GOING WITH A Backup Plan

Taylor Barton, how did you sleep last night?

Not too well, Bob Toledo hypothesizes. The UCLA coach has a theory about substitute quarterbacks, and Barton will be the lab rat in a test of its validity today.

The Washington junior played well in relief of injured Cody Pickett last week, guiding the Huskies to three scores in their final four possessions in a 27-24 victory over USC.

But this will be Barton’s first start, and Toledo believes there is a difference.

“The thing I’ve seen with quarterbacks who come off the bench and play well is they don’t have as much success the next week when they are asked to start,” he said.

Why?

Pressure.

Barton was relaxed before last week’s game, knowing he’d play only in a blowout or if Pickett was injured. This week he has been inundated by interviews. He was force-fed the game plan. He ran the first-team offense in practice.

Video of the UCLA defense took on a more personal context. The Xs and O’s have names and faces. Barton knows he’ll feel the heat from Robert Thomas, Marques Anderson, Kenyon Coleman, Ryan Nece and the rest of the Bruins.

They made mincemeat of experienced quarterbacks such as Jonathan Smith of Oregon State and Steve Bellisari of Ohio State. What will they do to a transfer making his first start?

Barton must wonder. And he knows responsibility for extending Washington’s 12-game winning streak is largely on his shoulders.

It’s enough to leave a guy staring at the hotel ceiling in the middle of the night.

That’s Toledo’s theory, anyway.

“He’s not the kind of kid who gets spooked,” Husky center Kyle Benn said. “We have nothing but confidence in him.”

Barton has been bright-eyed all week, sounding thankful for the opportunity and poised to do his best.

“Every bump in the road has made me a more mature person and a more mature quarterback,” he said.

And he is sure to savor every moment because he had to talk passionately and write persuasively to gain this opportunity.

“It’s been a long road,” he said.

Barton began studying at Rick Neuheisel’s knee in 1998 when both were at Colorado. A freshman, he was heartbroken when the coach left Boulder for Seattle.

“Taylor was the first player I told I was leaving because, as usual, he was the first player in my office,” Neuheisel said. “It was emotional. He wanted to come with me and I told him he couldn’t.”

Colorado claimed Neuheisel talked to Barton and other players about transferring to Washington, and as part of self-imposed sanctions, the Huskies agreed not to take any transfers from Colorado. Barton, the son of former NFL quarterback Greg Barton, clashed with Neuheisel’s successor, Gary Barnett, and transferred to San Francisco City College last season. Still, he pined for Washington and penned a three-page letter to the university president pleading to be allowed to transfer there.

Washington relented, docking Neuheisel two scholarships in exchange for admitting Barton, who was expected to replace the departing Marques Tuiasosopo.

Pickett won the job, however, and it appeared Barton might be destined to dissect film with Neuheisel and carry a clipboard on Saturdays.

“He’s a gym rat in the film room,” Neuheisel said. “He’ll be a coach some day.”

Today, however, he is a starting quarterback.

As for the game plan, he won’t be expected to do too much. Neuheisel knows Washington must establish a running game, and he wants tailbacks Willie Hurst and Rich Alexis to provide it.

Pickett was injured on an option keeper, and although the option is normally a huge part of the Huskies’ offense, the coach will try to keep Barton out of harm’s way.

The next quarterback in line is freshman Casey Paus, brother of UCLA quarterback Cory Paus. Casey is redshirting and Neuheisel wants it to stay that way.

“I anticipate a smash-mouth football game and our plan is to try to find a way to run the football,” Neuheisel said. “We’ve got to be careful how we want Taylor exposed. But you can’t play scared, especially against an opponent like UCLA.”

Toledo’s theory doesn’t predict fear. In fact, he doesn’t expect Barton to be less than courageous, merely sleep-deprived.