If you somehow sneaked into Husky Stadium to watch the University of Washington's football practice (and I'd recommend hiding if you did. Security is tight), you saw a lot of different-numbered jerseys being worn.

Like Keith Price donning a No. 9 jersey, not his usual No. 17.

And Luther Leonard was not a slimmed-down Kavario Middleton wearing No. 80. He was playing speedster Terrance Toliver of the Tigers.

Welcome to regular-season football.

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Long before coach Steve Sarkisian came in for his inaugural regular-season press conference as the Washington Huskies' football coach on Monday afternoon at the Founders' Club, he'd already made waves.

Sarkisian firmed up his ever-changing depth charge heading into the opener Saturday against No. 11 Louisiana State.

The biggest shocker came with the reshuffling of the Huskies offensive line:

• Ben Ossai has been a left tackle. That is where he spent his first three seasons before Sarkisian and the staff moved him inside last spring to left guard. That is where he spent most of the preseason camp as well.

And as of Monday, that is where he'll return.

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Some Pacific-10 Conference news for y'all:

ARIZONA: The folks in Tucson think this is a football team that is fighting a perception that it was lucky to get to a bowl game last season – hence their No. 8 ranking in the preseason Pac-10 poll (I, for one, do not agree).

ARIZONA STATE: Weber gives the Sun Devils a weapon in the kicking game few teams in America have.

OREGON: Ducks' top recruit from the 2009 class – Harris – is in the fold, practicing Saturday. He's been cleared by the NCAA.

OREGON STATE: Final-day-of-fall-camp story from Corvallis.

UCLA: Moline around to set the record straight, with any teammate.

USC: Despite quarterback issues, Carroll says the offense will not downshift in 2009.

WASHINGTON STATE: My good pal, Vince Grippi, breaks down three key position battles for the Cougars. He also got a few thoughts from coach Paul Wulff about "staying the course" in his second season.

Quite frankly, the morning practice Saturday was about as listless a workout session as you're going to find under new University of Washington football coach Steve Sarkisian and his high-energy standards.

He admitted as such, saying afterward, "This is always kind of a hard day for the guys, because we break (preseason) camp, but we're really not in game-prep mode. They haven't gotten their playbooks or anything like that. So it's kind of a limbo day for them. But I'm sure when we come back Monday, we'll be ready to go."

About the only animated characters Saturday were in Nick Holt's cast on defense, particularly the linebackers.

Mason Foster intercepted a Jake Locker pass during first-down offense drills and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown.

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Some quick-hit stuff around the Pac-10. Most teams are into regular-season mode:

ARIZONA: Zendejas on shaky footing as Wildcats' starting placekicker amid recent struggles.

ARIZONA STATE: Because of injuries, Osweiler, a true freshman from Montana and former Gonzaga men's basketball recruit, will serve as No. 2 quarterback behind Sullivan.

CALIFORNIA: Utah product Sofele is the only true freshman guaranteed playing time. He'll play receiver, and special teams.

OREGON: Receiver rotation will be solidified after weekend workouts.

OREGON STATE: It's not out of the realm of possibility that Jacquizz, the reigning Pac-10 offensive MVP, could play some quarterback.

STANFORD: Earliest commitment in program history, freshman linebacker spent extra time recruiting others.

UCLA: After Friday scrimmage, coach Neuheisel declares Bruins offense unfit for game-day action.

USC: Lost in quarterback carousel is the quiet emergence of McKnight into the starting tailback role.

WASHINGTON STATE: A decision on the starting quarterback between Lopina and Lobbestael should come Tuesday.

As is usually the tradition, coach Steve Sarkisian left the decision solely up to the players, and their votes for 2009 team captains were revealed Friday at the “Raise The Woof” celebration at Husky Stadium.

Quarterback Jake Locker and center Ryan Tolar were selected from the offensive side of the ball, and defensive end Daniel Te’o-Nesheim and linebacker Donald Butler were named from the defense.

This is Te’o-Nesheim’s second appointment. He was one of the four captains from last season’s team under former coach Tyrone Willingham. He started all 12 games, and the senior from Waikoloa, Hi. was among the Pacific-10 Conference leaders in sacks (eight) and tackles for loss (111/2).

Butler, the team’s representative at Pac-10 media day in July, is moving back to inside linebacker after E.J. Savannah was reinstated with the team during the offseason. Butler is the team’s second-leading active player in tackles (145) behind Te’o-Nesheim’s 157.

Locker, the Pac-10 freshman of the year in 2007, played just four games last season before suffering a season-ending thumb injury against Stanford. The Ferndale native was hurt on a play blocking for a teammate downfield. The last quarterback to be a Husky captain was Cody Pickett, in 2003.

