The Details: Washington Turns A Corner
December 03, 2014 | Football, General
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
After a nine-win season in 2013, an impressive roster of talent and Chris Petersen's credentials, Washington was a vogue pick to challenge for a trip to this weekend's Pac-12 Championship.
The expectations for this year's Huskies hit a fevered pitch when the team opened fall camp. Petersen had been anointed the savior in Year 1 before his team had the opportunity to play a game.
Lost among the excitement was the reality that it takes time to build a championship program. It takes time to implement a new system. It takes time for a new staff to mesh with the players in the program.
Lost among the excitement was the reality that it takes time to build a championship program. It takes time to implement a new system. It takes time for a new staff to mesh with the players in the program.
Petersen arrived on campus determined to implement his “Built For Life” philosophy to mold men. By committing to the Huskies, he committed to the process.
Understanding there would be struggles along the way, Washington opened the season with four wins before a difficult stretch that resulted in five losses in seven games.
All of a sudden, the season's shine didn't look quite so bright in the media and on message boards. But, lost among the chatter surrounding a last-second loss to Arizona, the Huskies had turned a corner.
They played some of their best football against the Wildcats and, despite the loss, rallied to win the last two games of the season.
“I think the last few weeks, these guys have really been figuring out on how to practice, but too, how to get themselves ready for the game,” Petersen said after Saturday's Apple Cup win. “I think that may be as big as anything we've felt as a change, from Friday to Saturday, and what the locker room should feel like and look like before we go out there.
“Today was as good as we've had it before the game started. I thought going out there, this is going to be interesting because this is one time that I really feel like these guys are truly ready to play.”
Progress has been a process for Washington this season, but the players have embraced the opportunity. Just look at Shaq Thompson. The junior linebacker and occasional running back is in the middle of the best season of his college career. When the Huskies charged onto the Martin Stadium tunnel, Thompson marched down the field waving the P.A.C.K. flag – a creation of special teams coordinator Jeff Choate.
This group seems to have as much fun as any program in the country. From the defensive line dancing between plays to Danny Shelton and John Timu firing imaginary arrows at each other during a timeout, excitement emanates from the Huskies.
As the team has found late-season success, the players' passion for the game has spilled onto the field.
So here are your Huskies: Eight wins. Five losses.
Petersen now has more wins in his first season than any coach in Washington history. He is the fastest active coach to hit 100 career wins. He is the fifth fastest coach in history to win 100 games, tied with Knute Rockne.
The program won't be playing in Santa Clara this weekend, but this season should be considered a success. Petersen sent a message early – and carried it throughout the season – that no player is above the team.
He made difficult decisions and the program still has a chance to finish with nine wins. A bowl victory would match last year's win total, the most since the Huskies' trip to the 2000 Rose Bowl.
Petersen now has more wins in his first season than any coach in Washington history. He is the fastest active coach to hit 100 career wins. He is the fifth fastest coach in history to win 100 games, tied with Knute Rockne.
Like the company he keeps in the national record books, Petersen isn't concerned about 100 wins. His focus shifted from the Apple Cup to recruiting and will then flip to the Huskies' bowl game opponent as soon as it is announced this weekend.
“You're only as good as this last win and that lasts about two days and you're onto the next thing,” he said.
The next thing is another step in the process, a brick in the foundation of a program pointed in the right direction.
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