Huskies call upon ex-Cougar

Earlier this week, Tyrone Willingham talked about how there is “no standing in the middle or sitting on the fence” when it comes to the Apple Cup.

His quarterback, though, has managed to land on both sides of same barrier.

In one of this year’s – and possibly, in one of any year’s – more entertaining Apple Cup twists, Washington quarterback Carl Bonnell began his career at Washington State, having agreed to come to Pullman after signing a letter of intent to take part-time classes as he prepared for life as a Cougars signal-caller.

That was in 2002, when Bonnell had agreed to delay his full-time entry into WSU’s program until the following January. But the departure of Mike Price and the wooing of Rick Neuheisel convinced Bonnell that he was on the wrong side of the storied rivalry.

So the Kent, Wash., native, who was living with his brother, a walk-on at WSU, packed his bags and headed back for the West Side and Montlake.

“It was incredibly hard,” Bonnell said. “You were leaving the people who had trusted you to become the next leader of the team and become their quarterback and try to do some good things over there. It was definitely a tough situation.”

Not long thereafter, the Cougars used Bonnell’s vacated scholarship on a quarterback from Oregon who had orally committed to Boise State. His name? Alex Brink, who will start opposite Bonnell this week for the Cougars.

Brink said he had no recollection of meeting Bonnell – the Huskies quarterback thinks they might have shaken hands after last year’s Apple Cup – but Brink isn’t about to throw roses at Bonnell’s feet for paving his road to the Pac-10.

“Am I supposed to give him a phone call for that?” Brink deadpanned earlier this season.

Bonnell, now a junior like Brink, was not supposed to be the man under center for the Huskies in this game. But when senior Isaiah Stanback suffered a season-ending foot injury, Washington handed the reins over to Bonnell.

Since then, UW hasn’t won a game and it has fallen out of bowl contention. But a win against his near-teammates would provide some solace for Bonnell, who many assume will end up backing up freshman Jake Locker next season.

“I know the fans are going to have a few words to say, and some of the players, possibly,” Bonnell said of his return to Martin Stadium. “I know a lot of the guys over there and I lived over there for about four months. I have a little bit more respect for Washington State than a lot of people do.”

No Cougars have gone out of their way to needle Bonnell this week, but his ties to WSU are obvious. At football camp where he was offered a WSU scholarship, he played quarterback alongside Mkristo Bruce, who, having converted to defensive end, will try to harass the quarterback.

Bonnell’s brother not only played for WSU but also married a former Cougars soccer player, so his family is solidly split between the schools.

“When you have family that’s been a Cougar and you’ve been on that side, and then switch or change, it heightens everything,” Willingham said. “All the normal emotions that go along with this game will be just a bit higher. I think Carl will be very excited and eager to participate in this game.”

Bonnell almost wasn’t able to play in this Apple Cup, suffering from a thigh bruise that had his availability in doubt earlier this week.

Bonnell will start, but even if he hadn’t it would be clear: He’s seen the fence, and he’s picked his side.

“He’s a Husky now and I don’t really bring up any old demons or anything like that,” Washington linebacker Scott White said. “But he’s going to want to have a good showing against his old team.”