Tolar, the Pasco product who has moved from guard to center, extends the string of a center being selected to three years in a row. Juan Garcia was a two-time selection the past two seasons, and Tolar exemplifies the same gritty qualities as him.

Ten of UW's 11 non-conference men's basketball games will be shown on local TV.

(The only game that is not scheduled to be televised will be Nov. 14 vs. Belmont. That one goes head-to-head with FSN's Pac-10 football game of the week, perhaps the Washington at Oregon State game.)

Here's the UW basketball release from GoHuskies.com.

The Huskies are off sleeping in their hotel beds, getting ready for their SIMULATED game day at Husky Stadium, away from the attention of everybody else.

Anyway, here is other nuggets around the Pacific-10 Conference:

ARIZONA: Gronkowski and Tutogi are sharing one of the most vital positions in the Wildcats' offense – H-back.

ARIZONA STATE: Offensive line injuries are one of the many concerns the Sun Devils have entering 2009.

CALIFORNIA: Tedford does his own recruiting – of true freshman students arriving on campus for the first time – to come out and watch practice. One won a all-expenses trip to Minnesota.

OREGON: Touted defensive back Harris should be ready to practice Saturday. A redshirt season has not been ruled out.

OREGON STATE: Beavers are taking the same schedule as UW – no more scrimmage and a light 10:45 a.m. workout Saturday, then the rest of the weekend off.

STANFORD: Quarterbacks play well, but no Gerhart in Cardinal's final scrimmage.

UCLA: Neuheisel is the latest to join Twitter and video blogging after finally studying how it all works.

USC: Everybody has an opinion on true frosh Barkley's appointment to the starting throne at quarterback.

WASHINGTON STATE: Players are trying to make a late run for starting positions. The Cougars have their final scrimmage today.

Again, action for the Washington Huskies' late-afternoon practice, which was more like a breezy walkthrough, lasted about an hour.

Afterward, the start of the team's "mock game," which coach Steve Sarkisian had spoke about after the morning practice, began as players grabbed their belongings from the locker room, and boarded a bus to stay at an undisclosed team hotel in Bellevue.

"All the things that take place in a game to get our guys in a situation where they feel comfortable doing it the way we want it done," Sarkisian said earlier in the day.

Other notes:

• After the 4:15 p.m. session was originally supposed to be open to the public, the UW staff closed it for no unspecified reason.

• Of all the sidelined players from morning practice because of injuries, only receiver Cody Bruns (hamstring) returned. He fielded punts.

• Through the UW's walkthrough without pads, Wilson High's Marcus Trufant was with the No. 1 defense.

• Approximately 1,400 tickets remain for the season opener against No. 11 Louisiana State on Sept. 5.

Practice barely lasted an hour – just enough to over a few kickoff return drills, two-minute offense and some scout team stuff on Louisiana State.

None of the players sidelined from practice Wednesday returned (a reminder of that list later in the post).

And nobody got hurt Thursday morning as coach Steve Sarkisian said the players are starting to shift their attention toward the regular season.

"I think they're just excited to get into game-prep mode," the first-year coach said.

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An earlier-than-usual look around the Pacific-10 Conference, since it is the last day of UW's two-a-day workouts at Husky Stadium:

ARIZONA: Here's a feature story on Puyallup's Ryan Grant, an oft-injured fifth-year senior (two ACL surgeries) who is finally getting his chance to start on the offensive line at tackle.

ARIZONA STATE: There are reasons why Burfict could be the biggest impact true freshman in the conference at linebaker. And then there is THIS reason.

CALIFORNIA: As usual, a Bay Area blackout in news. Here is a look at the opening-day roster.

OREGON: The Huskies aren't the only ones tangled in the NCAA's web of ineligibility due to clerical-work bog down. One Ducks' recruit finally got to return to the team.

STANFORD: Cardinal has one hilarious comedian, and he plays linebacker as a true freshman.

UCLA: Dye and Love in dead heat for Bruins starting strong safety position. It should go down to the wire, too.

USC: If signs prove true, then the signal-caller job should go to Corp over Barkley.

WASHINGTON STATE: The Spokesman-Review continues on with position previews, this time on the defensive backs. Also, my pal Jim Moore – whether he truly believes it or not – thinks the Cougars will be a BCS bowl contender (not really, but he is excited about the upcoming fortunes).

Preseason camp will officially expire Friday night, but that doesn't mean the Washington Huskies are only concerned about themselves before then.

No. 11 Louisiana State awaits.

