Go Blawgs

Today is so much more than a game. Yes, its our annual rivalry against the hated Ducks and another opportunity for the Huskies to upset a Top 10 team that is truly deserving of its recent success. But today, for me, it’s about honoring the legacy of Husky Stadium and all of the legends that have played on her stage — a stage that is unrivaled in college football. For today is the last game before our beloved house gets a much-deserved update. Although the amenities will improve and sight lines will be better, the spirit of Husky Stadium and all of the memories she has produced will live on forever.

Today we honor the 1991 National Champion Washington Husky football team, a moment that I know Sarah and I will never forget.  So unlike years past where I have dedicated a lot of real estate in this blawg to reasons why I loathe the Ducks and why their claims of superiority are baseless (they still need to beat us for the next 18 years straight to EVEN the series), this year I am truly at peace with the game and whatever outcome it brings. Today I will revel in the glory that is Husky football and all that has come before us and so much that still lies ahead.

And perhaps, just maybe, all of us can channel the legend of the Purple and Gold and our majestic stadium and turn this fitting farewell into the ride of a lifetime and produce an upset for the ages. After all, isn’t that the least we can do for a venue that has produced so much for us? BLEED PURPLE. BE GOLD. THANK YOU HUSKY STADIUM. GO HUSKIES. BEAT THE DUCKS!

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No, the Big Dawg is not in Vegas.  Rather referring to Coach Sark’s statement at press conference that the Huskies now are playing with “house money” after notching their sixth win against Arizona last week, becoming bowl eligible.  That doesn’t mean the Dawgs are planning to let off the gas pedal, instead they will throw caution to the wind.  Play loose and put the pedal to the floor against the Oregon Ducks.  This is not one the Dawgs are supposed to win, so take your best shot.  Coach spoke about the ease of playing with an absence of fear.

The Ducks come into town with their fast paced, high-flying offensive attack riding a seven game win streak in the series.  None of those seven games ended up close, with 20 as close a margin as the Huskies could muster.  Interesting note that only two of the seven games were in Husky Stadium.  Who is setting these schedules anyway?  Both teams offenses should take the center stage in this game, and with both defenses struggling to some degree, it should be high scoring affair.  The last time the Dawgs won the match up was in 2003 here in Husky Stadium in a 42-10 duck shoot.  Memorable to me not just for the win but also because my Duck loving father-in-law came up to the game with me.  So in a last-ditch effort to do everything in my power to ensure a win.  I have produced a secret weapon.  I’m bringing him back again for the first time since that 2003 victory.  Brilliant!

The Duck game marks the end of Husky Stadium as we now know it.  91 years of football is enough to earn a much-needed $250 million renovation.  Demolition/construction will begin Monday and conclude with the 2013 home opener against Boise State.  In the meantime, UW will use CenturyLink as home field, starting with the Apple Cup.

There will be a lot to celebrate as we close the doors on Husky Stadium.  The festivities will be starting early, at 7:15pm, the Huskies are asking all fans to get into their seats for a special 360 degree photo that will be taken to commemorate the stadium.  Senior night was moved up to make sure they could have the ceremony of running out of the tunnel of Husky Stadium for the final time.  The Dawgfather, Don James will come out for the coin flip.  For the main attraction, the 1991 National Championship team will be featured.  The whole cast of characters will be here…Steve Entman, Mario Bailey,  Napoleon Kaufman, Beno Bryant, etc.  So come out to send off Husky Stadium in style.  What could be a better send off than an upset victory over the hated rival Ducks?

GO DAWGS!!!  Beat the Ducks!  Thank you Husky Stadium…

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You just have to get back up on the horse.  Huskies did just that with a steady dose of Chris Polk and a defense that stood up to the test late.  The Dawgs take the Arizona Wildcats 42-31 in a Husky Stadium blackout.  Bowl eligibility was achieved in eight games as the Huskies run their record to 6-2.  Yet another swing game where a loss could have potentially turned a great start into a death spiral rather quickly with another top ranked team coming to Husky Stadium this week.

This game and win cannot be mentioned without talking more in-depth about arguably the most complete back that I have ever seen…apologies to Corey Dillon and Napoleon Kaufman.  Is it just about time to anoint Chris Polk as the best the Huskies have had to offer?  Right now he is only 574 yards away from Kaufman’s all time Husky rushing record of 4,106.  He is a punishing yard after contact machine.  Check out some of these numbers from the game and from a more historical perspective.

• Five touchdowns ties a UW record shared by Hugh McElhenney (’50) and Corey Dillon (’96).
• Polk scored four rushing touchdowns with 144 yards and had 100 yards receiving and a touchdown.
• The first in Husky history to have both 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in the same game.
• Now leads all Husky running backs in 100 yard games with 18.
• He now has 1016 yards for the season and now is only the second Husky back to have over 1000 yards over 3 seasons (Napoleon Kaufman is the other).

