Questions abound for 2001 football season

By Sunny Wu

Sep 25, 2001, 12:00 AM

The glow of the 2001 Rose Bowl has long faded, and the 34-24 victory over Purdue is now a pleasant but distant memory. This is a new season for Washington, a season with its share of questions and uncertainty. Who will play quarterback? Who will lead? Is the UW good enough to repeat as conference champions? The first question will be answered by the time this story reaches your mailbox. Most likely Cody Pickett, a sophomore from Caldwell, Idaho, will start at quarterback. Pickett has attempted only six passes in his career, but after two seasons under coach Rick Neuheisel's system, he is ready. If he falters, however, expect Taylor Barton, a transfer from City College of San Francisco, to jump right in. Barton was hand-picked by Neuheisel, who sacrificed two scholarships for the player he originally recruited while at Colorado. The second question is just as important as the first. Great teams possess great leaders. Team leaders need to emerge during fall practice and throughout the season. "[Former quarterback] Marques Tuiasosopo was the heart and soul of last year's team," said senior defensive lineman Larry Tripplett. The resilient Tuiasosopo, now an Oakland Raider, was deeply respected by his teammates. Tripplett, who chose to return for his senior year, will undoubtedly be called upon to be the heart and soul of the defense. Another player with potential to lead is junior tight end Jerramy Stevens. At 6-foot-7, 260 pounds, Stevens is a force, creating mismatches and driving opposing defensive coaches crazy. However, Stevens has had a tumultuous collegiate career. Last season he was arrested as a suspect in connection with a sexual assault. No charges were filed. In June he pled guilty to a misdemeanor for crashing his truck into a retirement home. He will have to complete 240 hours of community service by March. "I think Jerramy has made great strides to correct his mistakes," Neuheisel said. "I believe that his peers respect him not only for what he brings on the field but also how he handled his mistakes." If Stevens, who has said he will curb his drinking, stays clear of trouble and produces the way he did last season (43 catches for 600 yards), he will be the best tight end in the country. And he will forgo his final year of eligibility, as the NFL looms large. For the most part, with 12 returning starters, this is a young team. "We have a lot of inexperienced players," Neuheisel said, "players who haven't experienced game action." Perhaps that's why the Huskies are expected to finish fourth behind Oregon, Oregon State and UCLA in the Pac-10. "We now have to climb the ladder again," Neuheisel said. The Ducks and the Beavers, the two that shared the Pac-10 title with the Huskies last year, are receiving the bulk of the preseason media hype. Sports Illustrated named OSU the top team in the country. Many also believe Oregon will be a national title contender. Of course the Huskies feel slighted. "They're going to have to prove themselves first," Tripplett said. So do the Huskies. That's right -- it's going to be a great fall.

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