Steve Sarkisian wouldn’t let on that it went down this way, but the principle points of his initial interview last fall with University of Washington athletic director Scott Woodward about the head-football coach opening had to go something like this:
“Will you make Husky football relevant in the Pacific-10 Conference again?”
(Sarkisian nods his head.)
“Will you wrest away the Apple Cup from Washington State?”
(Sarkisian yawns.)
“Will you make sure and destroy hated rival Oregon?”
(Sarkisian smiles.)
The jury is still out on all three points, of course, but Sarkisian will get his first chance to provide some solid answers today at Husky Stadium.
All the pregame, nice-nice talk will give way to the real flavor – animosity? – of the Northwest’s most-hyped rivalry game as the 12th-ranked Ducks and hopeful Huskies kick off at 12:30 p.m. in a matchup with surprisingly serious postseason implications for both schools.
While the game resumes a rivalry that really became heated three decades or so ago – origin really unknown – the two coaches leading their respective programs will be getting their first taste of it as rookie head coaches.
“Once ... I got around all the great Huskies, I learned this game means a lot to a lot of people,” Sarkisian said.
Added Ducks coach Chip Kelly: “A lot of people who’ve worked at this university for a long time were very eager to fill me in on the rivalry of the two schools.”
Lately, the clash has been as one-sided as it has been in a while. The Ducks have won the last five games in the series, their longest streak of success against UW in school history, and can claim a piece of series history with a win today. The Huskies have strung together six consecutive wins in the series on three occasions, the last time from 1981-86.
In fact, the games have gotten so lopsided recently – Oregon won 44-10 in Eugene a year ago – Sarkisian was asked this week if he views the Huskies’ role as trying to ruin the Ducks’ good season.
“I don’t think we are in spoiler mode,” he said. “We win this game, we are one game out of first place. I think we’re in the thick of it just like the rest of the conference is, in reality. You don’t know what is going to happen week in and week out in this conference. You just don’t know.”
Emotion can be a great equalizer, UW linebacker Mason Foster noted.
“My freshman year (2003), I was talking to Roy Lewis and Johnie Kirton and all of them, they were like, ‘Man, this is going to be crazy – just wait until you see how it is.’ I’m kind of like, ‘Man, we’ve played a bunch of teams. We played Ohio State. It’s not going to be that crazy,’” Foster said.
“But they came in here with those all-white uniforms, and it was crazy. They had a bunch of fans, and we had a bunch of fans. I love it, though.”
Much like the UW’s Apple Cup contest with WSU, or the Ducks’ Civil War game with Oregon State, the rivalry extends beyond the field. It’s about the universities, and everything – and everybody – associated with them.
“I view it along the lines of the (USC)-Notre Dame rivalry. ... It’s not crosstown, but it’s very heated, and a lot of emotions are involved,” Sarkisian said. “What’s key from a coaching point is not getting caught up in the emotions of the fans and what fans might be saying, or what might be going on blogs throughout the week and staying focused and true to the game plan.”
But when the emotion is bubbling, and right in front of you, tuning out the outside influences is easier said than done. Just ask a former UW coach who experienced it first-hand.
“There’s no love lost, that’s the way to say it,” said UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel, who coached the Huskies from 1999-2002. “The teams have respect for one another ... but the fans, there’s some raw animosity.”
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442
todd.milles@thenewstribune.com
huskies gameday
No. 12 OREGON (5-1, 3-0 Pac-10) at WASHINGTON (3-4, 2-2)
Kickoff: 12:36 p.m. PDT, Husky Stadium. TV: ABC (Ch. 4). Radio: 950-AM.
The series: UW leads, 58-38-5, but the Ducks have won 10 of the past 14 games, including 44-10 in Eugene last season. Oregon’s last trip to Seattle was a 55-34 win in 2007. UW’s last triumph was a 42-10 victory in 2003.
What to watch: Is Oregon the best team in the Pac-10? No argument here. The Ducks are the only unbeaten team in the league. They have allowed two touchdowns in those three games. And Oregon’s offense has remained remarkably consistent and high-powered under Chip Kelly. ... How can the Ducks be contained? Aside from tight end Ed Dickson, this isn’t Oregon’s most talented or accomplished group of skill position players. Two things must happen – force the Ducks to sustain long drives, and, on the UW’s side, the Huskies must run the ball with Chris Polk. ... Why is UW coach Steve Sarkisian grinning? Since he was hired, along with defensive coordinator Nick Holt, the two have seemed to think they’re clued in on how to beat Oregon from their days at USC. We’ll see.
What’s at stake: The UW has its back against the wall today. The Huskies must win at home to even think about the postseason. If they do, another win over a ranked opponent would give bowl selection committees something more to consider.
TNT pick: Ducks, 38-27.
PRIME NUMBERS
OREGON
No. Player (pos.)Height/weightYear
8 Jeremiah Masoli (QB) 5-11/220 Junior
Playing against team he debuted against in ’08.
18 Anthony Gildon (CB)6-1/175 Sophomore
Ducks down to No. 3 cover man and defense hasn’t skipped a beat.
21 LaMichael James (RB) 5-9/180 Freshman
Set single-game UO frosh record by rushing for 152 yards against Utah.
58 Kenny Rowe (LB/DE) 6-3/232 Junior
Took a while to bulk up. Ducks glad he did (61/2 sacks).
83 Ed Dickson (TE) 6-5/243 Senior
He’s good, and UW struggles defending good tight ends. Get the picture?
WASHINGTON
1 Chris Polk (RB) 5-11/210 Freshman
Four of past five offensive TDs Oregon has given up were runs.
8 Nate Williams (FS) 6-0/221 Junior
Silently brooding over being blamed for last-minute ASU score.
9 Devin Aguilar (WR) 6-0/184 Sophomore
Waited 18 games to get first receiving touchdown. Why stop now?
43 T.J. Poe (LB) 6-1/225 Senior
UW needs reliable gunner to blow up lethal Ducks’ kickoff return game.
74 Alameda Ta’amu (DT) 6-3/348 Sophomore
Singled out by coach for weight loss. Must plug middle.
Todd Milles, The News Tribune
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