FORMER WASHINGTON COACH JAMES DIES AT 80
Don James arrived in Seattle in the mid-1970s as an unknown. He built a Hall of Fame coaching career, turning the University of Washington into a powerhouse program that won a share of a national championship.
No wonder he’ll forever be referred to around the school as “The Dawgfather.”
James, the longtime Washington coach who led the Huskies to a share of the 1991 national title, died at his home Sunday from the effects of pancreatic cancer. He was 80.
James had been undergoing treatment for the disease since late September.
James was 176-78-3 as a head coach at Kent State and Washington. He went 15358-2 with the Huskies from 1975-92 and led the school to a six-pack of Rose Bowl appearances. His crowning moment came in 1991 when Washington had the most dominant defense in the country, and beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl to finish 12-0. The Associated Press media poll gave Miami — James’ alma mater — the national championship, while the coaches’ voted in favor of Washington in their poll.
“His accomplishments as a football coach stand alone, but what made him truly special is the quality of man he was away from the game,” current Washington coach Steve Sarkisian said. “The guidance and leadership he instilled into this program and community are still felt today, and will continue to be felt here for a long, long time.”
James is survived by his wife of 61 years, Carol, their three children and 10 grandchildren. The school said details on a public memorial service would be released at a later date. South Carolina: Coach Steve Spurrier said QB Connor Shaw won’t need surgery for his sprained left knee. But Shaw is unlikely to play when the Gamecocks travel to Missouri this weekend.
Spurrier said Sunday that Shaw had on a knee brace and was walking some a day after injuring the knee in a 23-21 loss at Tennessee. However, Spurrier adds Shaw wouldn’t practice for two to three days. Should Shaw make it back in time, it wouldn’t be the first time the senior overcame injuries to play. NAU: Senior RB Zach Bauman was named the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week. Bauman rushed for a careerhigh 266 yards in Northern Arizona’s 39-30 win over Idaho State. Saturday’s late Pac-12 games: Sean Mannion threw for 481 yards and four touchdowns as Oregon State rolled to its sixth straight victory, beating California 49-17 in Berkeley.
Brandin Cooks caught 13 passes for a career-high 232 yards with one touchdown and added another score on a 14-yard run as the Beavers
(6-1, 4-0 Pac-12) racked up plenty of gaudy stats against a Cal unit ranked 121st of 123 FBS teams in terms of total defense. Cal (1-6, 0-4) lost its 11th consecutive game to an FBS opponent, the longest such streak of any team in a BCS conference.
» Marcus Mariota threw for 327 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another as Oregon overcame the prolific passing of Connor Halliday for a 62-38 victory over Washington State in Eugene.
Mariota kicked things off with a 57-yard scoring dash on the first series of the game for the Ducks.
Byron Marshall ran for 192 yards and three touchdowns for Oregon (7-0, 4-0 Pac-12).
Halliday completed 58 of 89 passes for 557 yards and four touchdowns for the Cougars (4-4, 2-3).