Pickett has delivered like Tui of old

When football season got underway, there were a great deal of questions surrounding the Huskies. Could they repeat as Pac-10 champions? How good was the freshman class, really? And, most notably, who was going to play quarterback?

The quarterback controversy between Cody Pickett and Taylor Barton never quite lived up to its preseason hype, as coach Rick Nueheisel named Pickett his starter early on. Once he had been given the job, the question quickly became: Is Cody Pickett capable of leading the Huskies?

Here's a guy who in his previous two seasons had thrown just eight passes in four games while backing up Marques Tuiasosopo. And now he's to become the starting quarterback and the man who's expected to lead the way toward another conference championship?

You bet your ass he is.

Slowly but surely, Pickett gained the admiration and respect of his teammates, coaches and fans alike. He has led the Huskies to a 5-1 record, including come from behind wins against Michigan, Cal and Arizona. He's broken the school record for most passing yards in a game -- with a separated shoulder. And, more importantly, he's gotten the Huskies to believe in his ability and in themselves.

In sports, there is no greater quality than leadership. It's a trait that few posses and even fewer take advantage of. But, for some reason or another, Washington quarterbacks seem to embrace it. Pickett is no exception.

"Being the quarterback, you got to be enthusiastic everyday," Pickett said. "I think you have to go in and be confident in what you're doing and get the job done. That's what being a leader is all about."

In just six games, Pickett has kept his composure through thick and thin, bringing the Huskies back from the edge of defeat three times. But winning football games isn't necessarily how he garners respect. It's the manner in which he plays the game.

Heading into last Saturday's contest with Arizona, Pickett's arm wasn't nearly 100 percent after separating his shoulder against USC. However, knowing the Huskies couldn't afford to drop two games in a row, Pickett put his pain aside and threw for a school record 455 yards. He also scored the game-winning touchdown with 13 seconds to play to cap one of the best performances in Husky history.

"Leading by example is one of Cody's strong points," Neuheisel said. "He's definitely asserted himself as the leader of this team."

No one believed at the beginning of the season that Pickett could live up to his predecessor's ability to lead. After losing Tuiasosopo to graduation, many thought that the miracles were to be few and far between for the Huskies this season. Pickett accepted the challenge that was thrust upon him and, so far, has passed with flying colors. While he's not been perfect, Pickett has become the leader that few thought he could be.

With five games left on the schedule, Pickett and the Huskies have a tough road ahead of them. But, rest assured, there's no quit in this team. It's got one hell of a leader who has the Huskies believing that anything is possible.