Willingham names Stanback starter

Huskies head coach Tyrone Willingham today named Isaiah Stanback as the starter at quarterback for the game against Air Force.

The announcement came at the same time as the announcement that Oregon transfer Johnny DuRocher would be ineligible for the first three games of the season due to NCAA transfer rules.

Most pundits had said that Stanback was the odds-on favorite to become the starter, so DuRocher's change in standing wasn't a major factor other than making the announcement of the junior from Garfield High School in Seattle 100 percent done.

Willingham was quoted as saying, "We had a very spirited competition for our starting quarterback position and I think that level of competition benefited the development of our entire team. The change in Johnny¹s current status on the team should not diminish the fact Isaiah has earned this opportunity to be our starter. He certainly demonstrated the traits and leadership we want to have in our quarterback. I am disappointed for Johnny, but at the same time his competition at the position certainly helped him and our team. The ruling on Johnny accelerated the announcement of the starting quarterback. It did not, however, change the decision."