A 'great' building block to start the Steve Sarkisian era at UW

Washington athletic director Scott Woodward, who just might be the cure for vanilla, clichéd sports talk, made a bold declaration last week when asked about his expectations for Saturday night.

They weren't merely about the outcome of the football game, or the start of the Steve Sarkisian era, however. Woodward had grander dreams.

"Outside the lines, we want to show the world how great we are," he said.

Initial reaction: Huh?

Who turns to a rebuilding football program a year removed from an 0-12 record for traces of greatness?

The loquacious AD explained.

"That's part of what's wrong with our culture here in a positive way," said Woodward, who was likely the only native Louisianian to root for the Huskies this past week. "We're very humble. We're very shy. It's a Scandinavian culture, with an Asian culture on top of it. We lag in braggadocio."

His words seemed a bit brainy for sports chitchat, but the man made an interesting point. And the sentiment fit in discussing the beginning of a Husky football season marked by newness, energy and unabashed braggadocio.

The Huskies did illuminate some, ahem, greatness — or at least a charming desire to achieve greatness — Saturday night. They turned what gamblers considered a certain blowout into an entertaining, sometimes thrilling, football game. They hit No. 11 Louisiana State with an explosiveness we hadn't seen from a Husky team in quite some time and a zest for the game that often masked their mistakes.

When Jake Locker hit freshman James Johnson on the first drive for a 17-yard touchdown pass, the press box at old, wobbly Husky Stadium swayed again. When Chris Polk ran down the sidelines for a 33-yard gain, the cheers sounded like thunder. In those moments, Woodward's words felt appropriate.

We were reminded, in glimpses, how great this place can be.

The buzz is back. You heard it get a little louder on this night. Everyone isn't on board — that requires winning — but those who feel the positive energy can't deny it. Those who don't feel it might not be able to ignore it much longer.

That's not to say the Huskies are back. Far from it. But they're moving in the right direction. If they can build upon the momentum, they will reunite a fan base that suffered through 21 losses in 23 games before Sarkisian arrived.

A popular T-shirt worn at Husky Stadium said it best: "Bark for Sark."

"He wants to win," beamed Billy Fekkes, a fan from Ellensburg, while discussing the new coach. "He's a team player. He brings an energy and a great feeling to the atmosphere."

Asked what he wants to see this season, Fekkes replied: "I expect, at the very least, for us to run a proper offense. Play more like a team. Have some pep in our step."

If you add defensive improvement to Fekkes' list, it just about covers the wish list of most Husky fans.

In spurts, they saw great offensive potential, highlighted by improved accuracy from Locker. They saw the pep. They saw the defense struggle, but unlike the past three seasons, it didn't crumble.

Just as important, they started to fall for the Huskies again. The love has always been there, but the losses buried it. The passion turned into concern and anger. Now, the focus is back on supporting the team.

About two hours before kickoff, the Huskies entered as a team through The Zone, the new pregame fan area, to much applause. Forty minutes before the game, the Dawg Pack student section was rowdy. Then, the normally late-arriving crowd filled the stadium with "Go Huskies!" chants that drowned out the playing of "America The Beautiful."

"We want to show the world how beautiful and how special this place is," Woodward said last week. "We will be showcasing that on Saturday."

He must be a prophet. At times, it was beautiful and special. At times, it was frustrating, but not like the frustration of last year. Here's the best part: There's more to come.

We have sampled a small dose of the newness. It felt real good. It felt like football. It felt like progress.

Jerry Brewer: 206-464-2277 or jbrewer@seattletimes.com, Twitter: @Jerry_Brewer