Astrodome in 1985) and a long trip, however, Syracuse isn't the reason for that assessment.

The Orange is just 5-18 the past two seasons (4-8 a year ago) and is generally predicted this season to be the worst team in the Big East.

So, if UW can't win this one, who will it be able to beat?

Just as Willingham is trying to turn around his program in his third year, so is Syracuse coach Greg Robinson.

Robinson came to Syracuse having made his name as a defensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos (winning two Super Bowl rings there) and with the Texas Longhorns. Robinson is a longtime friend of USC coach Pete Carroll, who helped him land the job at Syracuse — Syracuse athletic director Daryl Gross spent 14 years working for the Trojans.

But so far, Robinson has strained to find the right personnel for his West Coast offense, and even the defense — expected to be the team's strength — has struggled.

The Orange is basing its hope for offensive improvement this season on the arm of sophomore quarterback Andrew Robinson, who will make his first start tonight.

Syracuse, however, has major questions in the backfield: Starting tailback Curtis Brinkley is battling a knee injury, and there is little experienced depth. Syracuse's calling card on defense is a front four keyed by end Jameel McClain, who led the Big East with 9 ½ sacks last season and also sometimes lined up as a linebacker.

McClain will try to harass UW quarterback Jake Locker, who will make his much-anticipated Huskies debut.