Breaking the Mold : Often Miscast Because of His Burly Physique, Washington Flourishes as Santa Monica Tailback

Brett Washington had heard the cliche. He just never planned to live it.

You can’t tell a book by its cover. Washington, 6-foot, 240 pounds, is proof that the adage applies to football players.

From the first time he strapped on a helmet and pads in youth leagues, Washington has been burdened with a perception generated by his stocky appearance.

Initially, he was branded a lineman. Then he was made a linebacker.

“But I’m a tailback,” he pleaded. “Uh-huh, yeah,” smirking coaches replied. “Well, just for now, why don’t you run on over there with the linemen.”

Just for now . Sooner or later, they will learn, Washington vowed. And they did.

After a year as a defensive lineman and reserve running back, Washington gained 2,794 yards and scored 34 touchdowns in two seasons as the starting tailback at Granada Hills High.

He had all the tools of a top college recruit: size, speed and elusiveness. The lack of an acceptable Scholastic Aptitude Test score was the only factor that precluded him from earning a football scholarship. Case closed, he thought.

But he was wrong.

At Santa Monica City College, Washington has been forced to take an even longer, more arduous route before he can reach his goal. Because of an abundance of talent at tailback, he again was miscast--this time as a fullback--during his freshman season.

The label almost stuck. Only an extraordinary sales job granted him a reprieve during this, his sophomore season.

When Gary Langer descended from the bleachers at Moorpark College six weeks ago, he had no idea he would help change the course of Santa Monica’s season--and perhaps Washington’s career.

Langer knew only that he had a bundle of questions--and no apparent answers.

Langer considered Washington a family friend. Langer’s son, Kirk, was the senior middle linebacker and inspirational leader of the Granada Hills team in 1989, when Washington first started turning heads as a junior.

The Langer home often was the place Washington and other Highlander players met to visit and watch game highlights. Washington usually starred in those films.

Now, there he was, after more than a year, still languishing on the bench, unable to crack the lineup in junior college.

Langer, an avid football fan, couldn’t understand it. So, during the second quarter of a 21-0 Santa Monica loss, he initiated his own investigation.

Irritated by the Corsairs’ ineptitude and Washington’s lack of playing time, he shot a glance at his wife, muttered, “This is insane,” and headed down the stairs toward the field.

He found Washington in his usual place, watching from the sidelines.

After a short greeting, Langer began his inquiry.

Why wasn’t he playing? Was he not working hard? Had he skipped practice?

Washington offered little by way of an explanation.

“I’m listening to him and I’m really getting hot, you know?” Langer said. “But before I open my mouth, I figure I’d better do some more research.”

Langer next targeted Derrick Stewart, Santa Monica’s standout cornerback and a former teammate of Washington’s at Granada Hills.

Stewart couldn’t explain the situation, either. “He said Brett was still working hard, had a great attitude and was as good as ever,” Langer recalled. “I said, ‘I’ve had enough of this. What (four-year) school is going to want him if he’s a second-string fullback for Santa Monica and they’re 0-10?”

A day later, Langer attempted to enlist the help of Darryl Stroh, the Granada Hills co-coach.

Stroh, according to Langer, said he too was disappointed and frustrated by Washington’s lack of playing time. However, Stroh was not willing to call Santa Monica coaches on Washington’s behalf.

“He said he wouldn’t like it if he was on the other end of a call like that,” Langer said. “He said, ‘You do it.’ ”

So Langer did.

On Washington’s advice, Langer asked to speak to Steve Butler, the Corsairs’ offensive coordinator. Butler, as luck would have it, just happened to answer the phone.

Langer attempted diplomacy.

Ever heard of Brett Washington? he asked. Yes, Butler replied, he had. Washington was the Corsairs’ second-string fullback.

Ever seen Washington run? Yes, Butler said, he had. In practice, though usually not very far.

Ever seen Washington play tailback? Yes, Butler said, he had. In practice, though not very often.

Sensing that Butler might becoming defensive, Langer, a professional salesman, changed tactics. He cheerfully offered a compliment.

Jason Patterson, the freshman playing ahead of Washington, really is the better fullback, Langer said. The coach agreed and a fairly amiable conversation ensued.

Then Langer cut to the heart of the matter. He suggested that Washington would be better utilized as a tailback, and he offered conclusive evidence.

Langer convinced Butler that he must see a 45-minute highlight video showing Washington at tailback for Granada Hills. Langer sent the film.

