By JOHN SLEEPER
Herald Writer
SEATTLE – Neither the California Golden Bears nor the Washington Huskies wanted to bring up the Huskies’ 17-game win streak over the Bears.
Reporters did it for them.
The Bears have not beaten the Huskies since a 7-0 decision in 1976 at Husky Stadium, Don James’ second year as the UW head coach.
Since then, the Huskies have won games under most improbable circumstances, the last being a 31-27 victory last season, in which Washington was down 24-10 with 25 minutes left. At the time, the Huskies were pinned back on their own 17-yard line, third-and-13.
But UW quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo hit Todd Elstrom with an 83-yard scoring pass and later scored the winning TD on a 2-yard run by Maurice Shaw with 50 seconds remaining.
“That was a turning point in our season,” Tuiasosopo said.
There have been other such pseudo-miracles:
Washington’s dominance over Cal is the longest running streak in the Pacific-10 Conference and the sixth longest in college football. Bears coach Tom Holmoe said the streak isn’t a matter of conversation around the team.
“The best way to handle a streak like that is to not really worry about it,” he said.
Hnida, the only woman ever to appear on a CU football roster, had been invited to try out for the team in spring 1999 by then-Buffalo coach Rick Neuheisel. When Neuheisel left for Washington, CU coach Gary Barnett honored the invitation.
Hnida suited up for Colorado’s game against Kansas and for the Insight.com Bowl, but didn’t play. She had not been with the squad this fall. When other walk-ons reported, CU officials said Hnida had tonsillitis.
Barnett reportedly said that Hnida might be looking to come to Washington.
Neuheisel said he had talked to Hnida’s father, Dave, three weeks ago, but had not talked to Katie Hnida. Neuheisel toild her father that, while he would welcome his daughter to walk on, he didn’t want any more press from Colorado.
“I’m over it,” Neuheisel said, smiling.
However: “Hey, if Katie wants to be at Washington, she can be at Washington. I don’t have anything against a girl being on the football team. We’d have to make some logistical oppportunities, but heck. I was a walk-on. She’s a walk-on. If she wants to come out and try to be a part of the ballclub, I have no problem with it.”
Among the inductees will be Don Coryell, known most for being the San Diego Chargers head coach during the “Air Coryell” years; linebacker Michael Jackson; former basketball star Karen Deden Westwater.
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