And this isn't just a Tigers squad intent on erasing all doubts from last season's disappointing effort, struggling on both sides of the ball. It's a roaming, foaming Tigers' nation, expected to invade Husky Stadium with their own tint of college-football purple.

Scout-team work began Wednesday. On one end, the No. 1 offense ran against some of LSU's attacking schemes under new defensive coordinator John Chavis, who spent the past 14 seasons in the Southeastern Conference at Tennessee.

"They always have good talent, and have good players. I think it will be a good test for up front, and in the (receiving corps)," said UW quarterback Jake Locker. "(Receivers are) going to have to run good routes. We're going to have to make sure we're crisp up front with our blocking schemes and everything. And we're going to have to make plays … and find ways to make things happen."

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Took a much-needed day off Tuesday, and the blog was a little light in content. We'll return to its thorough content today for a 3 p.m. practice. Meanwhile, some news around the Pacific-10 Conference:

ARIZONA: Sure, the Wildcats cannot pick a starting quarterback. But that doesn't mean they can't make decisions – like, for example, moving Golden from cornerback to safety, which has worked out just fine.

ARIZONA STATE: Touted defensive end has been suspended for three games because of a team violation.

CALIFORNIA: New offensive coordinator (Ludwig) has a long history with Tedford's designs.

OREGON: Masoli sharper in scrimmage seen only by a few VIP folks, including Nike's Knight.

OREGON STATE: Mike Riley has seen plenty in his years in football, but not this – a freshman starter at offensive tackle.

STANFORD: The Luck Era is officially underway in Palo Alto, and he's ready to run with it.

UCLA: Harris back with the No. 1 Bruins offense on the offensive line.

USC: Can Corp take control of the quarterback job with the Trojans? He's healthy, and willing.

WASHINGTON STATE: Another position preview, this time on the linebackers. It is a position the Cougars do have hope for as being a real strength, especially with Federal Way High product Andre Barrington and Idaho native Darren Markle being contributors in the near future.

Editor's note: I was off Tuesday. UW men's basketball writer Don Ruiz covered morning practice, and the evening stuff was taken care of by Scott Johnson, of the Everett Herald.

Former University of Washington football coach Jim Lambright has been by a couple of times to witness the new tempo – and era – of Steve Sarkisian.

And on Tuesday night, 76-year-old Don James, who spent 17 seasons with the team, attended practice, and talked to the team afterward.

"I've heard more good things. The enthusiasm's been good. I think this team's going to be better than the new staff might've thought when they got here," James said. "People that really know Tyrone (Willingham) feel like his best recruiting class was last year. ... I'm really impressed with the things they're doing. They're making good decisions."

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The start of the final week of preseason camp for most Pacific-10 Conference schools. Alert, alert, alert!

ARIZONA: The dreaded two-quarterback system might be a thing of the present for the Wildcats' offense. Ten schools employed it last year, with one registering a winning record.

CALIFORNIA: Not a real surprise to anyone, but coach Jeff Tedford names incumbent Riley as his starting quarterback for 2009 – quite possibly now because he has so many more decisions on starters to make before fall camp closes.

OREGON: Ducks closing in on final scrimmage tonight as tune-up for next week's showdown against Boise State.

OREGON STATE: Looks like the action is light-hearted around the Beavers' team these days, courtesy of a couple of Rodgers' brothers.

STANFORD: A private shower in the locker room has coach Jim Harbaugh in hot water (isn't it usually the other way around with showers?).

UCLA: Having speed is one thing. Translating it to big-play potential is the real challenge for the Bruins' staff.

USC: Strong words from Galippo, a new starting linebacker – "people who underestimate us will get smacked in the mouth."

WASHINGTON STATE: An NCAA Div. II transfer from the defunct Western Washington program is now a starter for the Cougars, who have serious experience issues on the defensive line, as detailed in this report by the Spokesman-Review. Also, a former Bellevue High star was arrested for possession of alcohol.

There's nothing like sweating out hard work, and a bunch of screaming and yelling in front of the network that promotes itself as the "Worldwide Leader in Sports" – ESPN.

But University of Washington football coach Steve Sarkisian welcomed the idea.

Sarkisian informed the team he would be miked up for a segment that will air on ESPN's college football show, "Game Day."

"It's to show everybody how hard we work," Sarkisian said following the team's two-hour, 20-minute practice Monday, and after the ESPN camera crew wrapped up for the day. "It's the same reason why we open our practice, you know."

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Sunday is an off-day for a few of the Pacific-10 Conference schools. Here is what I could find:

OREGON: The Ducks will feature a lot of receivers taller than 6 feet – and with hops, too.

OREGON STATE: Small-town walkon is poised to start at left guard for Beavers offensive line.

