Dots: From Here to Eternity

“One day I had gone to a little village. An old grandfather of ninety was busy planting an almond tree. ‘What, grandfather!’ I exclaimed. ‘Planting an almond tree?’ And he turned around and said: ‘My son, I carry on as if I should never die.’ I replied: ‘And I carry on as if I was going to die any minute.’ Which of us was right?” — Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek

Happy Monday Dawg fans, and welcome to today’s Dots.

• All I can say about the photo below is that it reminds me of those optical illusion rooms where two normal-sized people stand at either end, and one of them looks like Andre the Giant and the other looks like Billy Barty.

• Also, 4-star LB Tevarua Tafiti announced that he is committed to Stanford late last night.
• Now let’s get some perspective. Winning and trophies beget good recruiting.
  History lesson:

Chris Petersen came to UW with a 92-12 record, undefeated seasons, and signature bowl wins at Boise St, where he made the Broncos into the Cinderella story of college football for several years.
Even after such success, consistency, and his OKG approach that surely appealed to many recruits’ families, Petersen brought in middle-of-the-Pac recruiting classes until 2016, when UW won the Pac-12 and went to the College Football Playoff, proving he could succeed at a Power 5 school. After that, the recruiting improved.

Jimmy Lake’s Huskies have played exactly 4 games. And Jimmy Lake has not won anything as a head coach. Yet.

• Here’s what we have to look forward to from big 2022 WR Germie Barnard, says Dan Raley at Husky Maven.
• NCAA President Mark Emmert has a “vision for the future of college sports that puts fewer limitations on athletes and de-emphasizes the role of a national governing body like the NCAA”.
• Former Husky golfer and cancer survivor Joel Dahmen finished The Open in a 7-way tie - along with Rory McElroy, Adam Scott, and Jazz Janewattananond - for 46th place. Dahmen’s best pro finish at a major was a tie for 10th in last year’s PGA Championship. That tournament, and this weekend’s Open, were both won by Cal Bear Collin Morikawa.

• I was recently discussing the unfortunate end to class-of-2015 DB Austin Joyner’s Husky career. Last Friday’s Dots was the first I’d heard he was playing again for the BC Lions. Great to see the Snohomish County native still pursuing his football dreams. BC Lions’ season kicks off on August 6th.
• And speaking of Huskies that have returned to football following a heartbreaking injury saga: Deontae Cooper’s “coaching approach based on Sarkisian and Petersen principles” is reaping rewards at Highline High School.

Go Dawgs!!