Robbie and Scott Gaskin, parents of University of Washington Husky football running back Myles Gaskin, stand near some memorabilia of his record-setting career at their home in Lynnwood. The family is in Pasadena this week to watch him play in the Rose Bowl. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Robbie and Scott Gaskin, parents of University of Washington Husky football running back Myles Gaskin, stand near some memorabilia of his record-setting career at their home in Lynnwood. The family is in Pasadena this week to watch him play in the Rose Bowl. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Lynnwood couple cheer on son, UW running back Myles Gaskin

Gaskin is a record-setting Husky football player. His parents are proud and loud about it.

LYNNWOOD — At today’s Rose Bowl game, they are the mom and dad in Number 9 jerseys.

Lynnwood’s proud — and at times loudest — parents.

What’s up with that?

Robbie and Scott Gaskin are in Pasadena to watch their son Myles, the University of Washington’s star running back, in his final college game as the Huskies take on the Ohio State Buckeyes.

They won’t be taking it sitting down, at least based on Myles’ four years playing for UW. The parents rarely missed a game.

“I’m that hyped dad,” Scott said. “I’m rooting the dudes on.”

Mom is calm when Myles is on the field.

“I’m doing some praying. Watching him, trying to see what he’s doing,” she said. “I am pretty quiet.”

When the defense is on the field, not so much.

“I’m screaming and hollering because I don’t have to think about it, right? It’s not my kid on the field,” she said. “I know fans don’t like to sit behind me.”

Washington’s Myles Gaskin runs past the Husky Marching Band as he is introduced with other seniors before an NCAA college football game against Oregon State on Nov. 17 in Seattle. (Elaine Thompson / AP file)

Washington’s Myles Gaskin runs past the Husky Marching Band as he is introduced with other seniors before an NCAA college football game against Oregon State on Nov. 17 in Seattle. (Elaine Thompson / AP file)

The 5-10, 195-pound senior who grew up in Lynnwood is UW’s most accomplished running back. He’s rushed for a school-record 55 career touchdowns. He’s gained more than 5,000 rushing yards in his career — the most ever for a UW running back. He ranks third in rushing yardage in Pac-12 history.

Myles plans to graduate after winter quarter with a degree in ethnic studies.

“He has always talked about being a firefighter,” his mom said.

That might come later. He will be eligible for the NFL draft in the spring.

At today’s game, his parents will be joined by about 20 relatives. The family has been enjoying the festivities leading up to the game. The last time UW played in the Rose Bowl was 2001.

“We’ve met some fans from all over,” Robbie said. “Whenever you have your purple on, it’s like family.”

Washington running back Myles Gaskin (9) runs against Utah defensive back Corrion Ballard (15) during the first half of the Pac-12 Conference championship NCAA college football game in Santa Clara, California, on Nov. 30. (Tony Avelar / AP file)

Washington running back Myles Gaskin (9) runs against Utah defensive back Corrion Ballard (15) during the first half of the Pac-12 Conference championship NCAA college football game in Santa Clara, California, on Nov. 30. (Tony Avelar / AP file)

At home in Lynnwood, Robbie and Scott are the parents next door. They raised their sons, Myles, 21, and his brother Ivan, 24, in a kid-filled subdivision near Alderwood mall. The boys played ball at the Alderwood Boys & Girls Club. Scott coached both in numerous youth sports teams.

“His village was here,” Robbie said. She also credits their church community, Churchome in Bothell.

Now it’s just the parents in the big house where their sons’ rooms remain intact, not as shrines but as bedrooms for when they come home.

Myles has numerous track medals, as does Ivan, whose room also reflects his interest in music.

There’s a downstairs trophy room that honors both sons who were star athletes at O’Dea High School in Seattle. Robbie, a program manager for King County Public Health, would ride the bus to the city with them.

Ivan earned an academic scholarship to Morehouse College. He’s a motivational speaker, real estate investor and tech entrepreneur in Atlanta.

“We feel like we won the lottery twice,” Robbie said of their two sons. “Myles was the mover. Ivan wants to analyze. I have one child who is completely academic and he’s athletic when he needs to be. And I have another child who is completely athletic and academic when he needs to be.”

“We are really blessed,” Scott said.

“It’s all about God’s grace,” she said. She also credits support from fans.

The parents met in college in Denver, where Scott is from. They moved from Atlanta to Washington in 1996 for his contract job at Boeing when she was pregnant with Myles. It led to a staff position for Scott, a Boeing manufacturing engineer.

He had a brief stint as a running back in college. “I walked on at UNLV in 1980,” he said. “I gave it a shot. I got my bell rung but never got dogged out.”

He knows the dangers of football.

“I always pray for these guys to walk off the field as they walked on,” he said. “It’s a rough sport. Guys get chipped up out there.”

Washington running back Myles Gaskin (9) dives into the end zone as he’s tackled by Washington State’s Marcus Strong during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Nov. 23 in Pullman. (Joshua Bessex / The News Tribune file)

Washington running back Myles Gaskin (9) dives into the end zone as he’s tackled by Washington State’s Marcus Strong during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Nov. 23 in Pullman. (Joshua Bessex / The News Tribune file)

His son’s fame has hit home.

“My network has really broadened just because of being Myles’ dad,” he said. “It comes with attention. They ask, ‘Are you Myles’ dad?’”

Robbie said people recognize the last name. “They say, ‘Gaskin … Gaskin. You know Myles?’” she said. “I say, ‘Yeah, I know him.’”

It doesn’t come with the special treatment you might think for the parents. Their tickets are not on the 50-yard line.

“We’ve never had good seats,” Scott said.

They’re what Robbie terms “challenging seats.”

“A lot of times I can’t see the field so I’m looking at the jumbotron. I’m turned all the way around because I can’t see through the people,” she said.

She’s not complaining.

The parents wear Number 9 purple shoes and home or away jerseys. Like so many sports fans, their apparel carries some superstition.

“When we lost to Oregon, I washed that jersey because I was like, I have to wash that off. I have a lot of weird stuff like that,” Robbie said.

Washington running back Myles Gaskin (left) celebrates with offensive lineman Trey Adams after Washington defeated Washington State 28-15 in an NCAA college football game on Nov. 23 in Pullman. (Ted S. Warren / AP file)

Washington running back Myles Gaskin (left) celebrates with offensive lineman Trey Adams after Washington defeated Washington State 28-15 in an NCAA college football game on Nov. 23 in Pullman. (Ted S. Warren / AP file)

She said Myles doesn’t rely on talent alone.

“He knew with his size and the competition around that he was going to have to be the person that worked harder.”

Even so, she is a mom first and sports fan second.

“It’s still like I’m watching him in Little League,” she said. “Like I’m watching my baby play.”

Andrea Brown: abrown @heraldnet.com; 425-339-3443. Twitter@reporterbrown.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

The Washington State University Snohomish County Extension building at McCollum Park is located in an area Snohomish County is considering for the location of the Farm and Food Center on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Year-round indoor farmers market inches closer to reality near Mill Creek

The Snohomish County Farm and Food Center received $5 million in federal funding. The county hopes to begin building in 2026.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.