Another little item that should be mentioned is the officiating.  What is the deal?  The officiating crew riled up the Husky crowd repeatedly.  Bizarro world calls and repeated over explanations.  They were simply awful, hopefully this crew will be reviewed, reprimanded, or even removed.  Two calls in particular really set the Husky faithful over the edge.  The TE Michael Hartvigson catch ruled incomplete after three full strides of complete possession got everyone fired up, followed by a delay of game penalty (eventually picked up) and finally a review that was upheld.  Just horrible.  Insult to injury, safety Nate Fellner delivers what I thought was a text-book hit that drew a personal foul flag for targeting the head.  On a play clearly shoulder to shoulder.  This was the worst crew since the Nebraska game.

Ultimately the Huskies step up with a defensive effort that yielded four turnovers paired with a tailback that is running right through the Husky record book.  The Dawgs do what they had to do… win a conference game against a team you should beat at home.  Now the focus is on the next opponent the hated Oregon Ducks, yet another opportunity and possibly the best chance to beat a team that everyone will say you are supposed to lose to.

GO DAWGS!!! Beat the Ducks!

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Turns out the Stanford Cardinal did not need Luck to bury the Huskies.  The Heisman candidate and probable #1 NFL draft pick could have sat this one out.  The Cardinal systematically dismantled the Huskies 65-21.  4th ranked Stanford showed the Dawgs again just how far they have to go to be an elite level program.  Steamrolled might be an appropriate way to describe the 446 yards on the ground the Dawg defense as they bent, broke, blew up, and became discombobulated against Stanford.

The much maligned Husky defense was pushed around all night.  Defensive coordinator Nick Holt continues to find himself directly under fire of ticked off fans.  Expectations have fallen short in comparison to the Husky offense.  The statistics don’t lie.   All of that being said, this was the easiest game for me to let go of, because it seemed pretty obvious early that we would not measure up to a top ranked Stanford.  They have national title hopes that appear to be valid.

I am a Husky fan, likely you might be too.  It has been a long, dry decade.  Sometimes I feel like the word “fan” equals wishful thinking. Often I find myself fighting the urge to ride the rollercoaster of weekly highs and lows.  It is easy to fall through the trap door.  My team wins.  My team is awesome.  The team loses.  The team sucks.

Holt is squarely focused in the crosshairs, here are a couple of reasons I would implore you not to overreact:

• Do you believe in the overall direction in the Husky program?

Coming from where we were, how is it possible not to be pleased?  Two and a half years from an 0-fer, to winning the Holiday Bowl last year, to the possibility of becoming bowl eligible this week. Are you kidding me?  The philosophies of this entire coaching staff appear to me to driving the program in an upward trajectory.  The Huskies are headed in the right direction.

• Do you believe in Coach Sark?

Again an easy question.  Sark hand-picked Holt to be the Husky defensive coordinator.  He worked real hard to secure Holt and paid him very well.  An indictment of Holt ultimately is an indictment against Coach Sark’s plan.  Are you willing to force Sark’s hand?

• Do you believe the Husky players recruited by this coaching staff are better than personnel from previous regimes?

The players that predominately take the field are still young players growing up in a system, a philosophy.  They are mostly true freshmen, redshirt freshmen, and sophomores.  Doesn’t it make sense to allow this to play out before a knee jerk reaction?  Let the kids grow up and then evaluate the performance of everyone…players and coaches.

Now don’t get me wrong I’m plenty tired of seeing the Dawgs fold like a Kmart deck chair against the best teams on the schedule.  Any coach, player, fan would categorize the performance last week as unacceptable.  I hate seeing us run over maybe more than anyone, but I also believe that Husky fans must keep the end goal in mind.  Overall the Husky program is making progress, see it through if you have faith in Coach Sark.

GO DAWGS!!!  Beat the Wildcats!

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This Saturday’s game against Arizona makes me nervous. They fired their coach and played very inspirational football last week, crushing UCLA. A few weeks ago I was looking at this game as a sure win on the schedule. But after their performance last week and more importantly, ours, I am no longer sure.

The perception is that Arizona QB and NFL prospect, Nick Foles, is having an off year. Yet he still has completed 70% of his passes and boasts a 153 passer rating. But AZ is hurting and missing even more personnel following last week’s brawl with UCLA.

Therefore, we cannot and should not lose on Saturday night. The defense MUST step up and play. Nick Holt MUST come up with a game plan that holds the AZ offense in check while allowing our offense get back to what it does best.  We don’t get fooled again. We better not.

Finally, I wanted to express my sincere sadness over the firing of AZ former coach, Mike Stoops. There is no one in college football that I love to hate more than him. His sideline tirades were legendary and a source of constant humor for me and his ineptitude will be greatly missed. BLEED PURPLE. BE GOLD (and black for the blackout). GO DAWGS!

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