1991 Washington Huskies football team

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1991 Washington Huskies football
UW 1991 Coaches Poll national championship trophy.jpg
Coaches' Poll national champion
FWAA national champion [1]
NFF national champion [2]
Pac-10 champion
Rose Bowl champion
Rose Bowl, W 34–14 vs. Michigan
Conference Pacific-10 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 2
Record12–0 (8–0 Pac-10)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Keith Gilbertson (1st season)
Defensive coordinator Jim Lambright (15th season)
MVP Mario Bailey (offense)
Steve Emtman (defense)
Captains
Home stadium Husky Stadium
Seasons
  1990
1992  
1991 Pacific-10 Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Washington $ 8 0 012 0 0
No. 7 California 6 2 010 2 0
No. 18 UCLA 6 2 09 3 0
No. 22 Stanford 6 2 08 4 0
Arizona State 4 4 06 5 0
Arizona 3 5 04 7 0
Washington State 3 5 04 7 0
USC 2 6 03 8 0
Oregon 1 7 03 8 0
Oregon State 1 7 01 10 0
  • $ Conference champion
Rankings from Coaches Poll

The 1991 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington in the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season. Head coach Don James, in his 17th season at Washington, was assisted by coordinators Keith Gilbertson (offense) and Jim Lambright (defense), both head coaches themselves within two years.

Contents

The 1991 team was arguably the finest team in school history and split the national championship with the Miami Hurricanes, who were also 12–0, and won the AP Poll by four votes, while Washington took the coaches' poll by nine. [3] Washington could not have played Miami in a bowl game because the Pac-10 champion was bound by contract to play in the Rose Bowl against the Big Ten champion. The Huskies soundly defeated fourth-ranked Michigan 34–14 in the Rose Bowl; the final score differential was narrowed by a late touchdown by Tyrone Wheatley of Michigan. With a minute remaining in the game, Washington was on the Michigan five-yard line, but opted to stay on the ground and run out the clock with third-string quarterback Damon Huard leading the offense. [4]

Eleven Huskies were selected in the 1992 NFL draft, led by Steve Emtman, a dominating yet under-recruited defensive tackle from Cheney. Emtman won both the Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy, and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting, won by Desmond Howard of Michigan. Defensive back Dana Hall was also selected in the first round.

A fantasy article in Sports Illustrated titled "The Dream Game" had the Huskies narrowly defeat Miami in a playoff. [5]

Overview

The Huskies were ranked fourth in the 1991 pre-season. They dominated their six home games within the confines of Husky Stadium, which included two lopsided shutouts. The Dawgs' three closest games in 1991 were on the road: against Nebraska, California, and USC.

Behind 14–6 at halftime in Lincoln on ABC to no. 9 Nebraska in the second game of the season, UW rallied to outscore NU in Lincoln 30–7 in the second half to win by 15, and were graciously applauded at game-end by the Cornhusker fans. [6] In mid-October, the no. 7 Cal Bears were the next-best team in the Pac-10 in 1991; the Huskies won by a touchdown in Berkeley to go to 6–0. In November in Los Angeles, the Huskies entered the game against USC undefeated at 8–0 and won a 14–3 defensive struggle, a second-straight victory over the previously dominant Trojans.

Like the rest of the Pac-10 in 1991, the Huskies played just eight Pac-10 conference games, missing one opponent; they did not play UCLA in 1991 or 1992. The 1991 Bruins finished at 9–3 (6–2 in conference), in the top twenty in both polls (no. 18 and no. 19). UCLA lost to Tennessee of the SEC and both Bay Area teams, Cal and Stanford, but won their bowl game.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 712:30 p.m.at Stanford No. 4 ABC W 42–745,273
September 215:00 p.m.at No. 9 Nebraska *No. 4ABCW 36–2176,304
September 2812:30 p.m. Kansas State *No. 4 Prime W 56–371,638
October 53:30 p.m. Arizona No. 3
  • Husky Stadium
  • Seattle, WA
PrimeW 54–072,495
October 1212:30 p.m. Toledo *No. 3
  • Husky Stadium
  • Seattle, WA
PrimeW 48–072,266
October 1912:30 p.m.at No. 7 California No. 3ABCW 24–1774,500
October 2612:30 p.m. Oregon No. 3
PrimeW 29–772,318
November 212:30 p.m. Arizona State No. 3
  • Husky Stadium
  • Seattle, WA
PrimeW 44–1672,405
November 912:30 p.m.at USC No. 2ABCW 14–359,320
November 161:00 p.m.at Oregon State No. 3PrimeW 58–631,588
November 2312:30 p.m. Washington State No. 2
ABCW 56–2172,581
January 1, 19921:45 p.m.vs. No. 4 Michigan *No. 2ABCW 34–14103,566
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Pacific time
  • Source: [7]

