Apple Cup Notebook | Locker likely to make comeback

Jake Locker tried to keep 'em guessing.

Sitting at a table in front of a microphone answering questions Monday, Washington's Locker turned stiffly, slowly, his strained neck appearing no better than a week ago.

Finally, he let the cat out of the bag.

"I'm just joking around with you guys," Locker said as he began moving his neck with ease, adding that he thought about going for the full effect and wearing a neck brace.

Indeed, he says he has 100 percent mobility in his neck, and if so, will almost certainly be the starter for the Huskies in the Apple Cup on Saturday.

UW coach Tyrone Willingham was vague on the topic during his news conference Monday. But on his radio show later in the day, Willingham said that assuming that all goes as expected this week and Locker has no physical setbacks, "I'll probably go with Jake Locker" as the starter.

Job security

WSU coach Bill Doba had an answer of mock surprise Monday when asked about his job status for next season.

Doba was asked to comment on this being the first Apple Cup where his job isn't secure.

"It is? I'll be danged," Doba said. "Enough said about that."

Holiday blues

Doba said he doesn't want to play another home game against an opponent other than Washington on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

With most of the WSU student body gone to start the one-week vacation, attendance at Saturday's home game against Oregon State was only 22,660.

The Cougars and Huskies moved this year's game to the Saturday after Thanksgiving so that each team could have a bye.

Senior day

The Huskies announced 21 seniors who will play their final home games Saturday; the list included the 18 scholarship players who have no remaining eligibility and three walk-ons.

The seniors are DT Wilson Afoa, OL Erik Berglund, QB Carl Bonnell, LB Linus Chou, WR Quintin Daniels, WR Cody Ellis, DE Greyson Gunheim, TE Tim Harris, LB Dan Howell, TE Robert Lewis, CB Roy Lewis, DT Erick Lobos, OL Chad Macklin, RB Louis Rankin, DE Caesar Rayford, WR Marcel Reece, DT Jordan Reffett, WR Anthony Russo, LB Kyle Trew, WR Corey Williams and WR Sho Yoshinaga.

Willingham said the fact that all of his fourth-year juniors were deemed worthy of a fifth year shows that "we're starting to get things in the right place."

Center Juan Garcia, who is a fifth-year senior but last spring was granted a sixth year of eligibility, said that if he doesn't think he could help his NFL draft status by returning, he might decide to leave after this season.

Notes

• The Cougars have received an oral commitment from Dan Spitz, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end from Mead High School outside Spokane, according to Cougfan.com. He is thought to be the third WSU commitment.

• WSU backup defensive end Mike Graise is considered questionable and backup Kevin Kooyman, is doubtful. Both have missed recent games with high ankle sprains.

• Willingham said he told his players not to say anything that could be bulletin-board material this week.

UW defensive tackle Jordan Reffett might have come close, however, when he said he was confident of victory, saying that beating the Cougars in Pullman last year was nice but that "now it's going to be even better because we are going to do it at home." Reffett also said that he had mixed emotions about the two teams attending the Apple Cup Rally together on Friday: "I think it will be a little bit tense in that room. ... I don't have any desire to meet with those guys before the game because I don't think they're going to like us too much after the game."