Dybas: Sarkisian non-committal, but Price the leader

It’s not just fans, Keith Price or Nick Montana who would like to hear a decision about who the Huskies’ starting quarterback will be. Throw Stephanie Sarkisian into the mix.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian’s wife has been flooded with questions while rattling off the numerous ingredients that will go into that day’s caffeine jolt.

“She just wants me to hurry up and make a decision,” Steve Sarkisian said. “I think that’s the talk of the town at the coffee shop now when she goes in to get her non-fat vanilla latte or whatever she has.”

It’s undoubtedly the talk of the Price, Montana and Huskies homesteads. After intimating Friday a decision could come after Saturday’s spring football game, Sarkisian generalized, philosophized and hypothesized. But he didn’t choose a quarterback.

He did allow a large hint, however. When asked if Price was the leader in the clubhouse, Sarkisian mounted up.

“I would think so,” Sarkisian said. “I thought he played well today.”

That’s fact.

Price was a combined 20-for-28 for 212 yards and three touchdowns. He ran fluidly five times for 53 yards. His decisions were sound. His adaptation good. Plenty of evidence to wonder why wait; Price is in front of Montana in all facets at this point.

Montana is no slouch. The redshirt freshman is just behind the redshirt sophomore in time.

Montana showed good ability to slide in the pocket for extra time, then make an outside shoulder throw to the sideline. He finished 9-for-20 for 146 yards and two touchdowns, including a 70-yarder to Cody Bruns.

It’s nuance, too. When offensive lineman Erik Kohler was hurt and subsequently plopped onto the training table, Price was one of two Huskies to go check on him. It was a plus for Price, not an option for or negative for Montana since he was on the field.

The sooner a choice is made, the sooner everyone moves on from Jake Locker. The draft and spring are over. It’s a new time in Husky Stadium. Price’s time for better or worse.

Sarkisian is off to the Pac-10 meetings next week. He will take that time to step back and ruminate.

“I kind of like to get away, kind of step away from it and have your own thoughts and figure out what you want,” Sarkisian said. “Then there will be some conversations when I’m back in town.”

He’ll get together with quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier. Then they’ll make official what we already know, it’s Keith Price.