UW awaits physical game against Oregon State

An 0-5 start and what most feel is a coaching change on the horizon threatens to send the rest of Washington's football season into the irrelevant file.

But those searching for meaning in Saturday's game against Oregon State at Husky Stadium don't have to look far.

The Beavers, at 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the Pac-10, remain in the hunt for the Pac-10 title, with an edge on a lot of other contenders because of their win over USC three weeks ago.

For the Huskies, there is not only the desire to get their first victory but also to avenge what was one of the most emotional defeats of the 2007 season. The 29-23 loss in Corvallis featured a scary hit that sent Jake Locker to the hospital, a couple of fights that resulted in the ejections of four players and a controversial ending that almost swung the game Washington's way.

Locker suffered a neck injury on a helmet-to-helmet hit from OSU safety Al Afalava in the second quarter that left him with a loss of feeling in his upper body for a few minutes while he was on the field. He was taken to a hospital, then returned in the second half with his neck in a brace.

Locker won't be able to retaliate this year, sidelined again, this time with a broken thumb that will keep him out another six weeks or so. Afalava is also on the injured list this week with a groin injury, having missed OSU's 66-13 win over Washington State on Saturday, though he is expected to be able to play against UW.

Players and coaches Monday had varying reactions on whether there will be much carry-over from that incident to this year's game.

"I think there is always some concern about that, especially with the way things happened down there and who it happened to," UW coach Tyrone Willingham said. "That has the ability to impact on it. But we will try to get our guys to focus on the game and hopefully play it with great emotion, but never cross that line."

Running back Brandon Johnson said, "I don't know if it will carry over. But we understand that we have to play physical every play. Oregon State is a real physical team, and we just have to go out and dominate, really."

OSU coach Mike Riley said he didn't think the events of last year would spill over Saturday.

"I think it will be a hard-hitting passionate game," he said. "I would anticipate that. I don't know if there will be any fallout from last year. That is usually overrated. It will be just about these two teams."

Knee surgery

likely sidelines

Bulyca for season

Senior guard Casey Bulyca will have knee surgery soon and would likely be lost for the season, potentially ending the career for the graduate of Woodinville High, Willingham said Monday.

A fifth-year senior, Bulyca started all five games at right guard this season and 11 last year.

"It just seemed like it's not getting better, so the best thing to do is operate now and maybe have him come back later or just go forward," Willingham said. "It's something that has been going on for a while. He has done a great job of hanging through it, but now it's reached a point where it's better to have the surgery."

Bulyca will be replaced in the starting lineup by sophomore Ryan Tolar of Pasco. Tolar started 12 games at left guard last year but has come off the bench this season serving in a rotation with Bulyca and Jordan White-Frisbee.

Tolar was the one UW player thrown out of last year's game for fighting, in an altercation with OSU cornerbacks Brandon Hughes and Bryan Payton. Payton is no longer on the OSU roster while Hughes missed the WSU game last week with a hamstring injury, though he is expected back this week.

Notes

• Willingham also said RB Brandon Yakaboski will have knee surgery soon and is out for the rest of the season. Yakaboski was hurt in practice the week before the Arizona game.

• Willingham said running back David Freeman seems to be improving from what he said is a high ankle sprain, though his status for this week remains uncertain.

• Safety Darin Harris also remains out with the concussion suffered against BYU.

• Otherwise, Willingham said the injury situation is pretty good. He said S Johri Fogerson "worked last week" and is getting better, and that WR D'Andre Goodwin also practiced and should be ready go to this week. Dailey and Willie Griffin got most of the reps at tailback last week, but Johnson, who sat out most of last week with rib and shoulder injuries suffered against Arizona, said he should be able to play against OSU.