USC: Carroll has already pointed to Armstead's replacement at defensive end: Jackson.

WASHINGTON STATE: The Spokesman-Review continues its position evaluation, this time focusing on the offensive line and center Kenny Alfred, a Gig Harbor High graduate.

ARIZONA: Underdog in Wildcats' quarterback race took a big step in closing that gap during the team's Saturday scrimmage.

ARIZONA STATE: Defense dominates Saturday scrimmage, and Montana product Osweiler is pulled midway through a drive for holding onto the ball too long.

CALIFORNIA: Best sheds lingering toe discomfort, nears full load heading into the Bears' Monday scrimmage.

OREGON: Masoli is the present at quarterback, but the Ducks might have seen the future in this true freshman – Hawkins. He's been impressive in the preseason.

OREGON STATE: 'Dogs' of defense force five interceptions and a fumble against Beavers' No. 2 offense in spirited scrimmage.

STANFORD: Not seeing much on the Cardinal. But if you want Tom Cable news … try the Bay Area newspapers.

UCLA: Bruins suffer from a case of 'freshmen-itis' in Saturday scrimmage, good and bad.

USC: Is it time for the Trojans' faithful to start worrying about the state of the offense? Yes, yes and yes – according to the scrimmage.

WASHINGTON STATE: Alex Brink, are you still alive? Sure Cougars' fans have a tad more appreciation for the Brink tenure now, considering the WSU quarterback situation is in a state of flux with Lobbestael and Lopina, which is previewed today by the Spokesman-Review.

Coach Steve Sarkisian wouldn't go as far as calling it stage fright – running through plays over and over with 2,000 curious spectators watching – but the Huskies' first-string offense certainly was slow to warm up to the reception Saturday afternoon at Husky Stadium.

And then Jake Locker and company got going.

Locker, in perhaps his best single drive in preseason camp, and certainly his most effective showing since the UW's Spring Game, directed the offense 80 yards to a touchdown in 10 plays to start the second half.

And it wasn't a typical dink-and-dunk, wear-you-out drive, either. Receiver Jordan Polk went 25 yards on an end-around. And Locker converted two longer third downs on passes – one a 9-yarder to James Johnson on third-and-7, and a 16-yarder to Polk on third-and-15.

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Many Pacific-10 Conference teams, including the Huskies (3 p.m.), are scrimmaging today. Here is some news from their camps:

ARIZONA: Mop-up defensive back Wade is now in starring role in Wildcats' secondary. And he's a ball hawk.

ARIZONA STATE: Today's scrimmage will go a long way in determining the direction the Sun Devils are going.

CALIFORNIA: More answers than questions about the Bears' offensive line starting to form. A starting five has been named.

OREGON: Hobbled receivers come back and look good in workouts Friday. Also, Blount, the starting running back, is back after a two-day absence.

OREGON STATE: Which "coach" has been most vocal from the sideline these days? It's receiver James Rodgers, who is healing slowly from a knee ailment.

STANFORD: This is a day old, but since the Cardinal is one of the few major programs in the country that doesn't receive daily coverage this time of year, here is a look at the walkons.

UCLA: So much talk about Ramirez taking over at tailback. That might subside with his lingering hamstring injury, and others taking their best shots at earning playing time.

USC: Injuries continue to mount in the Pac-10 capital of the West Coast. This one to Armstead will force the Trojans to shuffle around a few men on the defensive line.

WASHINGTON STATE: Lots happening, and a big portion of it not good. Running back James Montgomery (knee) will be out a couple of weeks, and that could carry into the Stanford opener. Not much has materialized in the quarterback race. And check this link out for a story on the Cougars' receiving corps.

Editor's note: I wasn't at practice Friday night because of a prior engagement. Most of this information about the Huskies' two-hour practice came from Scott Johnson, of the Everett Herald:

Johri Fogerson (ankle) returned to action and broke a 60-yard run in an 11-on-11 drill. Not to be outdone, Chris Polk busted a 30-yard touchdown run, stiff-arming David Batts at the 15.

Starting quarterback Jake Locker was 6-of-12 for 79 yards with an interception. He was sacked three times.

Backup offensive tackle Skyler Fancher limped off the field. It appeared to be a right ankle injury.

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Everybody, including offensive line coaches throughout the Pacific-10 Conference, is aware of what Daniel Te'o-Nesheim brings to the University of Washington's defensive-end position.

He's totaled 161/2 sacks the past two season on a defense that didn't get as many opportunities to come after the quarterback as, say, Southern California or Oregon State because the Huskies trailed big often times in the second half.

