PACIFIC 10 / MAL FLORENCE : Huskies Are More Than Leaders of Pack

As Washington continues its seemingly unstoppable march to the Rose Bowl, the Huskies are being compared to some of the former great teams in the Pacific 10 Conference.

In recording a 5-0 Pac-10 record and going 7-1 overall, the seventh-ranked Huskies have outscored conference opponents, 209-54. They lead the Pac-10 in total offense and defense, scoring defense, turnover margin and sacks.

Washington is somewhat reminiscent of USC’s 1972 national championship team. The Trojans outscored seven conference opponents, 249-58.

Oregon Coach Rich Brooks, whose team lost to Washington, 38-17, on Oct. 13 in Seattle, says the Huskies are close to being as good as any team he has seen in the conference.

“Certainly, their defense is as good as any defense that’s played in the league in my 14 years at Oregon,” he said. “The athletic ability of (quarterback) Mark Brunell gives their offense a different dimension.

“Washington has always been able to run the ball and has had good backs, big linemen and strong-armed quarterbacks. In Brunell they now have a guy who runs the option extremely well and is a threat to run any time he drops back to throw. So it gives the defense more problems.

“If there is a better team in the nation, I’d like them to play Washington to see what would happen.”

California Coach Bruce Snyder, whose Bears were routed by the Huskies, 46-7, last Saturday in Seattle, says he agrees with Brooks.

“That’s the most talent I’ve seen on a Washington team in my years coaching against them,” Snyder said.

“I’m on record as saying that’s the best team we’ve faced in my four years of coaching at Cal, so that would include a lot of good teams.”

California lost to Miami in 1989 and again this season.

Oregon quarterback Bill Musgrave lauded Washington’s defense, saying: “They have some of the biggest defensive backs I’ve ever seen. It makes it tough for receivers to get off the line when those guys are that big and that fast.”

The Huskies will clinch their first appearance in the Rose Bowl game since after the 1981 season if they defeat Arizona Saturday in Seattle and Oregon beats UCLA in Eugene.

If so, it would be the earliest clinching of a Rose Bowl bid since Stanford in 1970.

Washington is favored over Arizona. However, the Wildcats (6-2, 4-2) haven’t lost to the Huskies since 1984.

The teams tied, 21-21, in 1987, and Arizona won the last two years, 16-13 and 20-17.

“I look at it that if we win, we’re in the race in some respects,” Arizona Coach Dick Tomey said.

Husky defensive tackle Steve Emtman, on Cal running back Russell White:

“White is a gifted athlete, but the problem is that he knows it. I’ve never seen such an arrogant guy in all my life. All the talking he did really fired us up. I don’t think California had much respect for us coming into (last Saturday’s) game. Hopefully, they do now.”

Said White: “I don’t think I’m that much of a talker.”

Mike Pawlawski’s ears may be ringing Saturday when Cal plays USC at the Coliseum--and he won’t like it.

Asked about the Trojan band’s incessant playing of “Tribute to Troy,” the Golden Bear quarterback was quoted in a Seattle newspaper as saying: “I can’t stand hearing it. They play it every touchdown, every first down, every timeout. They play it when the clock stops and when it starts. It stinks. I’ve hated USC since I was 4 years old.”

Pawlawski grew up in Orange County, attending . . . Troy High School.

Arizona State is off to its worst start since it joined the conference in 1978. The Sun Devils have an 0-4 Pac-10 record and have lost five consecutive games for the first time since 1947.

There is speculation that Coach Larry Marmie may be fired at the end of the season. He is in the third year of a four-year contract.

“I’m going to coach this football team,” he said. “I’m going to do the very best I can. I’m not going to talk about it and I would appreciate it if nobody would ask me about it.”

Since Stanford upset Notre Dame, 36-31, on Oct. 6 at South Bend, Ind., it has been reeling. The Cardinal has been outscored, 120-38, in its last three games by USC, Washington and Oregon.

While searching to say something positive about his struggling team, Stanford Coach Dennis Green observed: “Our nickel pass defense is much improved and right at a good time.”

Stanford will play Washington State Saturday at Palo Alto before finishing the season against Arizona and California.

The Cardinal (2-6, 1-4) ranks last in the conference in rushing offense, averaging only 58.4 yards in its last five games.