The Associated Press

Pac-10 Notebook

SEATTLE - Washington coach Tyrone Willingham kept the talk vague Monday about the status of star quarterback Jake Locker, but does believe the sophomore's hamstring strain isn't major.

Willingham coyly avoided addressing Locker's status over the weekend, saying he had not viewed the results of an MRI taken on Locker's hamstring and that the injury wasn't of much concern. Locker was injured in practice last Thursday and had an MRI a day later.

Willingham seemed to have a bit more information Monday, saying trainers have told him that Locker is day-to-day. He said Locker was "limited" in practice Monday morning.

"Any injury is always some concern," Willingham said. "But a major concern? No."

A significant injury to Locker could be a crushing blow for a team already facing the challenges of being young at the skill positions and facing a daunting schedule to start the season. The Huskies open at Oregon on Aug. 30, then return home for non-conference matchups against BYU and Oklahoma.

Locker missed only one game last season after he suffered a neck injury a week earlier against Oregon State.

Locker broke the Pac-10 record for rushing yards by a quarterback, with 986 yards and 13 rushing TDs. He added 2,062 yards passing and 14 TDs, accounting for 59 percent of Washington's total offense.

With Locker sidelined, most of the work at quarterback has gone to redshirt freshman Ronnie Fouch, who threw for 2,690 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior at Redlands East Valley High School in California.

Shaw leaves team

SEATTLE - Washington football coach Tyrone Willingham says sophomore WR Curtis Shaw has left the team for undisclosed family reasons.

Willingham said Shaw needs to be with his family in Stockton, Calif. The length of his absence from school is unknown. A school spokesman says Shaw is not in any academic or legal trouble.

Willingham says Shaw will have the opportunity to return to Washington once his family issues have been resolved.

Surgery for Olson

LOS ANGELES - UCLA quarterback Ben Olson will have surgery today on his broken right foot, an injury that's expected to keep him out for at least two months.

On Monday, the left-handed senior learned he had fractured the fifth metatarsal in his foot for the second time in four months. The surgery will be performed today, when Olson will have a screw placed in his foot to assist in the healing.

Olson is expected to miss at least five games. Kevin Craft, a transfer from Mt. San Antonio College, and redshirt freshman Chris Forcier are expected to compete for the Bruins' starting quarterback job.