UW’s Stanback can only stand by

SEATTLE – Isaiah Stanback said he knew he was in trouble as soon as his right foot gave out. He hoped against hope that it wasn’t the worst-case scenario that it turned out to be, but he knew that at best, he’d be out for a while.

Now the Washington senior quarterback watches from the sideline as his team stumbles to the finish of what was once a promising season. But Stanback refuses to believe that his loss to a severe foot injury Oct. 14 is the reason why the Huskies have fallen apart.

“Me not being able to play anymore shouldn’t be the reason we’re losing,” Stanback said. “There are other things, just like if I was playing and we lost. We have to take care of business on the field, and we haven’t done that lately.”

What Stanback’s loss meant to the team is debatable, though it’s clear he meant more to the team than he’d like to admit. Teams are clearly not defending the Huskies in the same way as they did when Stanback was on the field, and that has led to some of the struggles with the offense.

Before he was hurt, Stanback was having a career year in his second season as the starter. He was averaging 239.3 yards of total offense a game. He was completing 53 percent of his passes for 189 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions, and he was also rushing for 50 yards a game.

But scrambling against Oregon State, he planted his foot in the Husky Stadium turf and immediately went down, and stayed down for a while before being carted off the field. Two days later he was ruled out for the season, ending his career.

Washington coach Tyrone Willingham said Stanback would be on the sidelines during Saturday’s Apple Cup at Pullman, as he’s been elected a team captain. Willingham said it helps having another quarterback on the sideline to help out Carl Bonnell, and also said Stanback’s enthusiasm also helps the team.