Mike A. Tiger's Weekly Football Blog: Washington

Submitted by Mike A. Tiger on August 30, 2009 - 6:55pm

Rough Sledding for the Huskies?

Harry the Husky has reason to be fearing what’s coming his way: an angry Tiger.

The Washington Huskies think they’ve already hit bottom and are on the way back up. After a disastrous 0 – 12 season and the firing of their head coach, spirits rose like a double shot of espresso when Steve Sarkasian agreed to come to Seattle to find a pulse in their run-down carcass of a program. At least Husky fans could now explain that what all the other teams’ fans have been really yelling at them all last season was “You Sark!”

Sarkasian is a left-coaster all the way and brings the Pete Carroll pedigree and past success as a QB at Brigham Young University in his hip pocket. He is an offensive mind that believes he can bring in the right talent and has the right plan to outscore opponents. So he spent more recruiting capital on the offensive side of the ball when he took the job. Too bad a defense is required to play a game against good teams, let alone elite teams like LSU. And the injury bug is biting the team hard even before they get to the first game.

The Tiger football team that shows up Saturday night will not miss a beat from the sterling performance in the 2008 Chick fil-A Bowl and will quickly erase the bad memories of error-prone offense and confused and disheartened defense in the past regular season. Gone is the team disunity caused by a departed player who has taken his problems elsewhere. We are more experienced, more talented and deeper than ever at almost every position. And all reports are that this bunch is in a nasty mood and is on a mission for redemption.

We have our own Brigham Young pedigree with Gary Crowton running the offense, and by all accounts it sure looks like John Chavis has revived the defense. Les Miles has proven he learns from mistakes and this staff appears to be the best top to bottom we’ve seen in many years. And you gotta love nicknames like “Chief”, “The Wizard”, “Stud” and “Brick” on a football staff.

It’s rare to face another team in purple and gold, but the comparison in tradition and style ends there. Let’s start with the fans: let’s just say right now that Seattle has NO IDEA what is about to hit them. They think they do, since they’ve received more hotel bookings and sold more tickets to visiting fans than anyone can remember. To say they don’t know how to tailgate up there is an understatement when you consider that they don’t even open several of the parking lots until four hours before a home game and they urge fans to try to arrive 90 minutes in advance to avoid the traffic. Let’s just hope they have learned how to deal with a large crowd of spirited fans bringing a party to town.

The mascot comparison is laughable. UW just got themselves a new puppy mascot (check out the adorable tyke here already taking his licks) named “Dubs.” Looks like a Scooby Snack for Mike VI. Ruh Roh!

And Mikey doesn’t like to belittle other schools’ bands because they already know they are outclassed by the Golden Band From Tiger Land. I heard they do have their own “Golden Girls” but it’s not quite the same:

Finally, I looked up their school fight song “Bow Down To Washington” just because I had no idea what it sounded like. Listen to the song here and these are the words:

Bow down to Washington,
Bow down to Washington.
Mighty are the men who wear the purple and the gold
Joyfully we welcome them within the victor's fold
We will carve our name (Name!)in the hall of fame(Fame!)
To preserve the memory of our devotion.

So, heaven help the foes of Washington
They're trembing at the feet of mighty Washington
Our boys are there with bells,
Their fighting blood excels,
It's harder to push them over the line
Than pass the Dardenelles.
So, victory's the cry of Washington
Our leather lungs together with a rah, rah, rah!
And o'er the land, the loyal band will
Sing the glory of Washington forever!

Mikey could not resist “helping” improve their lyrics for this game:

Bow Wow to Washington

Bow Wow to Washington,
Bow Wow to Washington,
Mighty are the Tigers who wear the purple and the gold,
Woefully we welcome them to own our Husky field.
They will carve our lines (ouch!) into Kibbles and Bits (Bits!)
An unhappy debut for Coach Sarkasian.

So heaven help the dogs of Washington;
They're trembling at the feet
Of mighty L-S-U,
Our boys throw yellow snowballs (balls!),
Their fighting Tiger mauls (mauls!),
It's harder to push them off the line than all our Pac Ten foes.

So dog defeat's the cry of Washington
We’re Tigers’ leather chew toy - eat it Raw! Raw! Raw!
And o'er the land our awestruck fans
Will sing the glory of L-S-U forever.

Game Prediction: Sark’s slogan to turn around attitudes is “Expect to Win” but if you read the comments of him and other coaches it is clear that they know they have a tiger by the tail for their opening game. After Hurricane Mike they limp on to host Idaho knowing that USC comes calling in week 3 and then they make a long road trip to South Bend to face The Four Course Man of Notre Dame and the Fighting Irish - geez, it’s easy to foresee the pups will start out 1-3 at best under the new coach. Do their players really “expect to win” this Saturday night? “Hoping” or “wishing” yes, but I doubt very many in Husky Stadium will expect a “U Dub” win either. They have a talented QB but even if Locker has time to throw our hungry ballhawks will be in the way. And it’s never a good sign when a true freshman is starting at wide receiver. Remember the Arizona game a few years back? Expect this game to go just like that one. Tigers 48, Three Dog Night 3.

TIPS IF YOU ARE GOING TO THE GAME:

There’s a not-to-be-missed Friday night bash with Travis Matte and the Kingpins and Horace Trahan. Will be epic. ORDER TICKETS IN ADVANCE!
The Seattle & Portland area LSU Alumni Chapters will have a tailgate party on game day 10am till Kickoff at the heart of UW's campus on Rainier Vista (their Parade Grounds equivalent). Food sales, raffle and auction.

ATLANTA TIGER FANS – Remember that we now have FIVE metro area options to go watch the Tigers play this fall and all of the restaurants are donating a portion of your food and beverage purchase to LSU Atlanta. Only Newnan will not be showing the late Washington game. Yeah, it’s a 10:30 pm kickoff, but at least come out and watch the first half with your friends. You can leave at halftime because the game will essentially be over by then!