UW Football | Dumped player wonders if it distracted teammates

Washington safety Chris Hemphill hoped he'd have another chance Saturday to show how much he'd like to still be a member of the Huskies next season and play for a program he said he "loves."

But before Washington's 20-3 loss to Stanford, as he was introduced as one of the team's 26 seniors, it hit him that there's probably nothing he can do to change the mind of coach Tyrone Willingham — not even go out and make 10 tackles, as Hemphill did.

Hemphill is officially a fourth-year junior but was honored as a senior Saturday as Willingham has told Hemphill he probably won't be asked back next season. Willingham announced Thursday that five players listed as juniors would be honored as seniors, saying he feels fifth years are an "honor and a privilege" and have to be "earned."

Two of those players, Hemphill and kicker Michael Braunstein, have each made it clear they would like to return.

"He honored me as a senior today so I'm pretty sure he has his mind made up," Hemphill said. "I was hoping he would change his mind and I could show him through my play how much I want to be part of this team. I do things in the community [Hemphill is one of the players who contributed to the Husky Nation CD that benefits charity], different things I tried to show that I really love and respect this program and him as a coach. I guess the ball didn't bounce my way, so there's nothing I could do about it."

After the team's desultory play Saturday, it was tempting to wonder if the news of the week had proven a distraction.

Willingham said, "I don't think so."

But Hemphill thought it might have been.

"They were pretty pissed off when they heard I was leaving," Hemphill said of his teammates. "Some still can't believe it. I told them just try not to worry about me, just focus on the game, focus on what we have to try to do to get to a bowl game. But it's hard for anyone anytime you lose a friend, lose a teammate that actually has a year left. I don't think it messed with our focus, but I just know my teammates were thinking about it in the back of their mind."

Hemphill said he first heard from Willingham that he might not be asked back the week after the Arizona State game Oct. 28. There have been rumors that Hemphill had been suspended for disciplinary reasons for a few games but he denied those, saying an injury was the only reason he hadn't played in five games earlier this season.

The 6-foot-6, 237-pounder hadn't been a key contributer until the last two weeks when he has started as a replacement for the injured Jason Wells at free safety. Hemphill has made 24 tackles with an interception and a fumble recovery in those two games.

"He [Willingham] said he just felt I could be more of a consistent player," Hemphill said. "I guess he felt like I wasn't the player he was looking for."

Both Hemphill and Braunstein are on track to graduate this academic year and could transfer and play at another school next season. Braunstein was not honored as a senior before the game as was agreed upon Friday during a meeting between Braunstein's father, Paul, and UW athletic officials.