2008Washington Huskies football
Conference	Pacific-10 Conference
Record	0–12 (0–9 Pac-10)
Head coach	Tyrone Willingham (4th season)
Offensive coordinator	Tim Lappano (4th season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Ed Donatell (1st season)
Base defense	3–4
MVPs	D'Andre Goodwin (O) Mason Foster (D)
Captains	Juan Garcia (2nd year) Michael Gottlieb Johnie Kirton Daniel Te'o-Nesheim
Home stadium	Husky Stadium
Seasons ← 2007 2009 →

The2008 Washington Huskies football team represented theUniversity of Washington in the2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by fourth-year head coachTyrone Willingham, the team played its home games atHusky Stadium inSeattle. The Huskies were winless at 0–12, the worst record in the program's history.

On October 27, the Monday after a 33–7 home loss toNotre Dame, it was announced that Willingham would step down as head coach at the end of the season.^[1] UW presidentMark Emmert indicated the decision to fire Willingham had been made shortly after the prior week's game againstOregon State.^[1] Athletic director Scott Woodward said the announcement ended speculation of what was going to happen with Willingham, who had a year remaining on his contract.

"It became quite obvious that the performance on the football field wasn't up to what we talked about at the beginning of the season and previous to the season and it became more obvious as time went on," Woodward said in explaining his decision to make the move.^[2]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	7:00 p.m.	at No. 21Oregon	Autzen Stadium Eugene, OR (rivalry)	FSN	L 10–44	58,778
September 6	12:00 p.m.	No. 15BYU*	Husky Stadium Seattle, WA	FSN	L 27–28	64,611
September 13	4:45 p.m.	No. 3Oklahoma*	Husky Stadium Seattle, WA	ESPN	L 14–55	67,716
September 27	7:00 p.m.	Stanford	Husky Stadium Seattle, WA	FSNNW	L 28–35	61,968
October 4	4:30 p.m.	atArizona	Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ	Versus	L 14–48	55,624
October 18	4:00 p.m.	Oregon State	Husky Stadium Seattle, WA	Versus	L 13–34	63,996
October 25	5:00 p.m.	Notre Dame*	Husky Stadium Seattle, WA	ESPN2	L 7–33	70,437
November 1	3:30 p.m.	at No. 7USC	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA	FSN	L 0–56	80,216
November 8	4:00 p.m.	Arizona State	Husky Stadium Seattle, WA	FSNNW	L 19–39	57,013
November 15	7:15 p.m.	UCLA	Husky Stadium Seattle, WA	FSN	L 7–27	59,738
November 22	12:00 p.m.	atWashington State	Martin Stadium Pullman, WA (Apple Cup)	FSN	L 13–162OT	32,211
December 6	12:00 p.m.	atCalifornia	California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA	FSN	L 7–48	50,038
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings fromAP Poll released prior to the game All times are inPacific time

