Huskies Hope `Seniority' Shows -- Walk-Ons May Get Chance If UW Wins Big

Ernie Conwell, thick-shouldered, big-hearted guy that he is, doesn't want to demolish the Cougars in today's Apple Cup game. He does not advocate excessive violence or wish any ill feelings toward his competition.

He takes a kinder, gentler approach.

"The funnest thing," said Conwell, senior co-captain on the Washington football team, "would be to win the game and let all the seniors play."

Of course, hidden in Conwell's diplomatic statement is this: For all the seniors to play, his Washington Huskies would likely have to rout the Washington State Cougars.

Of the 21 seniors who will suit up for their last game at Husky Stadium in today's Apple Cup, two have yet to play their first game. Senior walk-ons Steve Morrison, a tight end, and Jeff Shoe, a defensive end, are regulars on the scout team but never have appeared in a game.

Morrison, who wears No. 88, has been with the program for three seasons. At 24, he is the oldest player on the team, having spent three years on a Mormon mission in Brazil. He said he transferred to Washington from Brigham Young University just to play football for the Huskies.

"It's a priority," said Morrison, who played one season of high-school football at Snohomish. "Just to be able to run out the tunnel, to be able to tell people I was on the team and be proud of it."

Morrison, a premed student whose time is at a premium, has eagerly given up a lot of it just to practice with the team.

Shoe, who has been on the team since last spring, also took a circuitous route to Washington by way of Western Washington and Bellevue Community College. Although he did not play football at either school, he used up all but one year of eligibility.

"When I finally got into Washington," Shoe said, "I was going to try, no matter how hard it was, to make the team. I get to go against guys like Eric Battle and Ernie Conwell every day and push them to their limits.

"When they make a play in a game, I look at it like, I helped them make that play."

Shoe, who wears No. 48, did not play football because his high school, Seattle Lutheran, did not have a team.

Shoe, 6 feet 3, 230 pounds, and Morrison, 6-3, 215, have the size to play in a college program.

"They're willing to deal with adversity to be with the best," Conwell said.

Said co-captain Richard Thomas: "They're true slogan people, guys that Nike makes a lot of money off of. If it came down to World War III, I'd want them to come down to my corner."

Morrison and Shoe, who only suit up for home games, have waited for a blowout and a chance to play, but all the Huskies' blowouts have come on the road.

"It's been heartbreaking, hearing them blow out a team on the road, knowing if I was there, I would get in," Morrison said.

Coach Jim Lambright said, in appreciation of the walk-ons, every effort will be made to get the seniors into the game.

The Huskies have struggled at home this season. They are winless in their past three games in Husky Stadium, losing to Oregon and Notre Dame and tying USC.

Washington's best chance for a rout at home comes at the right time. The Cougars have lost five in a row. Washington must beat the Cougars and Oregon must lose to Oregon State for the Huskies to go to the Cotton Bowl.

"We can't look past this team," Thomas said. "If we want to play Jan. 1, we have to win on Saturday, and win convincingly."

The Huskies are playing well. They no longer seem shy about using the passing game, which lately has been productive, reliable and varied. Quarterback Damon Huard needs only 81 yards to become the school's all-time leading passer.

The defense is ranked fifth in the nation in turnover ratio. It has forced 28 turnovers while losing the ball only 13 times.

The Huskies are favored by 13 1/2 points over the Cougars, who will start freshman quarterback Ryan Leaf. The Huskies had their way against UCLA's freshman quarterback, Cade McNown, last week.

Leaf has a redshirt year of experience, but has yet to start.

Not that the UW advantages matter in the Apple Cup, Lambright said.

"It's different," he said. "Nothing will play as much a role as pure emotion. It's a one-game season."

Starting lineups

UW offense: Split end - Dave Janoski, 5-10, 180, Jr.; weak tackle - Bob Sapp, 6-5, 285, Jr.; weak guard - Pat Kesi, 6-3, 315, Sr.; center - Trevor Highfield, 6-4, 285, Sr.; strong guard - Benji Olson, 6-4, 300, Fr.; strong tackle - Eric Battle, 6-3, 290, Sr.; tight end - Ernie Conwell, 6-3, 240, Sr.; quarterback - Damon Huard, 6-4, 215, Sr.; tailback - Rashaan Shehee, 5-11, 200, So.; fullback - Richard Thomas, 5-9, 220, Sr.; flanker - Fred Coleman, 6-1, 180, So.

UW defense: Strong linebacker - Jason Chorak, 6-4, 250, So.; defensive end - Deke Devers, 6-0, 245, Sr.; defensive tackle - Sekou Wiggs, 6-4, 270, So.; nosetackle - David Richie, 6-4, 270, Jr.; weakside linebacker - Ikaika Malloe, 5-11, 200, Jr.; inside linebackers - Ink Aleaga, 6-2, 225, Jr., and Jerry Jensen, 6-2, 225, So.; rover - Tony Parrish, 5-11, 205, Jr.; cornerbacks - Scott Greenlaw, 6-0, 195, Sr., and Reggie Reser, 5-10, 185, Sr.; free safety - Lawyer Milloy, 6-2, 205, Jr.

WSU offense: Split end - Chad Carpenter, 6-0, 191, Jr.; tackles - Scott Sanderson, 6-7, 286, Jr., and John Scukanec, 6-5, 308, Sr.; guards - Jason McEndoo, 6-6, 297, So., and Cory Solomon, 6-4, 260, So.; center - Marc McCloskey, 6-4, 313, Sr.; TE - Eric Moore, 6-5, 225, Sr.; quarterback - Ryan Leaf, 6-5, 228, Fr.; slotback - Jay Dumas, 6-1, 177, Sr.; running back - Frank Madu, 5-9, 180, Sr.; flanker - Shawn McWashington, 5-11, 176, So., or Bryant Thomas, 6-1, 202, So.

WSU defense: Ends - Dwayne Sanders, 6-6, 257, Sr., and Shane Doyle, 6-3, 240, So.; tackles - Delmar Morais, 6-3, 258, Fr., and Darryl Jones, 6-3, 309, Fr.; outside linebackers - Chris Hayes, 6-0, 213, Sr., and Johnny Nansen, 6-0, 222, Jr.; middle linebacker - James Darling, 6-1, 245, Jr.; cornerbacks - Shad Hinchen, 5-11, 177, Jr. and Brian Walker, 6-1, 184, Sr.; free safety - Derek Henderson, 6-0, 200, Jr.; strong safety - Duane Stewart, 6-3, 208, So.