Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers
For this seasons home opener, the Seahawks have a high-priced new head coach in fast-talking USC defector Pete Carroll, a high-priced new backup quarterback in Charlie Whitehurst, a new/old safety in veteran UW grad Lawyer Milloy, and a couple highly touted rookies in safety Earl Thomas and offensive tackle Russell Okung. So you cant accuse the Seahawks of complacency after a disappointing 2009. But Okungs hurt, Milloy relies on Ben-Gay to get out of bed in the morning (as does Matt Hasselbeck), and Whitehurst and Thomas are inexperienced. And more: Carrolls a hyper-annoying recruiting cheat who never stops bitching at the refs, now coaching in a city where every Husky fan rightfully hates his fucking guts. And the offensive backfield still lacks a legitimate first-stringer. And the Hawks sleepwalked through a preseason that was anything but inspiring. Thankfully, they play in a lackluster division, one the visiting San Francisco 49ers are favored to win. Hence, the stakes couldnt be higher for this openerfamished Hawk fans can only be expected to show so much patience, and Carroll doesnt deserve much anyhow. MIKE SEELY
Sun., Sept. 12, 1:15 p.m., 2010
