UW Football
Notebook: D-line help is on the way, but he plays for USC

By Bob Condotta
Seattle Times staff reporter

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The Washington Huskies this weekend will finally see Rashaad Goodrum, the player they signed last winter with the hope that he would solve their defensive line woes.

One problem: He'll be on the other sideline.

Goodrum signed a letter of intent with UW last December, only to have it nullified when he didn't qualify academically. He ended up at USC, where he is a backup defensive end for the Trojans.

Despite being on the Washington roster for just a few months, he apparently still is infected by the Huskies' injury curse of 2004. Goodrum has played in just two games while battling a knee problem suffered in training camp.

Still, with the way UW defensive linemen have been going down, Goodrum, whom many expected would be an immediate starter at Washington, would almost certainly have started a game or two by now rather than making just the one measly tackle he has.

But Goodrum, who played the last two years at Los Angeles Valley College, has no second thoughts.

"Nothing against Washington," he said. "I just felt more comfortable staying down here and going to USC."

There were rumblings at the time he committed to UW that USC wanted him as well but wasn't promising a scholarship. So Goodrum signed with UW. But he ended up failing a history class and didn't graduate in time to enroll at UW for spring practice as planned. Goodrum said the failed class was not just a convenient way to get out of his commitment to UW.

"My teacher wouldn't help me out," Goodrum said. "I told him about my scholarship to Washington, but he said there was no way to pass the class."

Once he failed to enroll at UW, however, he was free from his letter, and by then, a scholarship at USC had opened up. Goodrum says his father lives in the Los Angeles area, which was another factor in deciding to attend USC.
 
"I liked their program up there," he said. "I just had to pick the spot I felt most comfortable."

Riley disputes late hit

Oregon State coach Mike Riley said yesterday he saw nothing wrong with the hit by Beavers offensive lineman Josh Linehan that resulted in a dislocated ankle and a broken fibula for UW defensive tackle Dan Milsten. Milsten is out for the year, and Gilbertson intimated that he thought the play was dirty.

"I know it wasn't a dirty hit," Riley said. "It was just the momentum of the play. ... Josh felt bad about it, and everybody feels very bad for the young man, but in no way was there malicious intent or was it dirty."

Riley called Gilbertson yesterday morning after learning that Gilbertson had questioned the hit.

"I think the world of Mike Riley, but we don't have to agree on (whether the Milsten hit was legal)," said Gilbertson, who added that the coaches discussed what Gilbertson says is an increasing reliance on chop and cut blocks that are leading to more injuries.

QB shuffle

Gilbertson still was not ready to name a starting quarterback yesterday, but he said Isaiah Stanback would take most of the snaps in practice.

Carl Bonnell said his injury — a second-degree abductor strain — is getting better, but he sounded unsure whether he could see action this week.

"I could possibly play, but I don't know health-wise what the doctors will think is best for me," he said.

Casey Paus, reported to have suffered a sprained ankle when hit while holding for a field-goal attempt against OSU, laughed about the injury and said, "It's nothing big. As far as I'm concerned, I'm 99 percent."

Uncertainty shows

Think Gilbertson isn't cognizant of his uncertain future?

During a wide-ranging discussion on football injuries with reporters yesterday, he several times made the statement "whether I'm coaching or not" when talking about rules changes he thinks need to be implemented soon.

And while answering an innocuous question about recruiting, Gilbertson said he knows that "some athletes have come out and said no (to attending Washington) until something is resolved here."

Notes

• Gilbertson said 11 players have had surgery since the start of fall camp in August. WR Quintin Daniels could be the 12th if doctors decide his injured knee needs surgery.

• Gilbertson said surgery to repair Khalif Barnes' dislocated wrist went well, but it's uncertain whether he will be able to return to action.

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