2008 Washington Huskies football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 9 Devin Aguilar Fr OT 68 Mark Armelin  Fr QB 7 Taylor Bean  Fr QB 16 Dominique Blackman Fr WR 5 Anthony Boyles Fr RB 22 Demitrius Bronson Fr WR 7 Cody Bruns Fr G 72 Casey Bulyca Sr OL 78 Allen Carroll Fr WR 28 Tony Chidiac So C 61 Gregory Christine So RB 27 Terrance Dailey Fr OL 67 Skyler Fancher  Fr RB 36 Johri Fogerson Fr QB 8 Ronnie Fouch  Fr RB 20 David Freeman Fr C 58 Juan Garcia (C) Sr WR 11 D'Andre Goodwin So TE 86 Michael Gottlieb (C) Sr RB 21 Willie Griffin  Fr OT 71 Cody Habben So WR 88 Charles Hawkins Sr FB 30 Paul Homer Jr OL 51 Mykenna Ikehara Fr TE 4 Chris Izbicki  Fr RB 6 Brandon Johnson So WR 15 Jermaine Kearse Fr FB 32 Luke Kravitz Sr QB 12 Luther Leonard Fr QB 10 Jake Locker  So WR 3 Alvin Logan  Fr C 62 Robert Lukevich Sr TE 8 Kavario Middleton Fr OT 79 Ben Ossai Jr WR 82 Jordan Polk Fr G 70 Morgan Rosborough Jr TE 87 Romeo Savant  Fr OL 73 Drew Schaefer Fr OL 64 Matt Sedillo So WR 14 Curtis Shaw So OL 77 Scott Shugert  Fr FB 47 Austin Sylvester  Fr OL 75 Terence Thomas Fr FB 41 Tobias Togi  Fr G 65 Ryan Tolar So G 76 Jordan White-Frisbee Sr TE 83 Walt Winter Sr RB 35 Brandon Yakaboski  Fr	Defense Pos. # Name Class SS 41 Victor Aiyewa So DL 50 Kalani Aldrich  Fr LB 9 Donald Butler Jr DB 42 Mick Connors  Fr CB 18 Byron Davenport Sr CB 21 Desmond Davis Sr LB 31 Cort Dennison  Fr DT 91 Tyrone Duncan  Fr DT 99 Cameron Elisara So CB 23 Mesphin Forrester Sr LB 40 Mason Foster So LB 24 Joshua Gage Jr DE 53 Pete Galbraith  Fr CB 20 Justin Glenn Fr CB 7 Anthony Gobern Fr FS 15 Darin Harris Sr LB 5 Matt Houston So LB 54 Brandon Huppert So DB 34 Tripper Johnson Jr DE 59 Darrion Jones Jr DL 95 Noah Keats Sall Sr DL 93 Senio Kelemete Fr DL 37 Johnie Kirton (C) Sr CB 27 Adam Long Fr LB 32 Kurt Mangum Fr DE 96 De'Shon Matthews So CB 6 Vonzell McDowell Jr. So CB 19 Matt Mosley So DL 79 Craig Noble Fr DT 55 Jovon O'Connor Sr CB 38 Marquis Persley  Fr LB 43 T. J. Poe Jr DB 1 Chris Polk Fr DE 89 Conrad Remington  Fr CB 28 Quinton Richardson  Fr LB 35 Bradley Roussel Fr LB 22 E. J. Savannah Jr LB 29 Chris Stevens Sr DL 74 Alamedo Ta'amu Fr S 11 Vince Taylor Fr DE 66 Daniel Te'o-Nesheim (C) Jr DE 92 Everette Thompson Fr LB 57 Trenton Tuiasosopo Sr S 39 Greg Walker Fr FS 26 Jason Wells Sr LB 97 Fred Wiggs So FS 8 Nate Williams So DL 52 Nick Wood  Fr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class P,PK 12 Jared Ballman Sr PK 17 Erik Folk  Fr LS 56 Ben Hayes  Fr LS 60 Brendan Lopez  Fr LS 62 Robert Lukevich Sr LS 49 Danny Morovick Jr PK 13 Ryan Perkins Jr P 94 Kiel Rasp  Fr PK 89 Cory Rutkowski  Fr	Head coach Tyrone Willingham Coordinators/assistant coaches Tim Lappano Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks Ed Donatell Defensive coordinator Charlie Baggett Receivers Mike Denbrock Offensive line Steve Gervais Running backs Brian White Tight ends/Special teams Randy Hart Defensive line Chris Tormey Linebackers J. D. Williams Defensive backs Luke Huard Graduate assistant Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: June 7, 2024

Washington opened the season with a game versus theOregon Ducks atAutzen Stadium. It was the first time Washington opened the season with a conference opponent since 1998, when they defeatedArizona State, 42–38 inTempe, Arizona.^[3]

Oregon crushed the Huskies, 44–10. Washington averaged a mere 2.2 rushing yards per carry, and was held scoreless in the second half.

