UW seniors to play their final game at Husky Stadium, don't regret becoming Huskies

They might do it differently.

But despite all the losses, the coaching changes, the disappointments, they'd also still do it again if they had the chance.

That's the general feeling of a few of the 19 Washington Huskies who will play their final home game on Saturday.

It's a class that will go down as one of the least successful in school history.

The 11 fifth-year seniors have a record of 12-45 heading into Saturday's game against UCLA, and a Pac-10 mark of 6-35.

There have been no winning seasons — the closest was 5-7 in 2006 — and obviously no bowl games. And only so much as one win against a ranked team — a 24-10 victory over then-No. 22 Boise State last season.

"It's definitely nowhere near how I thought it was going to be," said one of those fifth-year players, tight end Michael Gottlieb.

But given the chance to turn back time and re-enlist as Huskies, they say they'd be the first in line.

"I would do it over again in a heartbeat," Gottlieb said. "I would love to get another crack at it. But it is what it is and I'm going to take all the positives out of it and move on with my life. I'm taking a lot of positives out of it that are going to better me for the rest of my life. So I'm OK. I'm all right."

Thirteen of the players are in-state products who remember well the history of the program and figured they'd become a part of that tradition.

"We never expected this to happen," said fifth-year linebacker Trenton Tuiasosopo, cousin of former UW stars Marques and Zach Tuiasosopo. "But what can you do but keep moving and keep working with what you've got and keep fighting? The day you stop is the day you go down a road you never intended to."

The fifth-year players (there is also a sixth-year player, center Juan Garcia) signed when the Huskies were coming off the 2003 season, the last time UW had even a .500 record, going 6-6 in the first season under Keith Gilbertson.

The groundwork for the recruiting of most of them was laid by former UW coach Rick Neuheisel, who will be on the other sideline Saturday as the new coach of the Bruins.

So a few of them see some neat symmetry that they will play their final home game with Neuheisel there.

"He was the first one to say, 'You could wear purple and gold,' " said defensive tackle Johnie Kirton. "So I would say he holds some meaning."

Gottlieb, who walked on in 2004 and quickly earned a scholarship, remembers thinking the 1-10 record of that season was just a blip. It was UW's first losing record since 1976.

"I just remember feeling like I couldn't believe what was happening," Gottlieb said. "It surprised me the way that season had gone downhill."

The Huskies haven't made it back up yet, despite a coaching change the following season to Tyrone Willingham. And the Huskies will be looking for another coach with the removal of Willingham at the end of this season, meaning that for the seniors, the program as they knew it will be gone almost before they are.

But while there has been little team success, each can count on more personal victories.

Tuiasosopo wasn't sure he'd ever play again after a bike accident in spring 2005 left him with a serious head injury.

"I don't take it for granted," he said. "Even little things like being able to practice and play on special teams. I consider myself getting a second chance, a third dream, to come back."

And for Gottlieb, putting on a Huskies uniform fulfilled a lifelong dream. A native of Mercer Island, he often attended UW games as a kid with his Pop Warner team, usually still wearing half of his uniform. He had a chance to maybe go to Boise State, but a visit to UW while in high school re-instilled his love for the Huskies, and he decided to walk on with the promise of a scholarship if all went well.

"I think this experience has turned me into a much stronger person," he said. "I can look at Boise State, and maybe the school is not as challenging, maybe have an easier road to victory and really not forced to mature as much probably. Would it have been a little more fun? Maybe. Possibly. But I love everything I've become here."

Notes

• The game will also be the final home contest for Willingham, who said, "I'll have a lot of different thoughts. I don't know what all of them will be but it will be emotional for me, also."

• QB Jake Locker will have surgery Friday to remove a plate from his injured thumb. Locker will begin rehab, but whether he can return this season is uncertain.

• DT Senio Kelemete, who had arthroscopic knee surgery two weeks ago, has returned to practice and could be back this week but more likely for the Apple Cup.

• CB Mesphin Forrester, who has missed the last two games with a knee injury, should be back this week.

• WR Jordan Polk, who suffered a concussion against ASU, is still uncertain after not practicing Tuesday.

• Willingham said the career of safety Darin Harris, who suffered a concussion against BYU, is over. Harris had hoped to return but Willingham said the injury was "just a severe deal" and it's unlikely Harris will be able to play football again.

• CB Vonzell McDowell, who suffered an elbow injury against ASU, should be back this week.

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