So, who is Te'o-Nesheim's partner in crime on the other side? It's Darrion Jones, who, like Te'o-Nesheim, is a fifth-year senior, and one of the few remaining players from former coach Tyrone Willingham's first recruiting class in 2005.

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Two-tailback formations are touch and go. Players seem to love them in order to create favorable matchups. Some old-school coaches hate them, because it can weaken protection schemes.

The Huskies showed a tad of it in spring camp, but not with the personnel grouping that coach Steve Sarkisian really thinks is most effective in that set – sophomore Johri Fogerson and redshirt freshman Chris Polk.

They put it on display Wednesday night during a third-down offense period. On the first play, a third-and-1, Polk split wide, and Fogerson took a handoff up the gut to gain a first down.

The next play, it was Polk who got loose for a 6-yard burst.

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Husky Stadium has survived as the USA bid committee has cut its field to 27 cities still in the running to host games if FIFA awards the 2018 or 2022 World Cup to this country.

Both Qwest Field and Husky Stadium remain among the contending venues.

More information is available at GoHuskies.com; and also from the USA bid committee site.

Preseason camp news from Wednesday:

ARIZONA: Lewis is a loud leader, and the Wildcats' most NFL-ready player at linebacker.

ARIZONA STATE: A few Sun Devils feel the offense will rebound just fine.

CALIFORNIA: Lots of injuries, lots of frustration – so much, coach Jeff Tedford is reportedly closing access to fall practices. No links available.

OREGON: Some things, football players just don't like – shaking hands in what is turning out to be a heated non-conference rivalry game with Boise State.

OREGON STATE: Not a great night for James Rodgers. He tweaked a knee, and lost a contact lens.

STANFORD: Top quarterbacks, including Clover Park's Pritchard, look sharp at team scrimmage.

UCLA: Kia, a candidate to start at left guard, is carted from practice field with knee injury.

USC: Seems like most of the news these days centers on the quarterback situation. And the Trojans have important decisions to make concerning Corp and Barkley.

WASHINGTON STATE: Seeking an energy bump, coach Paul Wulff has moved fall camp workouts off the practice field, and on to Martin Stadium (by the way, former WSU quarterback Alex Brink is back with the Houston Texans).

It wasn't the scare anybody needed to experience – running back Johri Fogerson laying on the turf at Husky Stadium, moving very little with trainers coming to his aid.

After the team went to an overtime scrimmage in its final period, Fogerson got loose on the first play with the second-team unit, and immediately pulled up right after he crossed the 10-yard line. He went down immediately.

Trainers examined his right foot, and a minute later, he got up and limped off under his own power.

Coach Steve Sarkisian said it was nothing more than a rolled ankle.

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Tacoma's own Isaiah Thomas has been included among 50 preseason candidates for the 2009-10 John R. Wooden Award All-American Team and Player of the Year trophy.

Thomas, who played at Curtis High School before moving to the Kent prep school in Connecticut, will be a sophomore at the University of Washington.

"I'm really honored," Thomas said through a UW press release. "This is a blessing from God to be on such a list with 50 of the best college players in the nation."

More information is available at GoHuskies.com.

The observation decks throughout Husky Stadium weren't for the faint at heart Wednesday morning as the UW team, fresh off its first training-camp scrimmage, looked flat, especially on offense.

Jake Locker was missing his targets, and appeared animated in his disgust. He just couldn't outdo coach Steve Sarkisian in that department.

Receivers were dropping easy passes. D'Andre Goodwin got an earful from his position coach, Jimmie Dougherty, on pulling out of a route near the sideline.

"We've got to find a way to get out of the mold of being convenience-catchers – when … nobody is around, it's an easy catch," Sarkisian said. "When it's contested, that is when we need to make our plays."

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Running a tad late, but here are some of the other news around the Pac-10 training camps Tuesday:

ARIZONA: The frantic search for Willie Tuitama's replacement should end this week, coaches say.

ARIZONA STATE: Former Gonzaga basketball recruit is closer to seeing playing time because of injury.

CALIFORNIA: The Bears held their first full-pad scrimmage, and the starting-quarterback candidates combined for five TD passes.

OREGON: Ducks running back leaves practice for personal reasons.

OREGON STATE: Down the depth chart, Virginia quarterback transfer still finds solitude in his decision.

USC: For all those who think that the Trojans just run people in and out of the lineup – flawlessly – think again. Their touted freshman quarterback struggled.

WASHINGTON STATE: Two practices, and the defense owns the day in Pullman.

A heads-up was never given. Johri Fogerson walked into the University of Washington football locker room, a few days before last year's game against Oklahoma, and saw something odd hanging from his stall.

It was a designated white jersey, not purple.

