COLLEGE FOOTBALL / BOWL REPORT : ROSE : Despite Rain, Husky Band Plays On

Despite heavy rains, Washington practiced as scheduled Sunday at Rams Park in Anaheim, with musical accompaniment provided by the Husky band.

“This is Wednesday’s practice (in terms of preparation) and our band showed up every Wednesday all season long,” Washington Coach Don James explained.

The band played for about 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, a muddy field at Citrus College caused Michigan Coach Gary Moeller to cancel scheduled practice Sunday. Instead, the team went through walk-through drills in the dining room at the Doubletree Hotel in Pasadena.

Defensive tackle Steve Emtman, Washington’s Outland Trophy winner, missed practice for the third time in four days Sunday because of flu.

“His throat’s real raw,” James said, adding that Emtman has been taking antibiotics since the middle of last week. “He just hasn’t turned the corner.”

James said that Emtman would be fed fluids intravenously for eight hours Sunday. Emtman told reporters after Saturday’s practice that he felt weak.

Still, James expects him to be ready for Wednesday’s game.

“He should be coming around,” James said.

And if he’s not completely healthy?

“We would just limit his plays,” James said. “We wouldn’t let him stay out there for a 10-play drive--(it would be) three and out, rest a couple of plays, and back in. We always do that on warm days, or with anybody who’s not 100%.”

Washington’s record-setting split end, Mario Bailey, might have signed with UCLA out of Seattle’s Franklin High if the Bruins had been interested.

“People called me a mama’s boy and, at the time, I really wanted to get away from home,” Bailey said. “I came to UCLA to play in a basketball tournament and fell in love with the campus. So, if I was going away from home, that’s where I wanted to go.”

But the Bruins said they couldn’t use him, Bailey said.

“It’s their loss,” Bailey said. “It turned out best for me. I’m happy to be here, playing on their home field (in the Rose Bowl).”

Washington’s sophomore quarterback, Billy Joe Hobert, completed 60.7% of his passes for 2,271 yards and a school-record 22 touchdowns in leading the Huskies to their first unbeaten regular season in 75 years.

“He’s had his ups and downs,” James said, “but by and large, he’s had about as good a first year for a quarterback as I’ve ever seen.”