ROSE BOWL HUSKIES: LOCAL HOMES WILL OPEN FOR HUSKIES PLAYERS.

Byline: Gabe Lacques Staff Writer

When Washington wraps up its practice at USC on Sunday morning, the players will disperse until Monday night, and the 30 Southern Californians on the roster will have the opportunity to spend Christmas at home.

Of course, they'll have plenty of tagalongs.

``We won't have any player alone on Christmas,'' coach Rick Neuheisel said Friday.

In 1987, Neuheisel was picked up on waivers late in the season by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which meant he spent Christmas night alone in a hotel room, 3,000 miles from home.

``Here I am a pro athlete sitting alone watching ``It's a Wonderful Life,'' and ordering room service,'' he said. ``This year, everybody will either be with a player or a coach.''

The team checks out of its quarters at the Loews Santa Monica Hotel on Sunday and they'll regroup at the Beverly Hilton on Christmas night. Neuheisel said he hopes to have the entire game plan installed by Christmas, since the public appearances (Disneyland, Lawry's Beef Bowl, the ``Tonight Show,'' etc.) begin in earnest Monday.

--First practice: The Huskies went through their first full-contact practice since arriving in Southern California and though their top three running backs participated, all were hand's-off to the defense.

Only fourth-stringer Braxton Cleman was fair game, as Rich Alexis (shoulder), Willie Hurst (broken clavicle) and Paul Arnold (back) nursed injuries.

Alexis, a freshman, Hurst and Arnold led Washington in rushing in at least one game. Alexis was the team's leading rusher with 738 yards.

Alexis and Hurst will almost assuredly play, but Arnold is ``50-50 right now,'' Neuheisel said. ``The (red jerseys) will come off next week.''

--Emtman visits: Former Huskies defensive tackle Steve Emtman, the 1991 Outland Trophy winner and the rock of the Huskies' 1991 national- championship team, was at Friday's practice. Emtman, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 NFL draft, is close to getting his degree from Washington.