NEW ORLEANS — Here's how it works sometimes when a media type decides the pre-game build-up for a big football game such as the Texas-Washington Sugar Bowl matchup is sleepwalking along. He tries to start something.
On Thursday, Texas' Outland Trophy-winning defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat basically was minding his own business when he was quizzed about Washington's offensive line.
Make that filleted, grilled and seared around the edges.
The question went like this, "That's the best O-line in the nation, according to that award that they've won. Is this better than the O-line you go against in practice every day?"
The 6-foot-4, 364-pound Sweat gave your basic vanilla response, saying, "I mean, they have a great O-line and we also have a great O-line. I'm just here ready for New Year's and playing against them."
Not satisfied, the press-row inquisitor pressed the Texas defensive-line standout a little more.
"What makes them good?" the reporter asked. "Washington, what do they do well, seeing them on tape?"
Sweat, trying to hold true to his non-answer answer, came back with, "I mean, they're a good overall team. We'll get to see them Monday."
Not exactly fighting words or for anyone in purple to feel disrespected and insulted, right?
A few hours later, the aforementioned media person approached Michael Penix Jr. with the continuing thread of what he started and informed the Husky quarterback, "I asked T'Vondre Sweat this morning about your offensive line. He said, 'They're just another O-line.' You agree with that? Or was he giving you a little bulletin board material there?"
Now that's not exactly what Sweat said, with the Sugar Bowl handing out transcripts that show this, but maybe it made for a good sound bite.
Penix's eyes get real big and he smiles in a gee-whiz manner when he hears a whopper and this was no different.
Playing along, the UW quarterback, said, "Yeah. Um... Joe Moore [Award]."
The reporter, still on the attack: "I said, 'I watched them win the Joe Moore Award,' and he said, 'They're just another O-line.' "
Penix drew laughs and sort of yawned when he said, "Yeah, man, I guess so. We're going to see."
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