Growling and barking..........or was it whimpering? The Husky Coaches Tour rolling into the Valley, minus the Top Dogs.

The purple and gold world invading Yakima Country Club today.....sinking those birds this year without University of Washington men's head hoop coach Lorenzo Romar or u-dub football boss Ty Willingham. First time since I've been here Husky alums have gathered for this annual event without both marquee name positions in attendance. The dog team pr spinners telling me both Romar and Willingham had other commitments. So, no grilling the top pigskin dog on prospects of turning around three dismal seasons in a row under Willingham. Instead....taking the heat today....long time Husky football assistant Randy Hart.....so I asked Randy about the hotter by the year hot seat under Ty's backside again in '08.

Randy Hart "The name of the game is to win games. And, when you're not people are going to put you on the proverbial hot seat. I would also add that no coach puts himself on the hotseat because we all expect to do great things. And, when we're not you kind of look inwardly to yourself first. If you know what you're doing. "

Did the schedulers know what they're doing? Washington will open the season at Oregon. And, it doesn't get any easier with BYU, Oklahoma and USC on the agenda. At least half the season will be missed by Yakima native Juan Garcia. The 315 pound Eisenhower grad, granted a sixth year of eligibility because of prior injuries will be on crutches when this fall campaign kicks off. The outland trophy prospect center sidelined again after a serious foot injury during spring practices. The same injury that benched former Huskies Isiah Stanbeck and Dereck Johnson.

Randy Hart "Both of those players came back. They did have the surgery. They certainly run faster than Juan. But, they don't put the torque on it he does. Juan is a big rascal. We're all pulling for him. Whatever it takes to put the thing right, he'll do."

Juan gone again....and dog gone it......pre season all american candidate linebacker EJ Savanah who led the u-dub in tackles last year..... broke his arm. On the field of battle?.........nope

Randy Hart "They say he was arm wrestling. Arm wrestling? Is that part of his training regiment? Must be, maybe so."