1990 Washington Huskies football team
Encyclopedia
The 1990
Washington Huskies
football
team represented the University of Washington
in the 1990
college football
season. Led by head coach
Don James, his top assistants were coordinators Gary Pinkel
(offense
) and Jim Lambright
(defense
). Pinkel would leave after the season to become head coach at Toledo
, where he stayed for a decade and then moved to Missouri
; Lambright would succeed James as head coach of the Huskies in August 1993
.
The 1990 Huskies won UW's first conference championship since 1981
. Washington defeated #17 Iowa
46-34 in the 1991 Rose Bowl
, the first title in that game in nine years as well, when UW crushed Iowa 28-0 in the 1982 Rose Bowl
.
With the future #1 1992 NFL Draft
pick on the defensive line, sophomore Steve Emtman
, the 1990 UW Huskies were led by their defense, coached by Jim Lambright
.
Five UW Huskies were selected in the 1991 NFL Draft
, led by running back Greg Lewis
and defensive back Charles Mincy
.
as a double-digit favorite, but was shut out 31-0 on a hot 93°F afternoon on the Seattle AstroTurf
. Under pressure all day and enduring numerous sacks, Trojan QB Todd Marinovich
was quoted as saying, "All I saw was purple."
The Huskies suffered a letdown the following week, losing to #20 Colorado
in Boulder
by six. (Colorado would claim half of the 1990 national championship, tainted by the "fifth down" touchdown at Missouri
the following week.) The UW Dawgs regrouped and rolled through the next five games, all in conference, and climbed to 8-1 record and a #2 national ranking when visited on November 10. Under dark but rainless skies, the Bruins jumped out to an early lead and the Dawgs never recovered, losing by three. The Huskies took their frustration at the loss and their drop in ranking to #10 by crushing in Pullman
to win the Apple Cup
55-10.
The #8 ranked Pac-10 champs then took on the #17 Iowa Hawkeyes
in the Rose Bowl
, winning 46-34. Entering the fourth quarter with a 39-14 lead, reserves were entered into the game for the Huskies and promptly gave up two touchdowns; UW then scored its own touchdown to push the lead back to 46-26, answered by an Iowa TD and conversion to close the final score to a 12 point gap.
The Huskies, like all Pac-10 teams in 1990, played an 8-game conference schedule. They did not play , who finished last in the Pac-10 at 1-10 overall and 1-7 in conference.
- RB
- Doak Walker Award
(inaugural)
:
1990 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with a split championship and the ensuing controversy led to the creation of the Bowl Coalition, a precursor to the Bowl Championship Series. The title was split between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets...
Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team represented the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in the 1990
1990 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with a split championship and the ensuing controversy led to the creation of the Bowl Coalition, a precursor to the Bowl Championship Series. The title was split between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets...
college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
season. Led by head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Don James, his top assistants were coordinators Gary Pinkel
Gary Pinkel
Gary Robin Pinkel is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Missouri, a position he has held since the 2001 season. From 1991 to 2000, Pinkel coached at the University of Toledo, where his team won a Mid-American Conference...
(offense
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
) and Jim Lambright
Jim Lambright
James "Jim" Lambright is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Washington for six seasons from 1993 to 1998, compiling a record of 44–25–1...
(defense
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
). Pinkel would leave after the season to become head coach at Toledo
Toledo Rockets football
The Toledo Rockets football team is a college football program in Division I FBS, representing the University of Toledo. The Rockets compete in the Mid-American Conference. Toledo began playing football in 1917, although it did not field teams in 1931, and 1943-1945. Since the inception of the AP...
, where he stayed for a decade and then moved to Missouri
Missouri Tigers football
The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996...
; Lambright would succeed James as head coach of the Huskies in August 1993
1993 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season saw Florida State crowned national champions, but not without controversy.Under the Bowl Coalition, undefeated Big 8 champ and #2 ranked Nebraska hosted ACC champ and #1 ranked Florida State in the Orange Bowl...
.
The 1990 Huskies won UW's first conference championship since 1981
1981 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the Clemson Tigers, unbeaten and untied, taking the national championship after a victory over traditional power Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. This was also the first year of the California Bowl, played in Fresno, California; this game fancied...
. Washington defeated #17 Iowa
1990 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
The 1990 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1990 college football season.-Schedule:-Cincinnati:...
46-34 in the 1991 Rose Bowl
1991 Rose Bowl
The 1991 Rose Bowl was the 77th Rose Bowl Game, played on January 1, 1991. The #8 Washington Huskies built a 33-7 halftime lead and defeated the #17 Iowa Hawkeyes 46-34. Washington sophomore quarterback Mark Brunell was named the Player of the Game....
, the first title in that game in nine years as well, when UW crushed Iowa 28-0 in the 1982 Rose Bowl
1982 Rose Bowl
The 1982 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game, played on January 1, 1982. It was the 68th Rose Bowl Game. The Washington Huskies defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes by a score of 28-0. Washington Freshman Jacque Robinson gained 142 yards on 20 carries and set up or scored three of the Huskies' four...
.
