University of Washington Official Athletic Site - Football
April 18, 2013 | Football
Marques Tuiasosopo
December 8, 2000
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"The Washington State game was definitely a fun game. The Apple Cup is always exciting. We found out that Oregon State had beat Oregon by the first quarter and we had already come out and scored 14 points right away and were playing pretty well. We were just fired up to play. It was the last Pac-10 game for a lot of us and it was a chance to win the Apple Cup. Eventually it ended in a blow out, but it was real exciting to see all of the other guys going in the fourth quarter, guys who don't get to play that much, and letting them experience the game. It was good to get (backup quarterback) Cody (Pickett) in the game and let him get some experience so next year he can have a good chance of starting off right.
"It was definitely nice to be able to come out fast and get ahead of a team versus coming from behind. That is something that we had talked about that week and we were excited to come out and do it. We just wanted to win. That is why we play. We want to win each game to earn the respect of our opponents. We don't want to win for any other reason, it is nice, but we play for that reason only.
"After the Apple Cup was Thanksgiving. My mom cooked lots of turkey and my aunt brought some ham. It was a lot of fun just relaxing. I think I watched "Gladiator" four times. It was just a time for relaxation and just sitting on the couch. I went to a couple of my little sister's basketball games, but that is about it.
"I was here for the opening night (women's basketball) game against UConn and I came back the next day to watch the guys play New Mexico State. It was extremely nice to be a spectator, just to be able to sit there and enjoy a game rather than playing in it. It is a little different being in the stands; I was rooting on a couple of friends and feeling nervous for them. Actually, it is almost worse being a spectator, because you don't get as nervous on the field or the court as when you are in the stands. I am more nervous sitting in the stands watching a game than I am playing in it, because you can't do anything from the stands.
"It is definitely nice to support charities, which I have also been able to do during the time off. To be able to hand the game ball off (Tuesday night at the men's basketball game) to the fraternity (Phi Gamma Delta) who is going to run it down to the Rose Bowl to raise money for the Curtis Williams fund is something that I think is good to do. So many people watch you and support you that I think it is important that you also give back what has been given to you.
"I also got to dress up like Santa Claus to help the Make A Wish Foundation raise money for the kids. It was definitely exciting and fun. It was a neat experience. I love kids, so to be able to help them out it was nice.
"It was good to have some time off to let my body rest, and get my mind off of football and then come back refreshed. Just to be able to relax and do what I want to do is time off for me. I was not worried about practice or whatnot. I have had a nice time enjoying it, but I am eager to get back and start playing again.
"Finals are not that bad and since we have had time off we have had all kinds of time to study for them. Now, it is just a matter of making sure you study well and get them out of the way. They are almost done, so we will finally be able to get them out of the way and get back in the swing of things in terms of football.
"There is a different sense of urgency because we are playing in the Rose Bowl and we want to play well in bowl games. We want to win a bowl game. We have only won one in the time that I have been here, so we need to get back on the winning track in bowl games. It is a neat experience, something that I am totally excited about. It is important that we play well so we need to practice very well.
"It is definitely nice to have people come back healthy. It is vital that you use that time off to the best of your ability. You don't want to come back and have nicks and knacks bothering you. You want to be able to do well.
"We have seen a little film on Purdue. As we get closer, we will increase how much we watch. They have a lot of good athletes. They have a lot of guys who can make plays, so it will be a challenge for us to do well. We are going to have to be able to run the ball and that should ease the weight up in terms of passing.
"Getting to play against Drew Brees will be fun to have the chance to get to know him. He is a good player and he does a lot of good things. But this is not a one on one matchup. This is Washington versus Purdue. It is going to be the team that makes the fewest mistakes that wins the game. We (Drew & I) can play the best that we can play and still not have an effect on the game. The best team is going to win out there. The team that plays the best on that day will win.
"We get to spend Christmas in California and my family will be there so I will get to spend it with them. We will just make the best of that day. We don't have any big plans. We are just planning on going to win the Rose Bowl.
"Since the game is on New Year's Day, I won't stay up late for New Year's, but the Rose Bowl is a good reason not to stay up. I will stay up until midnight and then go to sleep. We will get plenty of sleep. I am not trying to stay up and party, this game is too important.
"We have some stuff lined up for the Rose Bowl. We get to go to Lawry's Beef Bowl and Disneyland and Magic Mountain. There are plenty of things for us to do to have fun down there, so we are excited. We still have to practice; you can't get away without practicing.
"Expectations are exactly what we thought they would be. With winning comes responsibility and you have to be able to handle the responsibility and enjoy it at the same time.
"It is good for the Pac-10 that we got two teams in the BCS, and Oregon in the Holiday Bowl and UCLA in the Sun Bowl. I think the Pac-10 will do well this year. I am happy because I think it shows that our conference is a tough conference and it is not a cake walk."
