The Washington Huskies will open spring football practice at 4 p.m. today, and you’re invited.

Among the many ways first-year coach Steve Sarkisian differs from predecessor Tyrone Willingham is his attitude regarding public practices. Willingham wanted to protect his team from distractions, so most practices were closed to media and fans. Sarkisian figures there are plenty of distractions on game days, so his players might as well prepare in game-like conditions.

“I want our kids used to performing in front of people,” he explained Monday. “I want them used to having eyes on them. I want them used to feeling that people are watching them. Because the last thing I want is for us to be enclosed, and it’s quiet and we’re just out there with ourselves. And then we show up to play LSU and there’s 73,000 people here and our guys are looking in the stands like, ‘Oh my gosh, they’re here to watch me, they’re here to watch us.’ And now they’re worried about the stands and the people watching; and not what’s important, and that’s the game.”

Sarkisian said he also wants open practices so that fans and media can understand how hard his coaches and players are working. Finally, he believes “it’s a big deal that we continue to create the buzz for Husky football.” He said open practices allow fans who normally watch games from the upper deck to get a much closer look and better appreciation of the speed, skill and collisions of major college football.

“Those are experiences – especially with young kids – that you don’t get every day,” he said. “To get that opportunity, I think, is big; and I think people will enjoy it.”

The open practices come with a few rules. Admission is free, but normal on-campus parking fees apply. Weekday practices start at 4 p.m., Saturday practices at 1 p.m. Practices will be held today, Thursday and Saturday this week; then Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays through April 25. Stadium entry is through the northeast corner, near the softball stadium. No still or video photography is allowed, and fans are asked to turn off the cell phones.

With the news that Tony Bennett is leaving Washington State for Virginia, comes renewed appreciation for Lorenzo Romar's professed -- and apparently genuine -- desire to remain at Washington for the rest of his career.

I asked UW athletic director Scott Woodward today about the value of that.

"It's great," he said. "Lorenzo is a heck of a coach and we're lucky to have him. It's that time of the year. It will be interesting to watch with three or four really big jobs open right now: Georgia, Kentucky, Virginia and Arizona. Those are formidable jobs and I'm sure there are more to come.

About an hour or so later, the Virginia job was filled and the WSU job was open.

I asked Woodward if he plans to sweeten Romar's deal in light of the Huskies' return to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

"It's a good contract," he said. "He and I have not sat down yet after the season and had that discussion, but we will. We will do the right thing on that contract when we talk about it."

UW football coach Steve Sarkisian says the Huskies will open spring football practice tomorrow without a depth chart.

Everything is new under Sark, and he wants to send that message that that includes everyone's place on the team.

Those clean slates will begin taking on information at 4 p.m. Tuesday, when the Huskies open spring drills. Fans are welcome to attend. (Just be sure to pay whatever on-campus parking fees and enter Husky Stadium on the northeast side over by the softbal stadium.)

For now, a few other highlights from Sarkisian's meeting with the media today:

*He updated this injury list: CB Vonzel McDowell, limited; safety Jason Wells, absent; LB Kurt Mangum, limited; RB Brandon Yakabosk, out; SS Victor Aiyewa, limited; OL Terence Thamas, out; TE Marek Domansji, limited; TE Romeo Savant, limited.

*Former defensive lineman Senio Kelemente has been moved to the offensive line. Curtis Shaw will begin camp as a tailback, as will Chris Polk.

*The top goal of the staff is to get the Huskies to compete. To that end there will be scored practices, where offensive and defensive accomplishments are added up and winners announced. (I looked back at coach Tyrone Willingham's first pre-spring press conference. He said his top priority was attitude, second was intelligence.)

* Sarkisian says he plans three major scrimmages, the first coming April 11. But he isn't yet commiting to how game-like the spring game will be.

* He said he expects about 75 percent of his system to be installed in spring.