With the future #1 1992 NFL Draft
1992 NFL Draft
The 1992 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1992. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft...
pick on the defensive line, sophomore Steve Emtman
Steve Emtman
Steven Charles "Steve" Emtman is a former professional American football player. He played defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts, the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins of the National Football League...
, the 1990 UW Huskies were led by their defense, coached by Jim Lambright
Jim Lambright
James "Jim" Lambright is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Washington for six seasons from 1993 to 1998, compiling a record of 44–25–1...
.
Five UW Huskies were selected in the 1991 NFL Draft
1991 NFL Draft
The 1991 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 21–22, 1991 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan, New York...
, led by running back Greg Lewis
Greg Lewis (running back)
Gregory Alan Lewis is a former professional American football running back who played two seasons for the Denver Broncos. Lewis was an All-American and Pac 10 offensive player of the year in 1990 at the University of Washington. He was the inaugural winner of the Doak Walker Award given to college...
and defensive back Charles Mincy
Charles Mincy
Charles Mincy was an American football safety who played ten seasons in the National Football League....
.
Overview
The Huskies were ranked #20 in the 1990 pre-season, and started slowly with close wins over at home and at . In the third game #5 USC entered Husky StadiumHusky Stadium
Husky Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the home of the Washington Huskies...
as a double-digit favorite, but was shut out 31-0 on a hot 93°F afternoon on the Seattle AstroTurf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
. Under pressure all day and enduring numerous sacks, Trojan QB Todd Marinovich
Todd Marinovich
Todd Marvin Marinovich is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. He played for the Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League, and also in the Canadian Football League and Arena Football League...
was quoted as saying, "All I saw was purple."
The Huskies suffered a letdown the following week, losing to #20 Colorado
1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team
The 1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Buffaloes offense scored 338 points while the defense allowed 160 points. Led by head coach Bill McCartney, Colorado competed against Notre Dame in the...
in Boulder
Folsom Field
Folsom Field is an outdoor football stadium on the campus of the University of Colorado, at Boulder, Colorado. Opened in 1924, it is the home field of the Colorado Buffaloes of the Pacific-12 Conference; until July 2011, Colorado was a member of the Big 12 Conference. The horseshoe-shaped stadium...
by six. (Colorado would claim half of the 1990 national championship, tainted by the "fifth down" touchdown at Missouri
1990 Missouri Tigers football team
The 1990 Missouri Tigers football team represented the University of Missouri in the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Tigers offense scored 278 points while the defense allowed 360 points...
the following week.) The UW Dawgs regrouped and rolled through the next five games, all in conference, and climbed to 8-1 record and a #2 national ranking when visited on November 10. Under dark but rainless skies, the Bruins jumped out to an early lead and the Dawgs never recovered, losing by three. The Huskies took their frustration at the loss and their drop in ranking to #10 by crushing in Pullman
Martin Stadium
Martin Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pullman, Washington, United States, on the campus of Washington State University. It is the home field of the Washington State Cougars of the Pacific-12 Conference, and is the smallest football stadium in the conference...
to win the Apple Cup
Apple Cup
The Apple Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of an American college football rivalry game played annually by the teams of the two largest universities in the U.S. state of Washington: the University of Washington Huskies and the Washington State University Cougars...
55-10.
The #8 ranked Pac-10 champs then took on the #17 Iowa Hawkeyes
1990 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
The 1990 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1990 college football season.-Schedule:-Cincinnati:...
in the Rose Bowl
1991 Rose Bowl
The 1991 Rose Bowl was the 77th Rose Bowl Game, played on January 1, 1991. The #8 Washington Huskies built a 33-7 halftime lead and defeated the #17 Iowa Hawkeyes 46-34. Washington sophomore quarterback Mark Brunell was named the Player of the Game....
, winning 46-34. Entering the fourth quarter with a 39-14 lead, reserves were entered into the game for the Huskies and promptly gave up two touchdowns; UW then scored its own touchdown to push the lead back to 46-26, answered by an Iowa TD and conversion to close the final score to a 12 point gap.
The Huskies, like all Pac-10 teams in 1990, played an 8-game conference schedule. They did not play , who finished last in the Pac-10 at 1-10 overall and 1-7 in conference.
