Steve Sarkisian revives the promise of Washington's football program

As first impressions go, let's say this about Steve Sarkisian: He was so convincing you expected him to announce he was also bringing the Sonics back to town.

The new leader of Washington football stirred excitement Monday not by professing his own brilliance, but by articulating an aw-shucks merriment about the gift he'd been given. He didn't sound like a coach inheriting an 0-12 team, or a downtrodden program, or any other dust bunny Tyrone Willingham left behind.

Instead, he sounded the way the passionate fan base does, like a man who'd lucked into a treasure, the CEO of a sacred program that must be restored. He called it a "hidden gem," one obstructed by despair for too long, one he intends to polish until it sparkles like it once did.

Not because he's so brilliant. Because that's how it should be.

"Because I know what it was," Sarkisian said.

What was it? He told the story of coming to Husky Stadium as the quarterback of an undefeated Brigham Young team in 1996. The Cougars lost the game, their only defeat during a 14-1 season.

"I got sacked eight times," he said. "We had eight false-start penalties. I got off the plane, went straight to the hospital for an MRI on my left knee."

He took so much punishment that his wife, Stephanie, then his girlfriend, asked the next time she saw him, "What did the Huskies do to you?"

The Huskies are back. The new era has yet to include anything tangible, but they're back.

Back to a higher standard. Back to accepting only excellence. Back to believing championships are again possible.

"It's the year 2008," Sarkisian said. "It's time to get back to the Rose Bowl, to Pac-10 championships, competing for a national championship. That's our goal, no question. I can't wait to get this thing going."

John Featherstone didn't need to listen to the news conference to be convinced. He already knew what the reaction would be. He knew Washington would fall for Sarkisian quickly.

"So, Sark wooed you guys, didn't he?" asked the man who once persuaded Sarkisian to return to football.

Featherstone is the coach at El Camino College in Torrance, Calif. Sixteen years ago, after Sarkisian left the USC baseball team, he enrolled at El Camino and took Featherstone's contemporary health class. The coach remembered him from his high school quarterbacking days and started the recruiting process.

"Why don't you play football again?" Featherstone asked.

"I don't think so," Sarkisian said.

Later, he started needling Sarkisian by bringing up different quarterback prospects he was considering.

Featherstone would say the name of a guy, turn to Sarkisian and say, "Do you think you're as good as him?"

"Coach, are you kidding me?" Sarkisian responded with competitive disgust.

"Sark, that's all I need to hear," Featherstone replied.

Sarkisian went on to be a standout for two years at El Camino before transferring to BYU. On Monday, he credited Featherstone with reviving his enthusiasm for football.

His zest for the game has multiplied since then. Featherstone trusts Sarkisian will rebuild the Huskies. He knows the kid too well.

"I think he's a fearless guy," Featherstone said. "And quarterbacks really have to be fearless. There's no doubt in Steve Sarkisian's mind that he's going to win there.

"I can guarantee you that, mentally and physically, he will have the team ready and confident that they can win every game. That's what he knows, what he's always been around. I know he'll take that same flavor right to the Huskies."

Featherstone described Sarkisian as "a no-nonsense guy who knows when to have fun." As the Huskies coach, Sarkisian promised to open practices to the fans and media, something that's been done during his time at USC. He also vowed the Huskies would be committed to practicing well, like the Trojans are, and so there goes the old, erroneous notion that good practices can only be held in private.

Only once Monday, at the beginning, did Sarkisian sound like a young man. He's 34, the third-youngest coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision, but he seemed so much older and wiser, except when he first stepped to the podium and gazed upon a most impressive sight.

To his left, four shirtless students spelled out his nickname, S-A-R-K, with purple paint on their chests. In front of him, the crowd extended the length of the Don James Center, a couple hundred fans eager for a good-news fix. He paused briefly and bathed in the kind reception.

"Wow, what a moment," he said. "What a moment!"

It feels like more giddy days are to come with Sarkisian at the helm.

Jerry Brewer: 206-464-2277 or jbrewer@seattletimes.com. For his Extra Points blog, visit seattletimes.com/sports