The top three college programs based on football tradition are Michigan, Notre Dame and Oklahoma, according to a national survey by Collegiate Licensing Co. and Learfield Sports.

You may notice that two of those schools -- the Irish and the Sooners -- will play in Husky Stadium this fall. (Here's the UW football schedule.)

One other unrelated note: There are reports that a group interested in bringing a Pac-10 affiliated bowl game back to Seattle will make their pitch this week to Pac-10 athletic directors. You may recall that such a bowl made a two-season run earlier this decade, with Stanford (under coach Tyrone Willingham) losing to Georgia Tech, 24-14, in 2001; and Oregon losing to Wake Forest, 38-17, in 2002.

The Washington Huskies announced today that receiver Curtis Shaw is leaving the team for family reasons. The school said that he is in no legal trouble and is in good standing with the team. He is free to return at some later date, but his absence is considered long-term.

Shaw is a sophomore from Stockton, Calif. He caught five passes last season, but even that figure would have made him the second-leading returning receiver behind D'Andre Goodwin, who had six catches.

Although no official depth chart has circulated this fall, Shaw seemed to be working mostly with the second team.

The Huskies are practicing twice today, and between sessions we got some time with Tyrone Willingham, offensive coordinator Tim Lappano and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell.

Among the highlights:

*Jake Locker didn't practice this morning and remains day to day, as does CB Byron Davenport (ankle) and RB Brandon Johnson (knee).

*With Locker out, Lappano said expressed his confidence in redshirt freshman Ronnie Fouch, who he said is getting about 90 percent of the No. 1 reps. Lappano also said that walk-on Taylor Bean is probably next in line, partly because of his progress from last season and partly because the true freshmen behind him are swimming mentally.

*Starting linebacker Josh Gage missed this morning's workout with a viral issue. He may returning for the afternoon session.

*Willingham and Lappano both said that Juan Garcia has taken part in full-speed blocking and his injured foot seems to have weathered it encouragingly. Still, Plan B remains operative at center, with guard Ryan Tolar getting work there both as an emergency matter and to open some time at guard for Jordan White-Frisbee, who Willingham said has shown "amazing power."

*Lappano said that the middle of this week will force some decisions on the highly competitive positions such as tailback and receiver. Especially at tailback, there are just too many folks competing for reps, and by Friday, Lappano expects to decide on a top four and go forward with them while breaking the bad news to the others.

*Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said there is no such urgency on the defensive side. He said on the defensive line his only standard is deciding who can play, and he plans to rotate those guys through regardless of who happens to be in the starting lineup. He agreed that the line's only experienced player and borderline star -- junior end Daniel Teo-Nesheim -- won't be rotated as much, but Donatell would even like to have him on the field for fewer snaps this season, trying to keep fuel in his high-energy motor. There will be less rotation among the linebackers and secondary, but even there Donatell seems in no rush to decide any meaningful pecking order yet.

*Willingham said that the various kickers are now being tried out as holders on field goals and extra points. Reserve quarterback Carl Bonnell handed that duty last season, but Willingham likes the idea of using kickers because kickers obviously spend all of practice on special teams work, while quarterbacks have to break away from their QB duties to practice holding. Willingham granted that having a QB back there might add some increase flexability in terms of fakes or bothed snaps ... but he added that some of the kickers might be able to throw a little bit, too.

*There was a minor camp fight this morning with OL Casey Bulyca and DL Johnie Kirton going at it. Lappano didn't seem entirely displeased, noting that it is sometime hard to get players going full speed after the off-day they enjoyed Sunday.

*Finally, acting UW athletic director Scott Woodward confirmed his feeling that a full-time athletic director might be in named before the start of football season.

With no UW practice on Sunday, and no coaches or players available, we'll turn elsewhere for some reading material ... at least until normal blogging resumes around noon Monday:

Sports Illustrated has ranked the 119 Division I-A (Football Bowl Subdivision...) teams, placing UW 70th overall and eighth in the Pac-10.

Speaking of the Pac-10, the big topic through the opening week of practices was injuries to starting quarterbacks.

UCLA quarterback Ben Olson is out at least eight weeks.

While USC quarterback Mark Sanchez hopes to be back by the season-opener.

The Los Angeles Times has this overview of the situation, reaching the not surprising conclusion that the Trojans have the horses to overcome such setbacks, while the Bruins will have a tougher time.

Amid all the quarterback concerns, the Tucson Citizen reports that Arizona believes it has the depth to survive an injury to starter Willie Tuitama ... although they're obviously hoping not to find out.

Someone must believe them, because the Associated Press projects the Wildcats among the country's likely surprise teams.

Finally, ESPN ranks the highest up-tempo offenses in college football and ranks UW season-opening opponent Oregon at the top of the list.