NOTES : Flu Hits Brunell, Limiting His Practices

Washington quarterback Mark Brunell has been suffering from flu, and his practice time has been limited the past two days.

However, the sophomore from Santa Maria is expected to play in Tuesday’s Rose Bowl game against Iowa.

Earlier in the season, Brunell was a tentative quarterback. He even got some embarrassing notoriety by lining up to take the center snap from guard Dean Kirkland against Purdue.

“I’ll probably do it again some day,” Brunell said, laughing. “You’re looking at four big butts on every play and they do look alike.”

Brunell established himself at the position by passing for 197 yards and running for 38 more in a 31-0 rout of USC in the third game of the season.

After throwing six interceptions in the first four games, Brunell then had a streak of 128 passes without an interception until he was intercepted by UCLA free safety Eric Turner Nov. 10 in Seattle.

Turner’s interception enabled Brad Daluiso to kick the winning field goal in a 25-22 upset. The loss to the Bruins still lingers with the Huskies because it deprived them of an opportunity to win the national championship.

“I think you saw us overconfident in the UCLA game,” said center Ed Cunningham. “We read we were supposed to be 21-point favorites for that game. That was a farce. UCLA is still UCLA. They still have the athletes.”

Cunningham said the Huskies will not allow themselves to be overconfident against Iowa, even though they’re favored by nine points.

“I think we’re the best football team in America,” Cunningham said. “It’s too bad we don’t have a chance to win the national championship.

The Huskies have lost only to UCLA and No. 1-ranked Colorado, 20-14.