There are just 11 weeks left until the start of the 2008 NCAA college football season. The best part about this week is that it’s only 11 Saturdays until the Washington Huskies travel south to face the Oregon Ducks in their opener. . Husky coach Ty Willingham better have his players ready to win.

It’s a foregone conclusion that Willingham MUST lead Washington to a winning season and bowl appearance or his time as Husky coach will be over.

Since Willingham began his first season in Seattle, Husky fans and sponsors have been disappointed by his poor record. In 2005 Washington was 2-9 and last in the Pac 10 Conference. In 2006 Washington was 5-7 and next to last in the Pac 10. In 2007 Washington was 4-9 and last in the Pac 10. You get the picture.

An 11-25 record and zero bowl appearances have left Husky fans spellbound, upset and bewildered. Stacked against Don James’ 18-year career record of 153-57-2 (72%), a bowl game record of 10-4, and winning 22 straight games from 1990 to 1992, Willingham’s record looks really poor. .

The Washington Huskies have a proud football tradition that has fallen on hard times with Willingham at the helm. Prior to Willingham, the Huskies won 15 Pac-10 Conference Championships, 7 Rose Bowl titles, and 2 NCAA National Championships. No wonder Husky fans banged their helmets and ripped memorabilia off the rec room walls.

Washington has not had a winning season since 2002 (last season under Rick Neuheisel) and has had 4 consecutive losing seasons for the first time in Husky football history. Oh! It’s time to stop fucking around and get to it.

Willingham was told to get better coaches around him, and he responded by hiring Ed Donatell as the new defensive coordinator and Brian White as the new tight ends/special teams coach.

Donatell is a veteran NFL defensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons. Donatell seems like a no-nonsense guy who could drop a player on his back if necessary.

White really made his mark in Wisconsin as a running backs coach and offensive coordinator, helping the Badgers to 9 bowl appearances, including Rose Bowl selections in 1999 and 2000. He mentored 1999 Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne and of the 2001 NFL first-round pick, Michael. Bennett, and Anthony Davis, 2001 Big 10 Freshman of the Year.

There may be better coaches, more patient, more loyal losers in America than Ty Willingham, but God only knows where they might be.

Willingham’s main claim to fame in Washington has been keeping the program clean (no NCAA recruiting violations or other indiscretions), recruiting some promising players to join freshman sensation Jake Locker, exuding integrity, academic standards for players and good sportsmanship, and become president of the Board of Trustees of the American Football Coaches Association.

Winning football games (ultimately the only reason he’ll remain head coach of the Huskies), on the other hand, has been very elusive for Willingham.

So far, Willingham and his Huskies have reminded me of what Lou Holtz said one fine Saturday: “When all is said and done, more is said than done.” Lou Holtz had a way of getting to the point.

For Willingham, the future is clear: have a winning season in 2008 and go to a bowl game, or walk away.

Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley