(This is the second of a week long series sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 2011)
The Washington football program has been blessed with some great teams over the years. In my lifetime the program has won parts of three national championships but has never been truly named the undisputed champion of college football.
My favorite team was the 1984 squad which finished second to BYU in the final polls. This was an unbalanced squad that struggled on offense but won games with their defense the entire season. The Huskies started the season 9-0 but lack of offensive production caught up to them in a 16-7 late season loss to USC which cost Washington the Rose Bowl bid.
While the Huskies missed out on the Rose Bowl they were the first Pac 10 team ever invited to the Orange Bowl. The game featured an underdog Washington squad facing Oklahoma who were led by legendary coach Barry Switzer and a brash LB named Brian Bosworth.
The game is famous for the Sooner Schooner incident. After Oklahoma kicked a field goal to take a 17-14 lead in the fourth quarter, a penalty was called on the Sooners which nullified the score. The Sooner Schooner driver, who didn’t see the flag, drove the wagon on the field and was immediately flagged for unsportmanlike conduct.
The ensuing field goal attempt was blocked and led a momentum shift which saw Washington score two touchdowns in less than a minute en route to a 28-17 victory. Senior Jacque Robinson rushed for 135 yards and was named MVP, the first player in history to be named MVP of both the Orange and Rose Bowls.
What is your favorite Washington team?