"I go, 'Jose (Naguit), what's this? You gave me the wrong-colored jersey,'" said Fogerson, who had trained all of the 2008 fall camp with the running backs, and that carried into the season.

"He goes, 'No, baby, you're on defense.'"

That is how former coach Tyrone Willingham introduced Forgerson, an O'Dea product, to his new position, which lasted all the way through last spring camp under new coach Steve Sarkisian.

=> Read more!

ESPN's basketball version of College GameDay will visit the University of Washington on Feb. 20, when the Huskies host UCLA in a men's game at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

More information is available at GoHuskies.com.

Jobs to be had in the Pacific-10 Conference starting now. Here is a roundup of the camps:

ARIZONA: Willie Tuitama was special. And the Wildcats are learning, not just any quarterback can run their wide-open spread attack. In fact, in the end, this might be running back Nic Grigsby's offense to shine in.

ARIZONA STATE: Coach Dennis Erickson was cranky about last year's mediocre showing. Usually when that happens, a big rebound is around the corner. No wonder Erickson has been hyper-sensitive to his team's effort.

CALIFORNIA: Like the Huskies, Cal will hold a team scrimmage today. Looks like it will be without its star tailback, too.

OREGON: The Ducks cannot afford to have the special-teams horror they had in last year's game against Boise State. And when they take the field, they'll have two new starters – likely Rice at punter, and Flint at kicker.

OREGON STATE: The Beavers seem to have a bad run on receiver fortunes, and Monday was no exception. Catchings, their go-to weapon, is out for the season with a hand injury.

STANFORD: Is this the year the Cardinal is a factor in the conference race? Not if you listen to some experts – and the Stanford players aren't.

UCLA: The Bruins have their own injury issues, particularly on the defensive line (Ward, Stokes). So, the reshuffle is on.

USC: O'Dowd, the team's best offensive lineman at center, is out a few weeks with a dislocated kneecap – leaving the starting battery on the shelf.

WASHINGTON STATE: Sort of a look-back in today's Spokesman-Review, on team doctor Ed Tingstad (a great guy, I might add), who is a former Cougars' running back beset by injuries.

Oft-injured safety Jason Wells came up limping again Monday night after trying to defend a pass that receiver Devin Aguilar ended up catching for a long touchdown in a mid-practice scrimmage.

Wells immediately clutched his leg and needed assistance to the trainer's table, where they examined the lower part of his right leg. He did not return to practice, and walked very gingerly on the sideline.

=> Read more!

He might not have read it in a newspaper, or on one of the many University of Washington fan Websites, but receiver D'Andre Goodwin was plenty aware of the message coach Steve Sarkisian delivered last week.

After the morning practice Saturday, Sarkisian singled out four receivers – sophomores Devin Aguilar, Jordan Polk and Jermaine Kearse, and true freshman James Johnson – as having made significant progress so far in the week-long fall camp.

Goodwin? Lagging behind.

And this is the Huskies' leader receiver from 2008 (60 catches, 692 yards, touchdown) – by a 3-to-1 ratio – Sarkisian was referring to as needing to boost his contributions.

=> Read more!

It's been a few hours. Had my 20-year reunion Saturday night and Sunday, so … you can imagine the ramifications of that. Really stuck on what time to leave Tacoma for the 9 a.m. practices of two-a-days, so to beat the morning traffic, got at Hec Edmundson Pavilion at 6:45 a.m.

Anyway, leftover stuff from other Pacific-10 Conference camps. A reminder, many (including the Huskies) took Sunday off:

ARIZONA: Coaches were asked to evaluate the new set of quarterbacks after the Wildcats' first scrimmage. The response: "They stunk."

ARIZONA STATE: Pflugrad, a transfer receiver from Oregon and ex-Pullman star, is playing the waiting game as he adjusts to a new team.

CALIFORNIA: Son of former Bears' standout and coach Joe Kapp (his name is Will) means the fullback position is in good hands.

OREGON: Costa thinks all the ailments, including last season's knee injury, are a thing of the past. He's ready to roll into 2009.

UCLA: Now weighing 247 pounds, the transformation from tailback to fullback is nearly complete for Moline and the Bruins' backfield.

USC: Coach Pete Carroll had a lot to say – and most of it not favorable – to the stable of running backs after the team's first scrimmage. The short version: Run harder.

WASHINGTON STATE: A quarterback glut just got one body lighter as Pullman product J.T. Levenseller has decided to transfer. On one hand, I've thought he was clearly a backup signal caller, at best. But considering the injuries the Cougars took at quarterback last season, it's still a big insurance loss.

Nothing real current on Oregon State or Stanford. Will update after morning practice.

