PHOTO BY DREW McKENZIE / SEATTLESPORTSONLINE.COM

BY TODD DYBAS / SEATTLESPORTSONLINE.COM

Students, adults, the band, they were all there with hope.

Six weeks after the dismissal of Tyrone Willingham, and two days after the Huskies finished 0-12, Steve Sarkisian was introduced Monday morning as the 23rd coach at the University of Washington.

Sarkisian, 34, was dressed in a suit and purple shirt and yellow tie, his wife and three children in tow.

"This is one of the jobs in the country that I've cherished since growing up in Southern California watching Pac-10 football," Sarkisian said.

After rattling off examples of past Washington success, Sarkisian explained what he thought that meant going forward.

"It's about time we get back to that level of expectation," Sarkisian said. "About time for us to get back to the Rose Bowl, about time for us to get back to competing for conference championships, it's bout time for us to get back to compete for national championships. That's what our goal will be."

Sarkisian insisted there was still plenty of time left to recruit for next season. The new coach said he would start recruiting right away, though he will still be spending time game-planning for USC's upcoming Rose Bowl appearance Jan. 1.

Sarkisian said he's "going to hit the ground running" in regard to recruiting. He went on to insist recruits from the state of Washington will no longer be leaving the state to play college football.

"The top players in this state should never leave," Sarkisian said. "We're going to put a wall up around the state of Washington. These kids are not going to leave anymore. The kids in this area in the country should never be leaving to go somewhere else."

In a departure from the prior staff's philosophy, Sarkisian said practice will be open to fans, the media, and students. Sarkisian said he wants an open program so the players can use the energy from the community and translate into a benefit on Saturdays.

"We've got 105 kids on this football team but they're not the only ones making this thing," Sarkisian said. "It's going to be open."

After spending seven seasons at USC, the inevitable Pete Carroll questions came up. Sarkisian thanked Carroll specifically, but went on to say he has to be his own coach, bringing a unique style to Washington. But one thing he will import to the program from USC is the importance of competing in practice.

"We need to practice great. Practice is everything," Sarkisian said. "It needs to be competitive. It needs to be a practice field of energy and enthusiasm."

No word yet on who will round out Sarkisian's coaching staff. Sarkisian said he will call the offensive plays, but an offensive coordinator will be hired. He also said assembling the staff is going to take some time, a process they are going to proceed cautiously with. Last season defensive coordinator Ed Donatell signed a two-year contract with the university. How that shakes out will be an issue.

As for a timetable to turn things around? Sarkisian was optimistic, saying a bowl game was the goal next season. But first he has to change the way the current Huskies players think.

"It's a belief," Sarkisian said. "You're either believing you're going to go out and win football games or you're believing your not.

"Obviously as we all know, there is only one way to go and that's up."

Todd Dybas is the editor of Seattlesportsonline.com. He can be reached via e-mail at tdybas@seattlesportsonline.com