The Husky football team started scheduling its non-conference play each year based on an A-B-C plan a few years back. Meaning, essentially, that UW would play a squad that is in the top tier of teams (A), a team that won't be in the top 25 anytime soon but plays some good football (B), and a team that UW should beat if it started its third stringers (C). This year, the Huskies stuck to that plan to a T, scheduling San Diego St. (B), Louisiana State University (A++++), and now, Portland State (C).
What the Vikings didn't realize when they accepted this game is that the Huskies would get off to a victorious, but unimpressive, start against the Aztecs, and then get absolutely embarrassed by the LSU Tigers. This combination is going to motivate the Huskies to do some serious damage to show the conference and the nation that they still mean business this season.
Stuck in this fight are the poor Vikings. Losers of last week's matchup against "powerhouse" North Dakota and a win in week 1 against NAIA's Carroll College (where my first ever roommate, who was ten years older than I was, went to school). Portland State is not Eastern Washington nor Sacramento State nor Appalachian State, and may not even be Bellevue High School. This "C" team that the Husky Athletic Department scheduled is less than a C, they are closer to a Z.
With all that being said, the Huskies are going to try the best they can to absolutely thrash this team by beating up on them like my brothers did to me so they could feel like men. UW's anemic offense thus far will unleash its fury all over the Vikings defense. The "all new" defense that was supposed to turn some heads will try and make sure no Vikings player even thinks about crossing the 50 yard line without first asking permission. I would feel bad for the Vikings, but I feel worse for this year's Huskies. With great expectation can bring great let down, and so far in this very young season I have been let down. But a HUGE win over Portland State will re-energize my faith in the Dawgs and Coach Sark and Teeth, etc., etc., etc.
If any Portland State players are reading this blog, please feel free to post your contact information and I will get in touch about buying you a beer, because this is going to suck.
I have a slightly different take on that "pep talk" moment. To me it looked like a coach under his first real pressure from husky nation and it was a "look at me" moment. You would never see Don James do something like that. To me Sark was trying to make it look like he is THE MAN and it wasn't necessary at that moment. In a week where he changed his policy on media in practice, trying to keep everything more in house--why make such a public deal chastising his team. i do agree with ripping your team when playing well and cuddling your team when they are playing poorly. I'v said it before on this blog--Sark is a good coach just not an elite or great coach. We will be 2-4 after Oregon and then we go to the desert against Rich Rod--Honestly, I am very concerned about this season....Are we going to be able to get to 6 wins???
ReplyDeletePS....Sorry I wasn't able to post pics from Baton Rouge, other than the game, it was an amazing experience--SEC football is just a completely different level