"We just couldn't run the ball", coach Tyrone Willingham said.^{[citation needed]}

The win was the 5th straight for the Ducks against the Huskies, which marks the first time Oregon has accomplished that feat since the series began in 1900.^[4]

The Huskies and Cougars met for the seventh time, with #15 BYU avoiding the upset in front of 64,611 fans at Husky Stadium.

A late Washington rally fell short and the game ended in controversy. QuarterbackJake Locker scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 2 seconds remaining in the game, cutting BYU's lead to 28–27. But Locker was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, and the extra point attempt was moved back 15 yards. The ensuing PAT try was blocked, BYU players rushed the field, and a chorus of boos rained down from the Husky faithful.

"After scoring the touchdown, the player threw the ball into the air and we are required, by rule, to assess a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty", Referee Larry Farina said in a statement given to Washington officials. "It is a celebration rule that we are required to call. It was not a judgment call."^{[citation needed]}

Cougar quarterbackMax Hall had 339 yards passing and three touchdowns, including a 15-yarder to tight endDennis Pitta with 3:31 left in the game.

Locker finished 17-for-32 passing for 204 yards and added 62 yards rushing on 18 carries.^[5]

Washington safety Nate Williams had a game high 13 tackles. He also put the hit on BYU tailback Harvey Unga that forced a touchdown saving fumble that UW's Tripper Johnson recovered in the end zone in the 4th quarter.^[6]

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford completed 18 of 21 passes for 304 yards, matched his career high with five touchdown passes and ran for a sixth score to lead the Sooners in a rout against the overmatched Huskies, 55–14.

The Sooners scored their most points on the road against a school from a BCS conference since a 56–25 win atTexas Tech on November 22, 2003. They also handed Washington its largest margin of defeat at home since October 12, 1929, when it lost 48–0 toSouthern California, a scant two weeks before theWall Street Crash of 1929.

Washington lost three fumbles, missed two field goals and punted three times in the first half. The Huskies went into the locker room down 34–0 and didn't get on the board until Jake Locker scored on a 15-yard touchdown run with 5:37 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

Oklahoma, the highest-ranked nonconference team to visit Husky Stadium since 1969, gained 591 yards of total offense on the day.^[7]

The Huskies fell to 0–4 (0–2 in the Pac-10) with a 35–28 loss to Stanford, and also lost quarterbackJake Locker for the rest of the season when he broke his right thumb in the second quarter while blocking downfield.

Stanford quarterbackTavita Pritchard, formerly ofClover Park High School, completed 16 of 24 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.

The Huskies' defense gave up 466 yards – and 244 of those came on the ground, despite Washington's agreement all week that its top defensive priority was stopping the run.^[8]

The Huskies were trailing 14–7 when Locker was hurt, and while replacementRonnie Fouch injected some enthusiasm with some accurate passing, the Dawgs ultimately couldn't overcome another porous performance from its defense.

Just about the time Locker emerged from the locker room in the third quarter, Stanford's Anthony Kimble ran 83 yards for a touchdown with 9:35 left in the third quarter to put Stanford ahead 28–14, and all hope seemed to be gone.

Willingham opened his postgame news conference by saying it was "very difficult for me to stand before you...I felt like we could win the football game."^[9]

On a breezy night in the Tucson desert, Arizona wasted little time putting away the Huskies. Arizona took a 17–0 lead after the first quarter and never looked back.

Facing the nation's second-ranked defense, Washington struggled behind quarterback Ronnie Fouch, a redshirt freshman making his first college start. Fouch completed 12 of 28 passes for 181 yards and one touchdown, a 20-yarder to Michael Gottlieb midway through the fourth quarter. Fouch also threw an interception.^[10]

"We played a complete game on offense, defense and special teams", Arizona coach Mike Stoops said. "We were very efficient and balanced. Our running backs were strong. (quarterback) Willie Tuitama was excellent."^{[citation needed]}

It was the Huskies' fifth loss of the season and seventh straight dating back to last season, giving the Dawgs the dubious distinction of having the longest losing streak in major college football.^[11]

Washington athletic director Scott Woodward met with reporters after the game to say that he stands by the position he has held all along – he does not intend to fire head coach Tyrone Willingham midseason.

