Stanback might be sacked

In the wake of his team's 44-20 loss Saturday against Arizona State, UW coach Tyrone Willingham said yesterday that he will re-evaluate his quarterback situation, an indication that starter Isaiah Stanback may be sent to the bench.

"We have to make sure we've got that situation where it needs to be," Willingham said. "I was not very pleased with the performance in that ballgame."

Responded Stanback, "I don't blame him. With the way I played, I don't blame him at all."

Stanback finished the game with a season-low eight completions on 20 attempts, overthrowing a number of receivers. He also threw one interception and lost a fumble.

"That wasn't even me out there," Stanback said. "That was the old me. I was embarrassed by my play."

Criticizing his own decision-making, accuracy and fundamental technique, Stanback said his play was a regression to last year, a step backward compared to the games he played earlier in the season.

Yesterday morning Stanback sat down and watched his own performance against Notre Dame earlier this season. He eyed his footwork, his throwing mechanics and his overall technique, which he labeled as "fundamentally sound."

"It was two different pictures of myself," Stanback said. "I need to go back to the way I was earlier in the year."

Backup quarterback Johnny DuRocher, who also threw an interception in the final seconds against the Sun Devils, has played limited time in mop-up duty. In total, DuRocher is 13-24 for 144 yards and a touchdown.

Willingham emphasized that Stanback would remain the starter through the week of practice, but that he was going to "look very closely at our situation to make sure that we have things in the right order."

Before Saturday's debacle, Stanback had been completing passes as a rate of 58 percent and had averaged more than 220 yards passing per game, both numbers figuring to be on the upper half of conference passers. He had only thrown four interceptions.

Still, the Huskies have labored to a 1-7 record with Stanback as quarterback -- the most painful loss coming against a mediocre Arizona State team.

"I just felt like I let everybody down, and I'll be working the hardest this week than any other week," Stanback said. "I don't want it to happen again. I can tell you that much."

Additional notes:

• Willingham was pleased with the performance of tailback James Sims, who made his first start Saturday, rushing for 140 yards. However, Louis Rankin (toe) may return to the lineup to regain his spot as a starter.