Huskies show no pride, effort against USC

LOS ANGELES — If you thought this program still had some pride left, if you thought these players who have given so little this season, might, just might, give it up just this one Saturday afternoon in tribute to the coach who recruited them, you were sadly mistaken.

Washington wasn't flat against sixth-ranked USC, it was roadkill.

It played with so little emotion it didn't get a first down in the first quarter and only the clock stopped the Trojans' offense in the first half.

If you thought Huskies players wanted to make a statement in defense of coach Tyrone Willingham, who was forced out Monday, effective at the end of the season, they didn't. If you thought they cared about their coach, well, they played as if they didn't.

Wonder why Willingham didn't work at Washington? Watch the tape of the first half of this 56-0 embarrassment at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Instead of giving it up for Willingham, the Huskies gave up on Willingham — again. They made a good USC team look legendary.

The Trojans had 35 points before the Huskies had a first down. They made Washington (0-8) look like a team of walk-ons. These were the humbled Huskies.

USC quarterback Mark Sanchez played pitch and catch with receivers Patrick Turner and Ronald Johnson. He completed 15 of 17 passes in the half, for 167 yards and two touchdowns.

Twice in the first quarter Sanchez and Turner toasted cornerback Quinton Richardson — a 4-yard slant pass, followed by a 32-yard bomb that gave USC a 14-0 lead before the tailgaters were settled in their seats.

When Terrance Dailey finally ran for the first Washington first down with 8:20 left in the first half, the Coliseum crowd cheered derisively.

The score was 42-0 before Washington's offense crossed midfield for the first time. By halftime, USC had outgained the Huskies 325-35. The Trojans scored on drives of 57, 66, 33, 60, 16 and 71 yards.

All week, USC coach Pete Carroll worried publicly about the Huskies' hunger. He fretted over whether they would play to win this for Willingham. This would be their Gipper game.

Carroll expected them to enter the game breathing fire.

But the Huskies were cold as ice.

They were so bad, Carroll replaced most of his starters by the middle of the third quarter.

Now, with North Texas' win, the Huskies are the only winless team in NCAA Division I. Washington used to be mentioned in the same breath with Oklahoma, Texas, Florida and Miami. Now it is linked with North Texas.

Did you ever think something this bad could happen at Washington? Did you ever think they would surrender this easily? Did you ever think a Washington team would look this overmatched?

"It's a very tough thing to watch," said former Huskies quarterback Billy Joe Hobert, who stood on the Washington sideline. "And the tough thing is, if the University of Washington, in the days of old, had a really bad record, at least when they went into a stadium to play a game that other team knew we were there. They knew we would beat them up one way or another. The other team might win, but they were going to feel it.

"But I don't get that sense with this team. I don't see that same sense of urgency. I don't see that desire. I don't see that fire. I don't see that anger. I don't see that passion for the game, and it's just frustrating. It breaks my heart."

Forget the infinitive in the Huskies' fight song, this season merely has been, "Bow Down, Washington."

And for those of you who think Willingham's firing should have been effective immediately, well, no interim coach should have had to take responsibility for this loss.

This lopsided smack in the face belonged to Willingham. He, not some unfortunate assistant, should have been on the sideline for this game. He is responsible for the mess. This loss belongs on his record.

The first half, which was all that remotely mattered, was a definition of what is wrong with this program. This lack of effort was an indictment of the coach and an example of how far the program has fallen.

The one time the Huskies did show some fight, holding USC on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, they were flagged for an offsides penalty. Sanchez ran a quarterback sneak for a score on the next play.

Such is the unraveled state of Washington football.

Who would have thought it could ever sink to this?

The Trojans are good, but they aren't the New York Giants. They struggled a week ago in their win over Arizona. They lost to Oregon State and virtually are out of the race for the BCS title game.

Believe it or not, there have been questions all season about the efficiency of the USC offense.

But the Huskies didn't tackle. They dropped at least a half-dozen passes. Their special teams made poor decisions.

There only will be more of the same flawed fundamentals that have plagued the program since Willingham took over four years ago.

The university deserves better than this. The 60,000 fans who still show up at every Saturday home game deserve better.

After this debacle Willingham was steadfast in his belief that he still is the best man to lead Washington for the final four games.

Clearly he isn't.

Steve Kelley: 206-464-2176 or skelley@seattletimes.com.