Ty Willingham Suspends Season to Confront Financial Crisis

University of Washington football coach Tyrone Willingham announced that he is suspending the Huskies' season, just one day before the team's game against the favored Stanford Cardinal, so he can fly to "the other Washington" to address the nation's financial crisis. As evidence of his ability to contribute, Willingham cited his service as PTA Finance Committee Chair at his daughters' school.

"I call on Coach Harbaugh to join me in putting team second and country first," said Willingham. "We are truly facing a crisis. Now is not the time to engage in school rivalries."

Willingham added that he would suspend all blocking, passing, running, and tackling, pending Harbaugh's agreement.

"I was under the impression that they had already suspended tackling," said Oklahoma University running back DeMarco Murray.

Reached on the campaign trail, where he was packing heat like the oven door, Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden said he disapproved of Willingham's decision. "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"

Attempts to question Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin were prevented by the McCain campaign, which has not suspended blocking.

Meanwhile, Harbaugh plans to go ahead with the game, whether the Huskies show up or not. “[Their absence] would not have a significant impact on our game plan,” he explained.