Schedule
| Game | Date | Opponent | Result | Huskies | Opp. | Record | Pac-10 | Attendance |
| 1 | 08-Sep | Win | 20 | 17 | 1-0 | 66,337 | ||
| 2 | 15-Sep | @ | Win | 20 | 14 | 2-0 | 33,113 | |
| 3 | 22-Sep | #5 USC | Win | 31 | 0 | 3-0 | 1-0 | 72,617 |
| 4 | 29-Sep | @ #20 Colorado 1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team The 1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Buffaloes offense scored 338 points while the defense allowed 160 points. Led by head coach Bill McCartney, Colorado competed against Notre Dame in the... |
Loss | 14 | 20 | 3-1 | 52,868 | |
| 5 | 06-Oct | @ | Win | 42 | 14 | 4-1 | 2-0 | 62,738 |
| 6 | 13-Oct | #19 Oregon 1990 Oregon Ducks football team The 1990 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon. The Ducks scored 341 points while the defense allowed 221 points. Led by head coach Rich Brooks, the Ducks competed in the .-Schedule:-Team Players in the NFL:... |
Win | 38 | 17 | 5-1 | 3-0 | 73,498 |
| 7 | 20-Oct | @ | Win | 52 | 16 | 6-1 | 4-0 | 36,500 |
| 8 | 27-Oct | Win | 46 | 7 | 7-1 | 5-0 | 71,427 | |
| 9 | 04-Nov | Win | 54 | 10 | 8-1 | 6-0 | 70,111 | |
| 10 | 10-Nov | Loss | 22 | 25 | 8-2 | 6-1 | 71,925 | |
| 11 | 17-Nov | @ | Win | 55 | 10 | 9-2 | 7-1 | 37,600 |
| Break | ||||||||
| 12 | 01-Jan | #17 Iowa 1990 Iowa Hawkeyes football team The 1990 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1990 college football season.-Schedule:-Cincinnati:... 1991 Rose Bowl 1991 Rose Bowl The 1991 Rose Bowl was the 77th Rose Bowl Game, played on January 1, 1991. The #8 Washington Huskies built a 33-7 halftime lead and defeated the #17 Iowa Hawkeyes 46-34. Washington sophomore quarterback Mark Brunell was named the Player of the Game.... |
Win | 46 | 34 | 10-2 | 101,273 | |
| Total | 440 | 184 | 10-2 | 7-1 | 750,007 | |||
| Avg. | 36.7 | 15.3 | | |
Awards
Greg LewisGreg Lewis (running back)
Gregory Alan Lewis is a former professional American football running back who played two seasons for the Denver Broncos. Lewis was an All-American and Pac 10 offensive player of the year in 1990 at the University of Washington. He was the inaugural winner of the Doak Walker Award given to college...
- RB
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
- Doak Walker Award
Doak Walker Award
The Doak Walker Award, first awarded in 1990, honors the United States's top college football running back. It is named after the Southern Methodist and Detroit Lions football player Doak Walker...
(inaugural)
Team Players in the NFL
The following UW Huskies were selected in the 1991 NFL Draft1991 NFL Draft
The 1991 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 21–22, 1991 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan, New York...
:
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
| Greg Lewis Greg Lewis (running back) Gregory Alan Lewis is a former professional American football running back who played two seasons for the Denver Broncos. Lewis was an All-American and Pac 10 offensive player of the year in 1990 at the University of Washington. He was the inaugural winner of the Doak Walker Award given to college... |
RB Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... |
5 | 115 | Denver Broncos 1991 Denver Broncos season -Schedule:-AFC Championship Game:Buffalo relied on missed field goals by Denver and some key plays from their defense to narrowly defeat the Broncos in a tough defensive struggle. Although the first half was scoreless, the Broncos advanced into Buffalo territory on all five of their possessions in... |
| Charles Mincy Charles Mincy Charles Mincy was an American football safety who played ten seasons in the National Football League.... |
DB Defensive back In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of... |
5 | 133 | Kansas City Chiefs 1991 Kansas City Chiefs season The 1991 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 10–6 record and Wild Card spot in the 1992 playoffs. The Chiefs defeated their division rival, the Los Angeles Raiders in the Wild Card round, resulting in the franchise's first playoff victory since Super Bowl IV in 1970... |
| Dean Kirkland | G Guard (American football) In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team.... |
11 | 305 | Buffalo Bills 1991 Buffalo Bills season The 1991 Buffalo Bills season was the 32nd season for the team in the National Football League. The Buffalo Bills finished the National Football League's 1991 season with a record of 13 wins and 3 losses, and finished first in the AFC East division... |
| Jeff Pahukoa Jeff Pahukoa Jeff Kalani Pahukoa is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. He played five seasons for the Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta Falcons .-References:... |
T | 12 | 311 | Los Angeles Rams 1991 Los Angeles Rams season The 1991 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 54th year with the National Football League and the 46th season in Los Angeles.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Regular season:... |
| John Cook | MG | 12 | 328 | Chicago Bears 1991 Chicago Bears season The 1991 Chicago Bears season was their 72nd regular season and 21st postseason completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 11–5 record, and lost in the NFC Wild Card playoffs to the Dallas Cowboys.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Roster:... |
- Both 1990 UW quarterbacks were selected in the 1993 NFL Draft1993 NFL DraftThe 1993 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 25-26, 1993...
: sophomore starter Mark BrunellMark BrunellMark Allen Brunell is an American football quarterback who currently plays for the New York Jets. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington....
by the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
(5th rd., 118th); where he was a reserve for two seasons behind Brett FavreBrett FavreBrett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
, then led the expansion Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 19951995 NFL seasonThe 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars...
, and redshirt freshman Billy Joe HobertBilly Joe HobertBilly Joe Hobert is a former professional American football quarterback. While at the University of Washington, he led the Huskies to a national championship in 1991, during his redshirt sophomore season...
by the Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(3rd rd., 58th)