Looking back at Washington Huskies’ past trips to the Sun Bowl
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By Andy Yamashita Seattle Times staff reporter
For the fifth time in program history, the Huskies are headed to El Paso, Texas.
Washington hasn’t played in the Sun Bowl since 2002. It hasn’t won the game since 1979 during UW’s first appearance.
But there are still some moments worth remembering. Greg Grimes’ goal-line stand. Damon Huard’s final outing. UW’s chaotic 2002 showing, just to name a few.
So here’s a look back at UW’s past four appearances in the Sun Bowl, the second-oldest bowl game in college football:
1979 Sun Bowl — No. 13 Washington 15, No. 11 Texas 7
University of Washington Huskies, Willis Ray Mackey dives into the endzone to score the Huskies second touchdown in the second quarter during the 1979 Sun Bowl. (Barry Wong / The Seattle Times, 1979)
UW’s first trip to the Sun Bowl turned out to be its best to date.
The Huskies, led by coach Don James, set the defensive tone early. Texas started the game with a long drive into Washington territory, but Grimes brought down Longhorn quarterback Donnie Little on fourth-and-goal from the UW 1-yard line to keep the game scoreless.
The Husky defense wasn’t done putting pressure on the Longhorns. Near the end of the first quarter, Texas second-string quarterback Rick McIvor fumbled in his own territory. UW defensive tackle Stafford Mays recovered, setting up an 18-yard touchdown pass by Washington quarterback Tom Flick to receiver Paul Skansi.
Texas fumbled again on its next drive, and Grimes scooped up the loose ball on the Longhorn 23-yard line. Running back Willie Ray Mackey, the only Texan on UW’s roster, rumbled in from 4 yards out to give Washington a 14-0 lead.
The Longhorns got a touchdown back before halftime, after a Flick fumble resulted in a 5-yard touchdown pass by Little to Brad Beck.
But high winds — up to 28 miles per hour — stifled both offenses in the second half. Neither team scored after the break, though a sack by Mays helped push Texas out of field goal range near the UW 32-yard line. The gusts also knocked a camera into the 33,412-person crowd, injuring three people.
Skansi, who had five catches for 52 yards and a touchdown, was the game’s MVP. UW defensive tackle Doug Martin added 10 tackles and a fumble recovery and was selected as the most valuable lineman.
1986 Sun Bowl — No. 12 Alabama 28, No. 11 Washington 6
Bobby Humphrey runs a 60 plus yard touchdown into the end zone to score against Washington during the first quarter of the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Dec. 25, 1986. (David Breslauer / The Associated Press)
Washington and James’ second trip to the Sun Bowl ended in less celebration than the first.
The Huskies entered halftime trailing 7-6. Alabama’s only offense through the first half was a 64-yard Bobby Humphrey rushing touchdown in the second quarter, and UW’s Jeff Jaeger made two field goals to keep the Huskies in the game.
But UW’s offense, which entered the game ranked fifth in the nation averaging 33.8 points per game, failed to gain any traction after the break against an Alabama defense led by linebacker Cornelius Bennett, a unanimous All-American that season. The Huskies also fumbled four times, which remains a program record for most fumbles in a bowl game.
Humphrey, meanwhile, carried the Alabama offense. He caught an 18-yard touchdown from Crimson Tide quarterback Mike Shula, and scored again on a three-yard sweep for his third touchdown of the game to secure Alabama’s win in the fourth quarter. Humphrey finished the game with 158 yards on 29 attempts and 202 all-purpose yards in front of the 48,722 fans in attendance.
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Bennett was the game’s MVP with 11 tackles and a sack, while UW defensive tackle Steve Alvord was the most valuable lineman.
1995 Sun Bowl — Iowa 38, No. 20 Washington 18
FILE — Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Hayden Fry, center, walks with players Richard Willock, left, and Vernon Rollins (56) after the Hawkeyes defeated the Washington Huskies 38-18 in the Sun Bowl... (Tim Sharp / The Associated Press)
The Huskies made their third trip to El Paso in 1995, this time guided by Jim Lambright for a rematch of the 1982 and 1991 Rose Bowl games — both UW wins.
A dismal first half for the Huskies, however, effectively ended the 1995 Sun Bowl by halftime.
UW muffed a punt after Iowa’s opening drive stalled out, and then surrendered a 58-yard rushing touchdown to Hawkeye running back Sedrick Shaw. Iowa scored 21 unanswered points before the break, and led 38-6 early in the fourth quarter.
Shaw and fellow running back Tavian Banks combined for 257 rushing yards, while fullback Michael Burger rushed for two touchdowns. Iowa’s five field goals set a Sun Bowl record.
It was also the final game of Damon Huard’s storied career under center for the Huskies. He was 14-for-26 passing for 194 yards and threw fourth-quarter touchdowns to Fred Coleman and Ernie Conwell in front of the 49,116 fans in attendance.
Shaw, who rushed for 135 yards on 21 carries, was the game’s MVP. Iowa defensive tackle Jared DeVries was the game’s most valuable lineman, and Hawkeye kicker Brion Hurley was the game’s most valuable specialist after making three field goals, all from 47 yards or farther.
2002 Sun Bowl — Purdue 34, Washington 24
1 of 3 | The Huskies, led by Nate Robinson (left) and Cody Pickett (3) storm out of the tunnel for the Sun Bowl. (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times, 2002)
Washington’s most recent trip to the Sun Bowl came in 2002 against Purdue, a rematch of the 2001 Rose Bowl which UW won 34-24.
The Huskies, now led by Rick Neuheisel, entered the game on a three-game winning streak. Their momentum seemed to continue in the Sun Bowl, taking a quick 17-0 lead in front of the 48,917-person crowd.
However, Purdue responded with 34 unanswered points while Washington was shut out during the second and third quarters. A late Cody Pickett touchdown pass to Patrick Reddick made it 34-24.
UW committed 13 penalties for 118 yards, both Sun Bowl records at the time, and fumbled four times — tying the program record set against Alabama in the 1986 Sun Bowl. Two of UW’s fumbles resulted in Purdue defensive touchdowns.
Boilermaker quarterback Kyle Orton was the game’s MVP after passing for 283 yards and two touchdowns, while Purdue edge rusher Shaun Phillips was the most valuable lineman.
Pickett was 25-for-54 passing for 272 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. His 54 pass attempts is a UW program record for a bowl game. Additionally 11 different Huskies caught a pass, which remains a Sun Bowl record.
Andy Yamashita: ayamashita@seattletimes.com. Seattle Times staff reporter Andy Yamashita covers UW football.
Comments
Jose Cuervo: 3-1
UW Dwags: 1-3
It listed Texas as #11 in 1979, but the Longhorns actually entered the game ranked #6
I had forgotten the blown 17-0 lead against Purdue
Neuheisel’s final game at UW
Not creepy at all.
The 1979 game was pretty good. In those days there were quite a bit fewer bowls with better teams. It was really more of a bowl and less of a post-season who-cares matchup.
There's nothing good or attractive about this bowl. Why this is a Pac 12 tie in bowl and not one reserved for like the #6 Big 12 team is a mystery.
Fight Hunger bowl, Cactus bowl, and Heart of Dallas are all much better than this wasteland piece of shit game. Fuck the history.
he is so goddamn hammered in that pic.