Spring football at the University of Washington has shifted to a whole new practice – publicity.

And like he did for the on-field activities the past month, new coach Steve Sarkisian got through to his audience with flying colors.

Sarkisian was the fresh-faced member of the 38th annual Husky Coaches Tour, which convened for its first of seven stops statewide Thursday at Fircrest Golf Club.

In a crowded banquet room of UW alumni, Sarkisian spoke last, and gave a short assessment of his 41/2-month tenure, of how his Huskies team looks after spring ball and he finished up by answering a few questions about various topics.

Also part of the tour were basketball coaches Lorenzo Romar and Tia Jackson, who also gave brief presentations.

To understand how much curiosity there is about the new football staff, and anticipation for the upcoming season, when Sarkisian, decked out in a sports jacket and collared shirt, was introduced by master of ceremonies’ Bob Rondeau, he received a standing ovation.

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As anticipated in the blog entry below, Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury has announced the signing of Renardo Sidney, a 6-10 McDonald’s All-American who had previously committed to USC.

Sidney is a native of Mississippi who moved to California in 2006, where he attended Fairfax High School in Los Angeles.

That’s the take of Jon Wilner of the Mercury News, weighing in what seems to be happening with Pac-10 recruiting and departures to the NBA.

As of now, Wilner sees the top contenders in next season’s conference race as UW and Cal, and he has the Huskies ahead by a nose at this (very very) early date.

Here’s Wilner’s take.

Meanwhile, Wilner was aready down on USC, and since his blog post, 6-11 power forward Renardo Sidney apparently has backed away from his USC commitment.

A reminder from the UW Alumni Association:

The UW Coaches Tour that is coming to Tacoma’s Fircrest Golf Club on Thursday. As a regional scholarship fund-raiser, Coaches Tour has raised more than $260,000 for UW student scholarships over the past five years. This year’s winners in your area are Alisha Babbitt, a 2007 graduate of Spanaway Lake High School, and Rebecca M. Fountain, a 2003 graduate of Foss High School.



Extended bios are below. For more information on Coaches Tour, visit UWalum.com.

In the hours after the 2009 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings wasted no time signing a few college football products from the Northwest.

Three of the 14 free agents they signed Monday were from the region, including Montana safety Colt Anderson and Boise State running back Ian Johnson and receiver Vinny Perretta.

And if things go right in the team’s mini-camp starting Friday, it could be fourt rookies. University of Washington offensive lineman Juan Garcia has been invited to the facility, and will work out with the team.

“It’s a general tryout,” said Garcia from his home

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The pairings for the coming season’s Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series gives UW a pair of pairings for the first time.

Because there are obviously 12 teams in the Big 12 and only 10 in the Pac-10, two Pac-10 teams have played two series games, and now it’s UW’s turn.

The Huskies will travel to Texas Tech on Dec. 3, while Texas A&M will come to Hec Edmundson Pavilion on Dec. 22. The sites will swap in 2010, with the Red Raiders coming here and the Huskies visiting College Station.

Here’s more information from GoHuskies.com.

Below

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The 2009 UW Coaches Tour begins this week, and the first stop will be the Fircrest Country Club in Tacoma.

Football coach Steve Sarkisian, men’s basketball coach Lorenzo Romar, women’s hoops coach Tia Jackson will appear at most stops and few surprise guests are promised.

There is a golf tournament that pairs fans with UW coaches, but those not interested in golf are still welcome to attend the Husky Insider Dinner.

Here’s the schedule:

Thursday – Fircrest Golf Club, Tacoma

May 4 – Bellingham Country Club, Bellingham

May 11 –

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Two stellar spring scrimmages were a start for quarterback Jake Locker, but Saturday was the real test.

Could the junior from Ferndale – the man virtually every Husky fan is banking on to lead this team out of its sustained rut – repeat what he’d been doing in a real-game situation, in front of thousands of clamoring fans?

Locker did that, and plenty more.

He completed 16-of-18 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns, ran for another score, and his Purple team made up mostly of first-string players throttled the White squad, 33-0, in front of an estimated 10,000 spectators at Husky Stadium.

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