Huskies say moving Apple Cup would be fine

The white-hot topic of the week — the proposed move of the Apple Cup to Qwest Field for six years, beginning in 2010 — was met with a relative shrug Friday at Husky Stadium.

Both Washington football players and new coach Steve Sarkisian said that whatever is decided would be fine with them.

"I think Qwest Field is a great venue," Sarkisian said. "I think it's great not just for the city of Seattle but the state of Washington to have a common place where both teams can go and really rally the state and make it a social event. So I'm OK with it."

Players were similarly accepting.

"Whatever they decide is best for us, we've got to take that and have as much fun with it as we can," said quarterback Jake Locker. "Qwest Field is a great stadium, and it would be fun to go over there and have the excitement of being in a big-time stadium."

Said safety Nate Williams: "It would definitely be a privilege to play there because that's where our local professional team plays. Either way, I just want to line up and play. I don't care if it's here, there or wherever. Just as long as we play, I'll be happy."

Williams downplayed any advantage for the Huskies in getting to play in Seattle every year, even if not at Husky Stadium.

"I'm sure they would have just as many fans over here, as well," he said. "Whenever we play here, they have just as many fans here."

Washington athletic director Scott Woodward is withholding comment on specifics of the proposal while negotiations are ongoing. But he said that "we've gotten plenty of reaction and we are sensitive to it. Everybody is very, very concerned about the tradition, and we understand that and are sensitive to it."

Washington officials insist there is no deal signed or agreed to, despite rumblings to the contrary.

Two former players who were inducted into the Pacific Northwest Football Hall of Fame on Friday also weighed in.

Former Husky Joe Steele said, "There's an advantage to the Cougars to be in the cold weather in Pullman. If I was the Cougars, I would want to keep that thing right where it is."

Former Cougar Reuben Mayes said he understood the economics behind the proposal — a possible $10 million over six years for each school — but said that "it's really hard. There's a certain culture around college football that being in that stadium is really important. It's really important to be in Martin Stadium."

Polk returns

Redshirt freshman Chris Polk, who was the starting tailback last season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in the second game, returned during Friday's non-pads workout after missing the previous six practices with a lower leg injury.

Polk said he was injured in the third practice when his leg began swelling and putting pressure on a nerve and making his foot numb. "I couldn't feel it," he said. "It's still numb."

Polk, who's not sure how the injury occurred, spent a night in the hospital so that the swelling could be monitored to make sure it wouldn't cause more serious issues.

Polk said he hopes to take part some in today's scrimmage at Husky Stadium, which will begin at 1 p.m.

Note

• Washington announced Friday plans to install a new FieldTurf synthetic playing surface next month in Husky Stadium, replacing the 9-year-old field that was installed during the summer of 2000.

According to a press release, the new surface will be installed at a cost of approximately $350,000, which will come from the athletic department's operating budget. Woodward said that the turf will be designed to be able to be moved and used at a new track-and-field venue should a renovation of Husky Stadium be approved.