Two years ago, with Kalen DeBoer not yet hired as coach and watching the game on TV from his California home, the University of Washington football team lost to Washington State 40-13 — its worst Apple Cup defeat in the now 115-game history of the rivalry series .
Surrounded by media members this week, Husky senior tight end Jack Westover reconsidered the four-touchdown defeat and said that was a good thing that took place.
Huh?
"I think it was one of the best things that happened to this program, I really do think that," Westover said ever so thoughtfully. "It's kind of weird saying it that way, but without that, I don't think we'd be where we are right now."
DeBoer, of course, was introduced as the new Husky football coach four days following that WSU smackdown, and began changing everything almost immediately.
Yet Westover saw the one-sided outcome to the team from across the state leave a much deeper imprint on the way everyone conducted business moving forward at the UW, from the top down.
"It was the motivation in the whole program, from the athletic department to the players, alumni, donors, whatever it was, it just kind of lit a fire under everybody," he said.
A second loss in three years, of course, would serve no purpose whatsoever with Westover and his Husky teammates having compiled a perfect 11-0 record, already earned a spot in the Pac-12 championship game and drawn a No. 4 ranking in the College Football Playoff.
For some reason, Westover has became a tongue-in-cheek face for Saturday's football game, with his wholesome image superimposed in a social-media posting to resemble a knock-off Nirvana album cover.
In the real thing created three decades ago, a baby floats aimlessly underwater, which makes everything all the more confusing that Westover was selected for this message. In six seasons, he's gone from walk-on, or non-scholarship player, to a starter, a major contributor and a certifiable NFL prospect. In essence, he's grown into a man.
While preparing for his final outing at Husky Stadium, Westover is including everyone from home in this emotional end game, letting them share it with him.
"It's not about me, but it's about my family," he said. "My whole family has gone here. It's going to be like signing off — the Westovers and the U-Dub."
Two years ago, Westover was one of those who stood on the field sort of stunned, for the longest time watching Washington State players celebrate their big victory in Seattle.
A lot has happened since, namely just two setbacks in 24 games with a new coach, a new attitude and a lot of the same players such as Jack Westover sharing in it. Sometimes losing is a good thing, though it's not recommended at all for Saturday's meeting.
"From that moment, you saw something switch," Westover said, "not just on the football team, but the entire athletic department, all of Washington."
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