Coach Steve Sarkisian might be noting publicly that he wants to shift many guys through for looks with the first-string offense, but in the past three days, it's been Kavario Middleton who has taken at least 95 percent of the snaps at tight end with that group.

Even the linemen know it.

"I don't know what the depth (chart) is at that position, but I've noticed," tackle Cody Habben said. "I've seen him quite a bit in there."

He played in all 12 games as a true freshman out of Lakes High in 2008, including two starts at the beginning of the season against Oregon and Brigham Young.

=> Read more!

The empire struck back, with great force.

And it's only stated that way, because Friday was full-pads day for the University of Washington football team, and that meant hitting, hitting and more hitting.

The action was tapered until the fourth period of practice, or the last 30 minutes featuring the blitz sequences and the sudden-change sequence.

If the defense closely lost the battle in team competition Thursday – and that was certainly debatable – it clearly captured the top-dog billing, punishing whichever quarterback stood in its way:

• No. 1 Jake Locker sacked six times in four possessions. He had little time to maneuver, courtesy of defensive end Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, linebacker Mason Foster and even safety David Batts on stunts.

=> Read more!

Pac-10 happenings from Thursday all over the place:

ARIZONA: Rob Gronkowski, arguably the nation's best NFL tight end prospect, has been sent back home to get tests done on a nagging leg injury.

ARIZONA STATE: Lauvao is a man of many talents, including pulling tractors in strong man competitions. And he's coming on as the leader of the Sun Devils' offensive line.

CALIFORNIA: Most explosive incoming freshman – Sofele – happens to be a cyberspace dance star on YouTube.

OREGON: Quick-paced practices seem to be becoming the norm in the Northwest. New coach Chip Kelly is no slouch when it comes to demanding a high work rate.

OREGON STATE: Dockery tries to calm fans' worries that the Beavers' brand-new secondary will be the defense's weak point in 2009.

STANFORD: Bad news for Pierce County. Coach Jim Harbaugh has given redshirt freshman Andrew Luck the nod at quarterback to start the season. He had beaten out Clover Park's Tavita Pritchard during the spring.

UCLA: As many as four true freshmen might see significant playing time – and two might be starting for the Bruins on opening day.

USC: Who says young talent can't climb the ladder on the Trojans' depth chart to a starting position? Second-year player Tyron Smith is slated to man right tackle. On a side note, in Matt Barkley's first practice as the starting quarterback Thursday, replacing Aaron Corp, he threw three interceptions.

WASHINGTON STATE: Hurdles star Jeshua Anderson, who might be leaving the football team after this season to pursue a professional track career, has startled folks with his vast improvement at receiver.

The rain, forecast for a few days, finally arrived, and just in time for the University of Washington's first real mini-scrimmage – both Husky Stadium scoreboards were turned on, and time ran off the clock – at the end of practice Thursday.

Offensively, Jake Locker and the first-string unit moved the ball. But was it far enough?

Coach Steve Sarkisian thought so after the offense faced situational second- and third-down distances, declaring the offense the winner.

But he also conceded, "There were a lot of plays right at the stick, I'm sure both staffs will be counting before we get to this team meeting. It's going to the committee tonight. We'll see."

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Again, some of the stuff happening up and down the West Coast at other Pacific-10 Conference camps:

ARIZONA: For a second consecutive season, part of the Wildcats' fall camp will be held at a military base – Fort Huachuca.

ARIZONA STATE: It's official – Thomas Weber will punt and placekick for a third consecutive season (sure keeps the scholarship dollars for special teams to a minimum).

CALIFORNIA: Incumbent Kevin Riley is distancing himself from others for the starting quarterback job (and coach Jeff Tedford noted at Pac-10 media day he won't employ a quarterback-by-committee approach this season).

OREGON: Here's something you might see more frequently – helmet cameras. Ducks quarterbacks are debuting them in practice.

OREGON STATE: New tailback trying to emerge for playing time behind star Rodgers.

STANFORD: The Cardinal started hitting in practice as well – minus running back Toby Gerhart, who should issue enough punishment later on (by the way, Stanford's open practice only drew 10 spectators).

UCLA: Maiava, a Colorado transfer, is quickly establishing himself as the offensive line's leader at center.

USC: In case you missed the biggest injury news, starting quarterback Aaron Corp will miss up to three weeks with a small fracture in his leg. This could really open the door to the Matt Barkley era.

WASHINGTON STATE: Serving his short suspension from NCAA violations while at Eastern Washington, coach Paul Wulff was back on the field with the Cougars on Wednesday.

Some players remarked the first two days of the University of Washington fall camp were physical enough just wearing jerseys and using no shoulder protection.

