UW players already believe

"I can buy it right now. I'll buy it because I know he's a winning coach. He's proved it in the past," C.J. Wallace said of Willingham, who was introduced as the UW coach yesterday.

Wallace, who started at strong safety this past season, said Willingham already had made a connection with returning Huskies players in his first 24 hours in Seattle.

"He seems like he puts the players first and he wants to win. I respect that," said Wallace, a junior to be. "He seems like he's a straightforward guy. It's exciting right now, but we don't know what the outcome will be. But I'm excited to get into it and find out."

After taking part in a 1-10 season, the worst in school history, returning players are clinging to Willingham's words.

"When you're confident and smart at the same time, and you add on that discipline (Willingham) seems to have, you have to believe he is about what he says," tailback Shelton Sampson said.

"He says he has this process, and he wants us to go through certain things. This is what he wants for us, and he says he's going to back up his words. That's a coach I'll be able to put faith in," Sampson said.

Willingham's new players look to his 44-36-1 record at Stanford and his 21-15 mark the past three seasons at Notre Dame. Willingham's Fighting Irish whipped these same players 38-3 on Sept. 24.

"I heard he's a good coach. I've seen he's a good coach. He's a disciplinarian, and he doesn't take no mess from anyone," quarterback Isaiah Stanback said, "and that's what we need right now."

Stanback spent the 2004 season in a three-way battle with Casey Paus and Carl Bonnell for the starting job. All are scheduled to return in 2005.

Willingham has dealt with his share of quarterback controversies.

He inherited a Notre Dame team with three touted quarterbacks. Matt Lovecchio transferred to Indiana, Jared Clark moved to tight end, and Carlyle Holiday struggled in Willingham's pro-style offense.

Willingham was forced to juggle quarterbacks in his final season at Stanford. Chris Lewis and Randy Fasani battled for playing time after a knee injury sidelined Fasani for part of the season.

Stanback said he was aware of Willingham's experience with quarterback controversies.

"I'm not focused on that. I know what I have to do to be a starter, and that's all I'm worried about," the Garfield High product said.

Team members' concerns yesterday dealt with the hiring of position coaches, recruiting and getting focused on the task at hand.

"I think everyone believes in him. After what he told us what he's all about, (I believe) this is the man for the job," linebacker and captain Joe Lobendahn said. "I think he's going to turn this program around quick. It's not only his record at Stanford and Notre Dame, but the accomplishments he has done in life and getting to the point he is right now."

On the recruiting front, Willingham said he plans to take the team he has and make the best of it while also enhancing it.

"Regardless of what's here or not here, my expectation will be for these young men to be absolutely the best they can be in everything they touch, and to be the best we can be on the football field at this time," Willingham said.

One person who will not be on the field for Washington is Puyallup High's Adam Grant, a 6-foot-8 tight end who made an oral commitment to the Huskies in June. Grant told the P-I yesterday that he will sign with Arizona instead.

"I kind of knew (of) Tyrone, and he's a great coach and all, but I saw something special going on down in Arizona, and I want to be part of that," Grant said. "Things did change when (Keith Gilbertson) resigned."

Another in-state recruit, Bellevue running back J.R. Hasty, said he's thrilled with Washington's hiring of Willingham.

"I like it. It's a good move on their part," Hasty said. "He has strong relationships with his players at Notre Dame. You hear players say they love the coach and, obviously that sounds like he's a good one. My dad (14-year NFL veteran James Hasty) tells me he's a good one, too."

Hasty has said he and teammate E.J. Savannah, one of the nation's top linebacker prospects, would like to play at the same program and have Washington high on their lists.

Willingham said getting to know local high school coaches and keeping area talent at home are priorities.

P-I reporter Molly Yanity can be reached at 206-448-8295 or mollyyanity@seattlepi.com

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