UW Football
Notebook: Gilbertson urges patience with team

By Bob Condotta
Seattle Times staff reporter

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Dissatisfied Washington Huskies fans need not bother — the Web domain firegilby.com is already taken.

But interestingly enough, the site, which was started after Washington's 38-3 loss to Notre Dame on Saturday, actually posts a message of support for UW coach Keith Gilbertson, urging Huskies fans to be more patient.

Gilbertson was singing a similar tune himself yesterday.

The Huskies are 0-3 for the first time since 1969, when they lost their first nine games before beating Washington State to finish 1-9. Gilbertson acknowledged that he knows some fans are upset, while saying the team's youth can explain much of its troubles.

"I know there is probably some impatience, some frustration with what we are going through," he said. "But it's not like we didn't see it coming. I don't remember anybody picking us first (in the Pac-10)."

In fact, expectations were universally low for UW, considering last year's 6-6 record and the fact the Huskies had to replace key players, such as quarterback Cody Pickett and receiver Reggie Williams.

Still, optimists held out hope that a full-scale collapse of the type that now seems in the offing could be averted. Gilbertson said yesterday the struggles the program has endured off the field the last few years are now catching up to the team on the field.

"No one enjoys these deals, but it's really part of the deal, especially with what we have been through here for years and years, kind of being in the crosshairs and having coaching changes," he said. "We've still got some work to do."

Gilbertson said he thinks the team's recent youth movement — just five seniors are scheduled to start Saturday at Stanford, two on offense and three on defense — will soon pay dividends.

"We are not going to make seniors out of freshmen," Gilbertson said. "But in a couple of weeks from now, a month from now, these guys will have a month's more experience and have four more games under their belt, and I think we will see significant improvement. We are what we are, though, and when you play that many youngsters, first-year guys, I think you are prone to have this."
 
Players who attended yesterday's weekly media luncheon expressed their faith in the coaching staff, though the 0-3 record has led to the inevitable rumors of some player discontent.

It is known Gilbertson cut practice short last Thursday after he sensed the players weren't giving a good effort.

"We can't be coached any more than we are right now," said junior safety Dashon Goldson. "We've got real good coaches. Everybody wants to blame the coaches — the media and everybody else. It's not the coaches. We all know that. Ask the whole team. They'll tell you it's not the coaches. Everybody knows it's on the players."

Notes

• WR Corey Williams had surgery on his wrist Sunday morning. It is estimated it will take him three to six months to recover.

• FB Zach Tuiasosopo will be out at least five to six weeks with a broken fibula. Tuiasosopo said yesterday he would like to come back and play late in the season if he can. It's unlikely Tuiasosopo, who redshirted as a freshman in 2000, would be able to get a sixth year of eligibility, Gilbertson said. James Sims will start in place of Tuiasosopo.

• DE Manase Hopoi (leg) and CB Derrick Johnson (hyperextended knee) may be limited in practice early in the week but are expected to be able to play against Stanford.

• The Stanford game will not be televised, nor will the San Jose State game on Oct. 9.