Better know a conference foe: Washington

Continuing with the introductions to our new conference brethren.  Let's get to know the University of Washington.

Cherry blossoms, whoa!

The vitals stats:

• Astronauts: 10  (CU has 18)
• Nobel Prize Winners: 8  (CU has 8)
• National Championship in Football: 1 (CU has 1)
• National Championships in Skiing: 0 (CU has 17)
• Heisman Trophy winners: 0 (CU has 1)
• Famous alums: Tom Robbins (favorite author), Hope Solo (moderately attractive soccer goalie), Detlef Schrempf (NBA star with awesomest name ever), Kenny G (smooth jazz aficionado and hair model), Ed Viesturs (mountaineer), Rainn Wilson (Dwight from The Office), Ted Bundy (serial killer)

Dwight

Who here killed over 30 people, possibly as many as 100?

Look what the humidity does to my hair!

U-S-A!

Tailgating
I don't need to tell you that when it comes to college football there is nothing so important as tailgating.  We do a pretty good job of it in Boulder if I do say so myself - abundant sunshine, Flatirons views, grassy surfaces, good food.  But check this out.  At Washington they tailgate by boat.

OK, that's cool

I think every tailgate goes something like this:

Where was I?  Ahh, yes, football.  The 1-5 Buffs face the 4-1 Huskies.  Steve Sarkisian is in his third year as head coach at U-Dub where he has resurrected them from the tragic Tyrone Willingham era going 5-7 and 6-6 in his first two seasons.  Their offense is quarterbacked by Keith Price who is currently second in the nation in touchdown passes (17).  Meanwhile, members of the CU marching band are being recruited to play cornerback this weekend for the Buffs.

Grab a helmet, Billy!

The Buffs haven't won a road game since October 2008.  They are in a transition year.  The offensive line has been decimated by injuries.  The running game has been anemic.  The special team have been puke-inducingly awful.  The defensive backfield is a patchwork of conscripts.

And yet, the Buffs might somehow win this game.  College football is nothing if not flukey.  That's why I love it so.  Strange, ridiculous, unpredictable things happen every week.  Sometimes an inspired group of young men who don't know better rise up and do something special in a fateful moment.  Sometimes the ball bounces up into the hands of an unsuspecting defensive tackle, sometimes a hail mary actually works.  It's a funny game, folks.  Don't ever miss it.

Sark Week!