"I stick with what I said last week", he said. "I told you last week that I was less happy than I was the week before. Well, I'm even less happy than I was. But we have seven games, and we are going to play those seven games and no, there is not going to be a change this week. We will look at the whole body of work of the season and assess it at the end of the season."^[12]

Oregon State's James Rodgers zipped through Washington's defense for 216 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns as the Beavers won their fifth straight over Washington for the first time in the series' history.

James' brother,Jacquizz Rodgers, did his part too: 94 yards rushing on 20 carries and a touchdown.

The Beavers ran for 230 yards and the Huskies turned the ball over four times in front of a disappointed homecoming crowd at Husky Stadium. The biggest cheers of the night were for former Husky head coachDon James and the 1977 Washington team that won theRose Bowl when they were honored on the field after the third quarter.

The Huskies dropped their eighth straight dating back to last season, tied withNorth Texas for the longest losing streak in the country.

Washington took a rare lead on Jared Ballman's 45-yard field goal early in the first quarter. The Huskies had not led since the third quarter againstBYU on September 6, and it was only their second lead of the entire season.

With under 3 minutes to go in the first quarter, Oregon State coachMike Riley took a chance by going for it on fourth-and-1 at his own 43, and converted withJacquizz Rodgers going for five yards. On the next play, the Beavers faked a dive to Jacquizz and handed instead to James Rodgers on a reverse, then watched him dash in front of the Beavers' bench for a 52-yard touchdown.

Later in the half, after Fouch was sacked and fumbled near midfield, James Rodgers struck again. Rodgers found space in the middle of Washington interior on a middle screen, then sprinted away from three Huskies for a 33-yard scoring pass to make it 17–3.

The Huskies were 3 of 12 on 3rd down conversions.^[13]

Washington's offense, with redshirt freshman quarterback Ronnie Fouch making his third career start, did not cross midfield until 6 minutes remained in the game. The Huskies had just 51 total yards on 35 plays entering the fourth quarter. They had 5 yards passing at halftime, when the game was essentially over with Notre Dame up 17–0.

"I feel like we could have scored more, but we never want to embarrass a team", said Notre Dame wide receiverGolden Tate, who ran 21 yards for his first career touchdown on an end around in the opening quarter. "I think we let up once we had them 14–0."^{[citation needed]}

Washington finished with 124 total yards against a defense that was allowing an average of 368 yards, 75th nationally.

"There was nothing that we did well tonight", a solemn Willingham said after the game.^[14]

Mark Sanchez completed 15 of 19 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns to Patrick Turner before coming out early in the third quarter, and Southern California scored TDs on its first six possessions in a 56–0 rout of Washington.

USC led 42–0 at the half.

The win before a crowd of 80,216 at theLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum was the 42nd in the last 43 home games for the Trojans.

The victory was the most lopsided in the history of the 78-game series, surpassing USC's 48–0 triumph in 1929. The Trojans have won the last seven games between the teams, but their margin of victory was just six points in 2006 and three points last season.

Washington moved to the Trojans' 6-yard line early in the fourth quarter, but Chris Galippo intercepted a pass by Fouch on second-and-goal and returned it 50 yards to the Huskies' 49.

The Huskies would threaten again later, getting to the USC 25 before Drew McAllister's interception turned them away to preserve the shutout.

"It was exciting to see so many of our young guys get in and to hold onto the shutout there at the end", USC Head coachPete Carroll said. "It's really a source of pride for everyone."^[15]

It was the Huskies' first shutout loss since falling to USC 38–0 in 2004, their worst loss since a 65–7 decision atMiami in 2001, and their worst shutout loss since a 58–0 beating at Oregon in 1973.^[16]

QuarterbackRudy Carpenter rallied Arizona State with a pair of second half touchdowns to Michael Jones, and the Sun Devils kept their slim bowl hopes alive by pulling away for a 39–19 win over winless Washington on Saturday night in Seattle.

