Sweet redemption

I remember the exact moment the Washington football program went from national powerhouse to Pac-10 also-ran. In just one play, everything changed for the worse, and it still haunts me to this day.

It was a sunny afternoon in Pasadena, Calif. during my sophomore year in 2003. The 18th ranked Huskies were up on UCLA 16-7 as the second half of play was starting at the Rose Bowl. Cody Pickett and Reggie Williams were still wearing the purple and gold, and even though coach Rick Neuheisel was fired before the season, the UW had started 3-1.

All was good in Husky nation.

Anticipation mounted over a UW win as cornerback Roc Alexander lined up to take the opening kickoff as halftime came to a close. The Bruins' kicker powered a drive into the endzone, the type of kick that should be downed for a touchback and taken out to the 20.

Unfortunately, Alexander had other ideas, and was tackled by the UCLA return team at the 7 yard line. It was a huge boost of momentum for the Bruins, who then forced a fumble from Pickett to score a touchdown on the very next play.

Everything went downhill from there.

The Huskies ended up losing that game 46-16 and then watched victory slip away at home against Nevada the very next weekend. In fact, thinking about all of this just brings back bad memories.

Last Saturday, though, Washington was finally able to defeat that demon as it toppled UCLA 29-19 for its first win against the Bruins since Marques Tuiasosopo was calling signals for the Dawgs in 2000.

In fact, in what could be a sign that a reversal in fortune is on the horizon for Washington, the Huskies entered the second half with a 16-7 deficit of their own to overcome.

With cornerback Roy Lewis back to return, it was UCLA who made the gaffe on the opening kick this time as Justin Medlock sent the ball bouncing out-of-bounds for the Bruins. That started the UW at the 35-yard line on a drive it would score on to pull within two points.

Maybe the Huskies didn't quite come back in the voracious nature that UCLA did on that fateful day three years ago, but nonetheless they came back.

Instead of packing it in when the going got tough - as had been their M.O. the last two seasons - Washington pulled itself together and finished the job, outscoring the Bruins 29-0 over the final three quarters of the game.

Isaiah Stanback - who along with the rest of the offense looked absolutely dreadful during most of the first half - was like a surgeon on the football field in the second frame, slicing apart the defense at will and running when the situation called for it.

He led the Huskies on three scoring drives and watched as the defense continually shut down the Bruin attack.

'We took on that mentality, 'bend but don't break,'" Lewis said. "We have to protect this house, we need to protect this endzone."

And they did.

UCLA threatened in the red zone five times, and left with seven points just once. It was an inspired effort by a group who had been anything but over the last two seasons.

This team is different.

"They're learning how to win," offensive coordinator Tim Lappano said. "The more adversity we face like that, we're learning how to win, they're gaining confidence and they're believing in one another."

And quickly, I am beginning to believe in Husky football all over again.

Columnist Ben Miller: benmiller@thedaily.washington.edu