Roster

1991 Washington Huskies football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR 5 Mario Bailey  (C)Jr
RB 42Jay BarryJr
TE 85 Mark Bruener Fr
QB 11 Mark Brunell Jr
RB 29 Beno Bryant Jr
C 79 Ed Cunningham  (C)Sr
OT 66Tom GallagherSo
QB 12 Billy Joe Hobert So
FB 22Matt JonesJr
G 56 Pete Kaligis Jr
RB 8 Napoleon Kaufman Fr
OT 75 Lincoln Kennedy Jr
OT 70 Siupeli Malamala Sr
WR 4 Orlando McKay Sr
G 52Jim NevelleSo
OT 71 Pete Pierson So
TE 84 Aaron Pierce Sr
G 72Kris RongenSo
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
CB 23Walter BaileySo
LB 46 Brett Collins  (C)Sr
DE 90 Steve Emtman Jr
DT 75 D'Marco Farr So
OLB 3 Jaime Fields Jr
ILB 39Chico FraleySr
CB 5 Dana Hall Sr
ILB 54Dave HoffmannJr
OLB 48 Donald Jones  (C)Sr
DE 13Andy MasonSo
FS 21 Bill Trull Jr
NG 57 Tyrone Rodgers Sr
FS 20Tommie SmithJr
SS 8Paxton TaileleSr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 4Travis HansonSo
P 98John WerdelSo
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injury icon 2.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt
Source: [8]


Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
т = Tied with team above or below ( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP 4 (1)4 (2)4 (2)4 (1)4 (3)3 (1)3 (1)3 (2)3 (2)3 (4)2 т (4)3 (4)2 (14)2 (22 12)2 (23)2 (28)
Coaches 4 (3)4 (3)3 (2)4 (1)4 (1)3 (1)3 (1)3 (1)3 (2)3 (2)3 (8)3 (8)2 (15)2 (27)1 (29)1 (33 12)

Game summaries

At Stanford

#4 Washington at Stanford
1234Total
Washington02102142
Stanford07007

Washington's forced five turnovers and scored four touchdowns on the ground in a 42–7 season opening victory at Stanford. Cornerback Walter Bailey had an interception and a fumble recovery, while running back Jay Barry ran for two scores. Billy Joe Hobert, making his first career start, completed 21 of 31 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns.

Source: [9]

At Nebraska

#4 Washington at #9 Nebraska
1234Total
Washington06102036
Nebraska777021

Source: [10]

Kansas State

Kansas State at #4 Washington
1234Total
Kansas State03003
Washington211471456

Arizona

Arizona at #3 Washington
1234Total
Arizona00000
Washington72714654

Toledo

Toledo at #3 Washington
1234Total
Toledo00000
Washington21137748

At California

#3 Washington at #7 California
1234Total
Washington7100724
California737017

Oregon

Oregon at #3 Washington
1234Total
Oregon00077
Washington7123729

Arizona State

Arizona State at #3 Washington
1234Total
Arizona State008816
Washington141710344

At USC

#2 Washington at USC
1234Total
Washington770014
USC00303

At Oregon State

#2 Washington at Oregon State
1234Total
Washington162814058
Oregon State33006

Washington State

Washington State at #2 Washington
1234Total
Washington State707721
Washington62272156

Vs. Michigan (Rose Bowl)

#2 Washington vs. #4 Michigan
1234Total
Huskies01381334
Wolverines070714

Awards and honors

National

Conference

NFL draft selections

Eleven University of Washington Huskies were selected in the 1992 NFL draft, which lasted twelve rounds with 336 selections. [12]

= Husky Hall of Fame [13]
PlayerPositionRoundPickNFL club
Steve Emtman DT 11 Indianapolis Colts
Dana Hall DB 118 San Francisco 49ers
Ed Cunningham C 361 Arizona Cardinals
Siupeli Malamala T 368 New York Jets
Aaron Pierce TE 369 New York Giants
Orlando McKay WR 5130Green Bay Packers
Mario Bailey WR 6162 Houston Oilers
Donald Jones LB 9245 New Orleans Saints
Kris Rongen G 11290 Seattle Seahawks
Brett Collins LB 12314 Green Bay Packers
Chico Fraley LB 12319Seattle Seahawks

References

  1. Written at Oklahoma City. "Football writers say Washington is No. 1". The Herald . Everett, Washington. Associated Press. January 4, 1992. p. 3D. Retrieved September 22, 2024. Washington edged Miami for the Grantland Rice Trophy by balloting by the five members of a nationwide committee. The Huskies received three first-place votes and the Hurricanes got two.
  2. Written at New York. "UPI NFF Top 25 Grid Ratings". The Bryan Times . Bryan, Ohio. United Press International. January 3, 1992. p. 13. Retrieved September 23, 2024. As national champion, Washington will receive the MacArthur Bowl, given by the National Football Foundation to its champion since 1959. The UPI NFF ratings panel consists of 104 National Football Foundation members
  3. "Stat sheet: football, final polls". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). January 2, 1992. p. E4.
  4. "Huskies crush Michigan 34-14". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. January 2, 1992. p. 1B.
  5. Murphy, Austin (January 13, 1992). "The Dream Game". Sports Illustrated. p. 34.
  6. Gene Wojciechowski (September 22, 1991). "Washington Wins Husker Fans, Too : Huskies: After Nebraska loses, 36-21, the Lincoln crowd musters an ovation for the stunned visitors". LA Times.
  7. 2003 UW Huskies football media guide, p. 209
  8. "Oregon outlook". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). October 26, 1991. p. 4B.
  9. "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: WEST/SOUTHWEST; Washington's Defense Scuttles Stanford, 42-7". The New York Times. September 7, 1991. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  10. "Washington 36 Nebraska 21". Husker Max. September 21, 1991. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  11. Hyland, Tim. "AP College Football National Champions". Football.about.com. Archived from the original on May 3, 2008. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  12. "1992 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  13. "The Husky Hall of Fame". gohuskies.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  14. "Billy Joe Hobert NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  15. "Mark Brunell NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 6, 2016.