The team is in full preparation mode for this week’s game against the Oregon Ducks. As the Huskies prepare, they are turning the focus within, repeating a strategy that has been successful for this pack.

“It is all about us,” said Coach Sark. “It does not matter who we have played or are going to play, it is about focusing on what we can do to become better as individuals and collectively as a football team.”

During Monday’s weekly press conference, Coach Sark relayed to the media that the players have not gloated about the Stanford win or the new rankings since the team got back to work on Saturday. He also reiterated that this year’s group is a serious group, as reflected by their ability to turn the page and focus on necessary preparation for the task at hand. Coach Sark explained that this attitude of focus is so pervasive because the majority of players, now in Coach Sark’s fourth year of running the helm, came to the University of Washington with a common goal in mind: “to win a championship here.”

Coach Sark, in keeping theme with “Tell the Truth Monday,” said that he was impressed by the effort and execution of the defense, but that he believes that there are still obvious areas for improvements and fixes to be made. A specific example that he noted was the play of Danny Shelton, who Coach Sark said overall had a great game, has room to improve. Shelton, who leads all UW defensive lineman with 16 tackles through four games and was key to holding Stanford to 65 rushing yards, can dominate an offensive line the entire game, according to Coach Sark.

The team practiced Sunday night and will take today off. Players and coaches will be back on the field Tuesday morning in what is a new arrangement and will finish the week Friday with a morning practice before flying to Eugene, Oregon for Saturday’s game. Morning practices have been implemented by the coaching staff in order to have the players practice while still mentally and physically fresh. This is the first week of the new schedule for the team, although classes started last Monday, this week’s contest is the first weekend game during Washington’s academic year.

Make sure to catch all the action live by tuning to ESPN at 7:30pm this Saturday.  And one more thing:

Go Dawgs!!!