The next Saturday, Oct. 27, Washington received his first action at tailback, gaining 93 yards and scoring the Corsairs’ only touchdown in a 24-7 loss to Glendale.

After the game, Washington was told by Coach Owen Hahn that he had won the starting job.

Since then, Santa Monica (3-4, 3-3 in Western State Conference play, 2-0 in Southern Division play) has won three of four games.

If the Corsairs defeat host Bakersfield (5-1-1, 4-1-1, 2-0) on Saturday, they will have the division lead and will be in line for a berth in a junior college bowl game.

To Washington, Langer’s phone call borders on divine intervention. As a starter, he has rushed for 622 yards in 93 carries (6.7 average) and eight touchdowns in four games.

“If it wasn’t for Mr. Langer calling and then showing them that videotape, I wouldn’t be playing tailback,” Washington said.

However, Langer’s influence has been downplayed in some circles.

Hahn says Corsair coaches were “well on our way to arriving at that idea anyway when this fella called our offensive coordinator and said, ‘You know, you really ought to continue with that thought process and explore it.’ ”

Butler said he already “was concerned with our production at tailback” before Langer’s call.

Stroh says the Santa Monica coaching staff shouldn’t feel too badly. “They’re not the first ones to fall into that trap,” he quipped. “I wanted to make (Washington) a defensive lineman.

“He came out and said, ‘Hey, I’m a running back,’ and we said, ‘Yeah, sure. You just go on over there and play tackle.’ He just doesn’t look the part.”

Washington’s appearance now is only slightly less deceiving. A weight-training program has resulted in thick, solid muscles. But he also maintains deceivingly good speed.

Hahn says Washington has been clocked in the 40-yard dash three times, all between 4.5 and 4.6 seconds.

“As big as he is, he has remarkable open-field ability,” Butler said. “That’s the thing people don’t realize. He’s not just beating up people in there. He’s avoiding tacklers and making nice moves. For a guy who weighs 240 pounds, he makes a lot of people miss.”

Instead of competing against Patterson, a 220-pound freshman, Washington teams with him in what Butler calls Santa Monica’s “jumbo backfield.”

“They’re quite a combination,” Hahn said. “Jason is absolutely pancaking people. He is the most physical, violent fullback we’ve ever had here. Jason’s thrill in football is to see how many times he can pick up people and put them on their back. He gets their legs up in the air. They look like roaches.”

On the few occasions when Patterson misses a block, Washington has proved quite capable of creating his own running room.

“Playing fullback taught me to hit the hole that much harder,” Washington said. So too have memories from more than a year of frustration.

Stewart vividly recalls Washington’s reaction last season when he realized he was not included in Santa Monica’s plans at running back. “It was after the (Los Angeles) Southwest game,” Stewart said. “When he didn’t play, he just broke down in tears. He was so disappointed.”

Washington considered transferring after the season, but Stewart and other friends persuaded him to stay. Hahn said if Washington was so inclined, he never gave a hint.

“As personally frustrated as he might have been, he never said a word to any of the coaches,” Hahn said. “For a kid who came here with all his accolades, I’m sure it wasn’t easy for him.”

Any lingering traces of bitterness have been lost in the vengeance of his monthlong attack on defenses.

“When they told me I was starting against Santa Barbara, I just went wild,” Washington said. “I told the linemen, ‘Just give me a little hole.’ ” To Stewart he confided, “D, I’m ready to roll. I’m just going to explode.”

Making good on that prediction, he gained 276 yards in 28 carries to break the school’s 34-year-old, single-game rushing record. Included was a 77-yard touchdown sprint.

And all with Langer, in attendance for a second look, watching along with his family.

When the game was over, Langer and Washington met on the field and embraced. “This is all because of your dad,” Washington told Langer’s daughter, A.J.

“Good game, Brett,” Langer said. “I knew you could do it.”

Meanwhile, Stewart also was basking in the glory of his friend’s performance.

“Some of the other guys couldn’t believe it,” Stewart said. “I told them, ‘I went to high school with him. This is no big deal.’ ”

Two weeks later, against Valley, Washington rushed for 159 yards and four touchdowns. The highlight of that effort was a 10-yard run that left Hahn, among others, in awe.

“There were seven guys on him most of the way,” Hahn said. “You couldn’t even see Brett. There were these seven guys in green uniforms and Brett underneath, like a mountain, moving inexorably toward the end zone.

“Watching it on film was incredible.”

Coach, a word to the wise: Save it. You never know when a film clip might come in handy.