Interesting quote from Edefuan "Rusty" Ulofoshio
DerekJohnson
Administrator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 64,098 
Just posted a story in the Wigwam, and this quote stuck out to me:
"I used to like bowl games. When I went to the Rose Bowl, I had so much
fun. We went to Disneyland and stuff like that. But when you’re in the
Playoffs or the natty, all those festivities are just a bunch of burdens
to you. It’s just like, ‘I don’t want to be here right now. I need to
watch this film, I need to get to practice, I need to game plan.’ The
whole week was just so focused on trying to win this fricking
championship. The Sugar Bowl was great, but the natty … you wouldn’t
really know you’re in the natty, but there’s subtle hints. You can feel
the magnitude. For example, I’m on kickoff return and I look up on the
screen and see Michael Jordan. ‘Ooh, this is a big game.’"
Comments
Too big of a moment apparently
Sounds like the head coach was too busy to get the kids ready to play for the championship.
You could definitely tell the difference in the vibe between the two on UW football's social media leading up to both games. Just the nature of what college football has become. I would assume playing a semi in the Peach Bowl or Fiesta Bowl would have felt much more business like than the Sugar or Rose though given the comparisons in history and fun of the locations.
It's all only going to get more business like the more the playoff expands.
Taylor Rapp would have still sat out.
Coach Pete would’ve taken a Kendall Roy walk for perspective.
Rusty?
I know you get acclimated to stuff pretty quick but I just don't know how someone couldn't have been excited to be involved in the Sugar Bowl in any capacity. Whole thing was electric. I'm sure it helps when you haven't already mentally prepared yourself to get beat by Bama or Ohio State.
On a pod last year I proclaimed getting a “rusty” Ulofoshio back from injury would be better than anything Cam Bright or Kris Moll was giving us at the time
I just kind of had a bad feeling about the Natty that week after the sugar bowl win.
Now you're seeing all the national shows on ESPN and Fox have to talk about Washington.
All the "our goal is to win a championship" stuff. Yeah, now it's real and you're in the game. Maybe some of the players were surprised they made it *this* far after the conference revenge tour was over.
Totally different feels. It was the holidays leading up the Sugar Bowl. People. Media. Distracted and enjoying other stuff. The natty was a full week of just regular work and life. Sugar Bowl was on New Year's Day. Lots of pageantry. Natty has a corporate feel on a Monday. I think having beaten pretty much the same Texas team kind of easily the year before helped.
Got behind early and the rest is history. Was worried the team never had to truly come back against anyone. Forever question if they should have taken the ball to start the game and gone for it on the first drive and not kicked the field goal.