Notebook | Recruit Class of 2004 sees second shake-up

This wasn't the kind of history the Class of 2004 expected to make.

But the 10 remaining members of that class, along with 2003 member Juan Garcia, are the first in school history to twice see coaches fired (or forced to resign) during a season. It also happened in 2004 with Keith Gilbertson when all were redshirt freshmen.

For some of them, that was the first thing they thought about on Monday.

"[Safety] Darrin Harris called me and said, 'Did you hear the news? It's just like déjà vu,' " cornerback Mesphin Forrester said.

The 11 players are the last who signed with the school when winning seasons were still the norm. Other than Garcia (a sixth-year player), all signed in the wake of a 6-6 record in 2003, which gave the Huskies 27 consecutive non-losing seasons.

"This is by no means what I expected," tight end Walt Winter said. "But I don't regret it. I love this place and I have a ton of respect for the program, my teammates."

Many are team leaders who can draw on the 2004 experience as the Huskies play out the final five games with coach Tyrone Willingham still in charge, but out of a job come Dec. 7.

In 2004, Gilbertson coached three games after being let go. All were losses, and the general view was that the team didn't pack it in. Gilbertson's finale, for instance, was a 28-25 Apple Cup loss at Washington State, in which the Huskies rallied late to put a scare in the Cougars.

Linebacker Trenton Tuiasosopo, however, said it wasn't easy keeping everyone focused that year once Gilbertson was let go.

"There were some guys saying that they were calling it quits and some were just trying to better themselves for themselves and the program," he said. "When it comes down to it, it's just the guys on the field playing, not the coaches, and you've got to keep playing to better your situation."

Kelemete injury better than expected

Fears of a serious knee injury for defensive tackle Senio Kelemete proved unfounded as the true freshman could return in a couple of weeks after having arthroscopic knee surgery to remove some loose cartilage on Tuesday.

Kelemete was injured during a pregame pass-rushing drill Saturday.

"It was absolutely fluky," said defensive line coach Randy Hart. "Mind-boggling. He was pass-rushing a guy and he went right past me and I went to the next guy and he was still laying there. ... There was no contact. He was just pass-rushing and it twisted, something locked up."

But Hart said early tests indicated minor damage, and the surgery proved it. "For a change, it was exactly what they thought it was," he said.

Notes

• Willingham said the coaches had not yet received a directive from the UW administration on how to approach recruiting "so it's kind of been as we normally do it, for the most part, with the exception of the head coach because there's not a lot he can say to them right now."

Willingham, however, said he didn't yet know if assistant coaches will travel to high schools in Southern California this week as was originally planned.

• Willingham said RB David Freeman, S Victor Aiyewa and LB T.J. Poe are out this week but that everyone else (other than those with long-term injuries) should be ready to go.

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com