Washington opened the playbook in this game. The Huskies used reverses, direct snaps, and even a double pass that ended with quarterback Ronnie Fouch catching a second-quarter touchdown.

With the game tied at 16 in the third quarter, Washington's Chris Stevens blocked a punt and the Huskies took over at the Arizona State 14. But the Sun Devils defense held the Huskies to a second consecutive field goal inside the 10-yard line, and while it gave Washington a 19–16 lead, it would be the last points the Huskies scored.

Carpenter quickly led the Sun Devils down the field, capped by his 6-yard toss to Jones in the back of the end zone to give Arizona State a 23–19 lead. On their next possession, Carpenter hit Jones on a 2-yard fade to push the advantage to 30–19.

Carpenter hit seven straight passes during the two decisive scoring drives. He finished 22 of 31 for 218 yards.

Washington was 4–15 on 3rd down conversions, and ran for a meager 52 yards, 39 of which came on a late 4th quarter carry, after the game had already been decided.

Fouch finished 13 of 40 for 192 yards, with two interceptions.

The Huskies were held scoreless in the 4th quarter for the second consecutive game. The second half continues to be dreadful for the Dawgs: In the past 5 games, UW has managed to score a mere 27 second half points.^[17]

Huskies head coachTyrone Willingham already had been fired from his position. On October 27, 2008, the University of Washington announced that he will not be retained as head coach after the completion of Washington's 2008 football season.^[18] Willingham becomes the third Washington coach to be fired (out of the last four) since Hall of Fame coachDon James resigned in 1993 because of pendingNCAA andPac-10 sanctions against his team^[19] where his players were determined to have "accepted substantial and illegal benefits under James, likely with his knowledge".^[20]

UCLA coach Neuheisel had been fired in the summer of 2003 from theUniversity of Washington in relation to his participation in a neighborhood pool for the2003 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and lies he told about his actions. The University of Washington had its probation extended for failing to monitor its football program.^[21][22] This was Neuheisel's first return toHusky Stadium following the firing. There was some booing, but not a significant amount.^[23] The Huskies had been on a winless streak all season, and were at 0–9.

The day was sunny and dry, so weather was not a factor as can often be the case in Seattle in November. Under the direction of quarterback Kevin Craft, the Bruins drove 80 yards in 12 plays. Running back Derrick Coleman rushed for a touchdown in the first half.^[23] In the second half, the Bruins launched a ninety-two-yard drive. Backed up against the goal line, running back Kahlil Bell ran four straight times, and Craft followed with several key pass completions. UCLA finally scored on a run by Bell, taking the 24–7 lead.^[23]

On November 21, 2008, the 1–10Washington State Cougars met the 0–10 Huskies inPullman for the 101stApple Cup. The media joked that the game was the "Crapple Cup" and "full of worms". The Huskies led for most of the game, until the Cougars forced their way into overtime with a fourth-quarter field goal by kicker Nico Grasu. Grasu hit two more field goals in the two overtime periods to lead the Cougars to their second straight Apple Cup victory, and fourth win in the teams' last five meetings. The win was the Cougars' lone victory over a Football Bowl Subdivision team in 2008^[24][25] and assured the Huskies' place at the bottom of the Pac-10 standings.

The Bears' victory made their record at home a perfect 7–0 and made the Huskies the first 0–12 team in PAC-10 conference history and the only team in the country to finish the 2008 season without a victory.^[26] During the game Cal running backJahvid Best set a school record for most rushing yards in a game at 311.^[27] The Huskies finished the season on a 14-game losing streak, as the team's last win had been against Cal at home in 2007.

• 2008 Pacific-10 Conference football season
• Washington Huskies football seasons
• College football winless seasons
• 2008 in sports in Washington (state)
• 2008 in Seattle

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