University of Washington

    Husky turnaround? We’ve heard this before

    Seth KolloenBy Updated:13 Comments2 Mins Read

    Chris Polk ran for 177 yards in the Holiday Bowl

    In the afterglow of Thursday’s Holiday Bowl win, more than a few Husky rooters were ready to proclaim that the Dawgs were “back.” Feel like you’ve heard this before? It’s because you have.

    • Turning Point: December 14, 2004
    • Tyrone Willingham Hired as Head Coach
    • What we thought: He took Stanford to the Rose Bowl, imagine what he’ll do with Washington’s admittance policy.
    • What happened: Let’s just not talk about it.
    • Quote Fail: “For me, this was a very, very easy choice . . . to lead the University of Washington to its former glory days.” — UW President Mark Emmert
    • Turning Point: October 7, 2006
    • Last Play loss at #3 USC
    • What we thought: The Dawgs are 4-2, and nearly beat USC on the road. Isaiah Stanback is having a stellar senior year. UW is bowl-bound for sure.
    • What happened: Stanback got knocked out for the season in the next game, and the Huskies didn’t win again until the Apple Cup.
    • Quote Fail: “I’m impressed with the job Tyrone has done. They’ve had a quick turnaround.” — USC coach Pete Carroll.
    • Turning Point: September 8, 2007
    • Huskies End Boise State Win Streak
    • What we thought: Freshman Jake Locker, undefeated in two starts, could be the greatest QB in team history.
    • What happened: Opposing teams adjusted to Locker and began forcing him to make mistakes: 10 interceptions in the next six games, all losses.
    • Quote Fail: We have our swagger back. the Huskies are back.” — Marcel Reese
    • Turning Point: September 19, 2009
    • Huskies Upset USC
    • What we thought: Maybe Willingham really was that terrible. And with Locker healthy again, a bowl seems possible.
    • What happened: The Huskies lost six of their next seven.
    • Quote Fail: “This program (is) back, sooner and better than anyone could have expected.” — Steve Kelley
    • Turning Point: December 30, 2010
    • Washington Wins the Holiday Bowl
    • What we thought: With a long-awaited bowl win, the Dawgs have emerged from their decade-long slumber.
    • What happened: We’ll see.
    • Quote Fail? “We’ve come a long way in a short amount of time . . . we’re on our way back.” — UW coach Steve Sarkisian
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    13 Comments

    2. Terry Benish on

      You’re too young to be that cynical.

      That was the best defensive football played by a Husky team in a long, long time.

    3. SeattleNative on

      Pretty funny. Actually, the “turning points “could extend further back into the Nueheisel(sp) era. Now that’s comedy.

    4. James P. Hays on

      As a dyed-in-the-eider Duck fan, I hope the Huskies come back big time.

      Oregon-Washington was a lot more entertaining when Washington could actually compete.

      Nice win over Nebraska and congrats and all that. But what will you do for an encore?

    6. rapid eddie on

      0-12, 5-7, 7-6 including a bowl win; looks like a turnaround to me. I hope Polk sticks around.

    8. Kazootie on

      Of course we’ll see. It’s a great feeling after a super win over those cornhuskers– but one has to separate passion from reality– and the reality is— ‘we’ll see’. Long ways to go to solidify winning year-in year-out: recruiting, injuries, leadership/chemistry, coaching consistency, funding.
      Root like crazy but be dispassionate in analysis.

    9. tfguy on

      For cryin out loud, give it a break, savor the victory. Of course “we’ll see” but give them credit for grabbin their gonads and give a kick-butt game. Were they under or over achievers? We will see.

    10. Lucky Infidel on

      The big “turning point” was when Don James, in essentially a spat with administrators, threw a hissy fit and abandoned the program and his players only weeks before the beginning of a season.

    11. WyomingDawgfan on

      After the 78 Rose Bowl we lost Moon as quarterback and still came back and had a good season the next year.
      We’ll see.

    12. Candlepower on

      What we thought: Freshman Jake Locker, undefeated in two starts, could be the greatest QB in team history.

      Well, that hope/expectation for Locker was infinitely more realistic than what SportsPressNorthwest’s Steve Rudman proclaimed on his radio show the Monday following Brock Huard’s performance vs. Arizona State, that Huard would be — with not an ounce of equivocation — “the greatest quarterback in college football history.”

      Whew. Up to that time, I’d always paid attention/respected Steve’s opinion.