12/03/2008

By TIM BOOTH  / Associated Press

Jake Locker is watching and waiting just like everyone else to see who Washington's new football coach will be.

"All of us are at the same point you are, just kind of waiting and waiting for them to kind of narrow it down and decide who they're going to seriously start looking at," the injured quarterback said Tuesday.

Locker lost most of his sophomore season with a broken right thumb suffered when he attempted to throw a block on a reverse in Washington's 35-28 loss to Stanford on Sept. 27. He was forced to become a spectator and watch the worst season in Washington's history without being able to help.

Tyrone Willingham's four years as coach at Washington end Saturday when the winless Huskies, facing California, try to avoid the first 0-12 season in Pac-10 Conference history.

Locker said being sidelined allowed him to gain a different perspective on the problems within his team, something that was addressed in a players' meeting the week before the Huskies' 16-13 double overtime loss to rival Washington State in the Apple Cup.

"There are a lot of things within our team that the players need to take responsibility for. There (are) a lot of things we could have done as a team to give ourselves a better chance to win," Locker said. "It's something we've talked about and we've addressed and we're trying to make strides in the right direction to improve upon it."

Locker had surgery following the injury to insert plates and pins to stabilize the break.

The surgery was successful but the healing process took longer than initially thought and Locker was in a cast for eight weeks.

He got the stitches out just last week and began basic range-of-motion exercises. He has no idea when he'll be able to start throwing again, but doesn't believe he'll miss any of spring practice.

As for who the Huskies new coach will be — with the latest rumors based on airline workers and passengers having Texas Tech's Mike Leach in town Tuesday — Locker said having someone who isn't afraid to challenge the team might get a better response from the players.

So far, UW athletic director Scott Woodward is known to have interviewed two candidates: Fresno State coach Pat Hill and Notre Dame offensive coordinator Michael Haywood.

Locker said he's got the utmost confidence in Woodward.

"I really have a lot of respect for Scott and how he's dealt with a lot of things to this point. I trust him. I think he knows the game. He's been at places that have had very successful programs and he knows what it takes to win," Locker said. "I have no doubt he's going to find the best guy for our situation and get him in here and give us the best opportunity to turn this thing around."