Notebook | 0-8 North Texas is Washington football's kindred spirit

If anyone truly knows what Tyrone Willingham is feeling these days, it's Todd Dodge, whose North Texas football team is still searching for that elusive first victory.

The Mean Green (0-6 overall, 0-2 Sun Belt Conference) and the Washington Huskies (0-5, 0-3 Pac-10) are the only winless teams among the 119 schools that compete in the Bowl Subdivision, formerly known as Division I-A.

But if you think misery loves company, then guess again.

"I have met Tyrone Willingham a couple of times and I have a lot of respect for him," Dodge said this week in a telephone interview from Denton, Texas. "He's a fine man. Shoot, I hope Washington goes out and gets a win this week because I know what he's going through.

"That program needs a win and so does the Mean Green here in North Texas. Maybe all the fans in Washington can root for us and we can do the same for them."

Admittedly, Dodge knows very little about the problems that plague Washington, which returns to action after an off week and faces Oregon State (3-3, 2-1) at 4 p.m. Saturday at Husky Stadium.

"I've got enough of my own to worry about," he said.

Still, Dodge could diagnose the Huskies' malaise without having intimate knowledge of the situation.

"You don't just stumble and fall into a hole like this," Dodge said. "In some ways, it's a perfect storm. Some years the scheduling turns in a way that you weren't expecting when you signed up to play those teams. Are they playing a lot of freshmen? That's always a contributing factor. We're a young football team and we've struggled with that.

"Then there's injuries. You lose a few key players and those are significant challenges for any football team."

On the surface, a few comparisons can be drawn between Washington, a former Pac-10 powerhouse, and North Texas, which has won four of the past seven Sun Belt titles.

The Mean Green has used 16 first-time players (11 true freshmen and five redshirt freshmen) this season and Washington has played 12 freshmen.

North Texas ranks 116th in defense (481.7 yards per game), Washington 118th (495.4). Washington ranks 116th in points allowed (42 points per game), North Texas is last (53.3). North Texas ranks 117th with four sacks, Washington 118th with three.

Still, the numbers don't tell the whole story. There's winless and then there's winless. The difference is a matter of perspective.

"We know that we're young and I don't want to say that we're rebuilding, but you take some lumps while you're learning how to win," North Texas sophomore quarterback Giovanni Vizza said. "No one here is panicking. That's the main thing. We all know there's a long way to go and we got to stick together."

Dodge, who is midway in his second season after posting a 2-10 record last year, still has the support of the upper campus, alumni and fans, unlike Willingham, who will likely be fired after the season unless a dramatic reversal occurs.

"I don't think you can look at that as a coach," Dodge said. "That doesn't go through my thought process a lot right now. The class that we just recruited, we're very excited about them. I'm spending extra time with them because personally I plan on being around here for a while and I hope that happens.

"I'm not naive enough to think that decisions aren't made at the end of the season about the coach, but I'm not letting that affect how I go about my business as coach."

Predevelopment of Husky Stadium plans approved

The Board of Regents on Thursday gave the OK for the school to spend $3 million to begin predevelopment of the renovation of Husky Stadium with potential developer Hines Interests Limited Partnership. The school will still need to come to an agreement with Hines to serve as the developer.

Athletic director Scott Woodward said the money will come out of the regular athletic department budget.

The predevelopment phase includes drawing schematics of the renovation.

Hines is affiliated with HOK Sports, which would serve as the lead designer. Some of Hines' other projects include Petco Park in San Diego and the Toyota Center in Houston.

The school is seeking $150 million in state money to help fund a project, estimated at $300 million — $250 million for the stadium renovation and $50 million for a football operations support building. A proposal submitted to the board Thursday estimated the construction start as December 2009, pending approval of money.

Notes

• Willingham described Jake Locker's hand injury as "complex" and said the timetable for his return has not changed. When the Huskies quarterback broke his right thumb Sept. 27, doctors believed he would need six to eight weeks to recover. If Locker returns in six weeks, he could face Arizona State on Nov. 8. An eight-week recovery means he'd be available for the Nov. 22 Apple Cup. Washington ends the season Dec. 6 against California. Willingham said Locker will revisit the hand specialist in two weeks.

• DT Senio Kelemete and SS Johri Fogerson missed the past couple of days because of a virus. Victor Aiyewa or Tripper Johnson will start at strong safety Saturday against Oregon State.

• Willingham said he expects freshman Cody Bruns "to rotate in with the five receivers."

• Senior Casey Bulyca underwent knee surgery Tuesday. Bulyca is likely out for the season and will be replaced by sophomore Ryan Tolar.

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com; Times staff reporter Bob Condotta contributed to this article.