Arizona State at Washington
Let’s see what’s different for Washington this week. Well, Nancy, the Husky head coach is history, fired by AD Jen Cohen after just thirteen games on the job. As reported in the Seattle Times, in the process of doing so she wanted to make it crystal clear that she, and not former head coach Chris Petersen, was to blame. “Coach Petersen did not give Jimmy Lake that job. I gave Jimmy Lake the job,” she said, adding also that “his hire is on me, and I own it.” Petersen, who continued working for the university as an advisor to the athletic department, will be part of a small group of folks who help Cohen in the search for a new head coach. Unlike last time where Lake’s hiring bypassed a national search Cohen assured that won’t be the case this time, confirming that a search firm will be used although also giving the impression that her small group of advisors would most likely have the final say. As far as any other dead wood on the staff was concerned Cohen offered that, “I’m a big believer in the new head coach having full autonomy to hire their staff.” Some of the names already bubbling to the top in the chatterverse are former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, Chris Petersen of course, Baylor’s current coach Dave Aranda, Doug Pederson, a Washington native and former Super Bowl winning head coach of the Philadelphia Eages, and the Dallas Cowboy’s current offensive coordinator, Kellen Moore. If you don’t remember Moore, he was that QB at Boise State under head coach Chris Petersen who won 50 games, still most ever in the FBS. To be continued . . .
As far as what stayed the same for the Huskies this week; 1. The Huskies lost; 2. QB Dylan Morris threw as many interceptions as he did TD’s; 3. Washington rushed for under 100 yards; 4. Washington fumbled leading to a TD and; 5. Washington scored early to take the lead but faded the rest of the way in another embarassing loss at home. The Huskies were up 14-0 at the end of the 1st Qtr but were only able to score 16 more points and pick up 99 yards of offense the rest of the way to let Arizona State catch up and, in a blistering 21 point 4th Qtr, pass Washington for the win.
Still down by 10 at the end of three, 24-14, Arizona State went on a back breaking 20 play, 9 minute, 81 yard drive culminating in a run into the end zone by Sun Devil QB Jayden Daniels to cut the lead to 24-21. After holding Washington to a three-and-out the Sun Devil’s scored again three minutes later on a 10 yard TD run by Rachaad White to go up 28-24 and would go up for good on Washington’s next possession courtesy of a Dylan Morris pick six. Washington would score one more TD and try a two point conversion to get it to within a field goal but, like their entire season, failed to get it done—final score 35-30.
Sun Devil Junior QB Jayden Daniels didn’t have a great night under center while connecting with his receivers just 10 times the entire game for under 100 yards. But, he was still able to put points up on the board, throwing for one and running for another. Whatever yards they couldn’t get in the air were easilly picked up with a ground game that couldn’t be stopped, rushing 57 times for 286 yards and three TD’s with Senior RB Rachaad White picking up 184 of those yards and the other two rushing TD’s. Washington matched them on the scoreboard with one TD in the air and three on the ground. But the final nail in the Husky coffin was served up by their own with a pick six late in the game. Washington, at 4-6 overall, unbelieveably still has a chance to become bowl eligible if they can win both of their remaining games against Colorado this coming weekend and against the Cougars in the Apple Cup which always takes place the Friday after Thanksgiving.
USC at Cal
Published notice by the PAC-12 Conference on November 9th: “The Pac-12 football game scheduled between Cal and USC for this Saturday has now been rescheduled for Saturday, Dec. 4. The game was postponed earlier in the day due to additional Cal football student-athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 and are unavailable to practice this week or play in the contest. Cal contacted USC about rescheduling the game and the two schools agreed on the new date. The Pac-12 approved the decision to reschedule the game. The kickoff time and broadcast television network will be announced at a later date.”