Imagine what Wednesday was like when the Huskies laced up the shoulder pads for the first time and went to work for just over two hours.

For one, coach Steve Sarkisian was pleased.

"You could feel it, it was physical," Sarkisian said. "It's who we need to be as a football team. I was impressed with our defense. They came out with a great intensity. I thought our offense got into it … as we got moving."

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Here is some of the information floating around on action in other Pacific-10 Conference camps:

ARIZONA: Lighter, quicker Dotsy is up next to replace graduated three-year starter Joe Longacre at right guard.

ARIZONA STATE: 89.1 yards on the ground in 2008 won't cut it. The Sun Devils have to improve on that, won't they? It was their lowest rushing total since 1946.

CALIFORNIA: First day in pads Tuesday, and Heisman Trophy candidate Jahvid Best held up to the hits just fine.

OREGON: It's a common feeling. Teams don't like going to play on the "Smurf Turf." Add tight end Ed Dickson to the list.

OREGON STATE: Lyle Moevao is coming around slowly. Sean Canfield is coming on fast. How do the Beavers avoid a quarterback controversy in August?

STANFORD: Not much covered. If you have a subscription to Scout.com, there is a feature on local product David DeCastro, an offensive lineman.

UCLA: Touted Ramirez is drawing comparisons to former star Maurice Jones-Drew at tailback. Is he up to it?

USC: Not so fast to clear quarterback Aaron Corp. He woke up with swelling in his knee, and today will have an MRI on it.

WASHINGTON STATE: The Cougars start two-a-day practices this morning, and redshirt freshman Daniel Simmons, a California kid, is doing his best to grab a hold of a starting cornerback spot (which, in recent past, has been a troublesome spot).

The theme of the day, and certainly much of the Steve Sarkisian era in University of Washington football has been forgetting the past – both record-wise, and some of the troubling transgressions of the players.

Sarkisian calls it a "clean slate," and talked more in depth about it after the team's second fall-camp practice Tuesday at Husky Stadium.

"We have to remind ourselves … they're 18-, 19-, 20-year old guys. Everybody can make a mistake here and there. They're still finding their way. Sometimes you feel, 'Man, I made so many wrong decisions, or things aren't going my way that it's doom and gloom.' When you sometimes have a ray of hope and an opportunity there, it can motivate you," Sarkisian said.

"I think with our team right now, we have quite a few guys that have been motivated to the point of, 'Man I've got an opportunity and I want to make the most of it.'"

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We'll try and update what's going on outside the epicenter that is known as Husky Stadium this fall camp, so y'all know that other coaches and players in the Pacific-10 Conference are working just as diligently as the home purple-and-gold Huskies:

ARIZONA: Slimmer Horton trying to make transition to defensive end.

ARIZONA STATE: Hometown speedster set for big year in receiving corps.

CALIFORNIA: Reserve punter getting double duty as Bears get into pads.

OREGON: Black jerseys signal rough-and-tumble scrimmage for Ducks.

OREGON STATE: If Jacquizz were to get hurt again … what is the Beavers' backup plan?

STANFORD: Swimmer freestyles right onto the Cardinal football roster.

UCLA: It's Prince's time to lead the Bruins (and he even has a UCLA clock in his bedroom).

USC: This is the same extended inhale that would take place if UW's Locker went down in practice.

WASHINGTON STATE: After a tumultuous career, showing flashes of brilliance, and even more head-scratching behavior off the field, running back Chris Ivory has been told to get out of Pullman. I think the position group is deep enough to absorb Ivory's loss.

The idea had been bandied around at the start of summer – former Husky quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo joining the new coaching staff – but did not become a real possibility until recently.

And in the past few days, the University of Washington and new coach Steve Sarkisian made it official, hiring Tuiasosopo as the team's assistant strength and conditioning coach.

Tuiasosopo was at the start of fall camp Monday, and will serve in whatever capacity strength-and-condition head man Ivan Lewis demands. It is a paying staff position.

"To be back here, it's a dream come true," Tuiasosopo said. "(The UW is) my alma mater. I'd love to see them do well."

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As assumptions go, this one I'm sure of – many of you have already plugged into coach Steve Sarkisian's pre-University of Washington fall football camp media day Friday, either on gohuskies.com (great video feed), or even on a rival publication (if asked, recommend Bob Condotta's timely posting and astute observations … all one one healthy leg).

It happened at noon, and was already reported on five seconds after it concluded.

The press-conference tidbits will be rounded up later in the post. What I want to address is Sarkisian himself – and will in a couple days when my take-out feature on the man from Torrance, Calif. publishes Sunday.

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