Los Angeles, Calif. - University of Washington quarterback Isaiah Stanback, donning a resplendent gold suit at the Pac-10 Media Day, metaphorically describes playing for an offensive coordinator to "riding a bicycle; you get better at it the second time."

The 2006 season will mark Stanback's second season playing for head coach Tyrone Willingham and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Tim Lappano, and his first season with the Huskies in which he has the advantage of playing for a second season under one offensive coordinator.

"It's big," he declares, commenting on the subject. Learning a new offensive system is an exhausting process, and like riding a bike, it's something that takes time to master and become comfortable with.

The versatile Stanback, who's put up impressive numbers with the Huskies despite their poor recent records, is a standout track and field athlete, and in 2006, was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the baseball draft despite having never played college baseball.

Coach Willingham describes the 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior as "one of the outstanding quarterbacks and athletes in this [Pac-10] league."

Coming off a 2-9 season in 2005, Stanback is "very excited about this season," adding that his team "had a pretty good spring."

I feel every team has a chance to win every game," he believes, a testament to the fierce and relatively even competition in Pac-10 football, especially in the wake of USC losing its marquee players, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush, to the NFL.

The coaching staff, headed by Willingham, has had a "tremendous impact," according to Stanback, in making the Huskies a stronger football program and preparing its players for life's challenges. When asked to comment on the importance of putting on a solid performance against Oklahoma in Norman on September 9, he acknowledged that "it's important," but that his team will strive to take every team the same this coming season.

Before thinking too hard about the Oklahoma Sooners, the Huskies will have to prepare for, and face, the San Jose State Spartans on September 2, at Husky Stadium.