Huskies players more focused on getting a win than beating rivals

Under notoriously tight-lipped coach Tyrone Willingham, Washington players have been under instructions the last few years to keep the trash talk about the Apple Cup — and just about anything else — to a minimum.

This year, with the Huskies at 0-10, any thoughts of popping off appeared to be even further muted during the annual Apple Cup media luncheon Monday.

"There is always that deep-rooted hatred between one another in an in-state rivalry," said linebacker Donald Butler. "But I just want to get a win."

Butler repeated that assertion on a few occasions when reporters tried to get him to open up on the hatred angle.

Running back Brandon Johnson said the 27-7 loss to UCLA Saturday was still lingering, making it difficult for Apple Cup talk to get too heated just yet, even in the UW locker room.

"Everybody was pretty much down about the loss and the way things have been going," Johnson said. "So we haven't had much talk about the Apple Cup. But I'm pretty sure tomorrow it will get going."

Also possibly quelling the feeling is a relatively young UW roster, making for a lot of players who don't have a lot of experience with the Apple Cup. Out-of-state players especially say they generally need a few years to understand the rivalry.

"I don't have hatred toward nobody," said Johnson, who is from Compton, Calif. "I'm not really from out there, so I don't really know the history and what it really means. I just go out and play. They are just another opponent to me."

Not that he hasn't heard some of the talk of past visits to Pullman.

"They say it's a pretty bad place," Johnson said. "But after Oregon, I don't think it can get much worse than that."

Locker likely done for year

Willingham said quarterback Jake Locker almost certainly won't return to action this season.

Locker has been out since breaking a thumb against Stanford on Sept. 27. He had surgery Friday to remove some plates holding the thumb together during the recovery, which Willingham said went well.

But with just two games left, Willingham said it's unlikely Locker will be back. The coach definitively ruled him out for the Apple Cup and said he doubted Locker could play in the season finale Dec. 6 against California.

Willingham said that even if Locker were healthy enough and wanted to play, "it's probably not the right move to make right now."

Notes

• Willingham said CB Matt Mosley, who suffered a knee injury Saturday, is likely out for the Apple Cup. That likely means senior Mesphin Forrester will return to the starting lineup.

• Willingham said RB Terrance Dailey, limited to just one play against UCLA due to a hip pointer, should be back this week.

• Grant Cisneros, a 6-5, 260-pound tight end/tackle from Sumner High, said Monday night he has decided to commit to Washington. Cisneros, made an offer last fall, said he decided to commit this week after getting a letter from AD Scott Woodward informing him his offer was still good. Woodward has said all offers made by Willingham's staff will be honored.