After a tumultuous 2021 season, Washington hopes new coach Kalen DeBoer leads them back to some a sense of normalcy Saturday night as they open the season against an apparently overmatched visiting Kent State.
Yet, a year ago, Washington’s season launched with a stunning 13-7 loss to Montana and then-coach Jimmy Lake and the Dawgs never regained their footing on the way to a 4-8 season.
DeBoer, formerly at Fresno State, is the fourth Washington head coach in four seasons. Chris Petersen departed after the 2019 season and was replaced by Lake — but after the terrible start, Lake was under fire all season and was terminated in November following a sideline incident in which he was seen shoving one of his players — and was replaced on an interim basis by defensive coordinator Bob Gregory for the rest of the 2021 season.
Last week DeBoer named Michael Penix Jr., a transfer from Indiana, as the starting quarterback, and Wayne Taulapapa, a graduate transfer from Virginia, as the No. 1 running back.
Taulapapa, DeBoer said, “might be one of the most mature guys on our football team. It means a lot to him,” and cited his 27 career starts and ability to handle rushing, receiving and blocking duties well.
A win for the Huskies would be the 400th in school history at home. Washington was picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12 this season in a conference media poll.
Kent State won the Mid-American Conference Eastern Division title last season, finishing 7-7 after a 52-38 loss to Wyoming in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Kent State was picked to finish second in the MAC East in a media poll. The program has a unique connection with Washington, in that legendary Huskies head coach Don James was Kent State’s head coach for four seasons before he arrived to turn the Huskies into a West Coast power for most of his tenure (1975-92).
“The football gods, they don’t miss,” Kent State head coach Sean Lewis said, noting that he keeps a book about James in his office and uses it for coaching guidance.
“We’ll get a real test here,” Lewis said, “and we’re going to see where we’re at.”
The Golden Flashes have a loaded nonconference schedule starting with a trip west to Seattle for their first-ever meeting with Washington, followed by a trip to No. 9 Oklahoma next week, and a Sept. 24 visit to No. 3 Georgia.
Washington follows the opener with a game against FCS team Portland State and then hosts No. 15 Michigan State before turning to Pac-12 play against Stanford – with all four game at Husky Stadium.
–Field Level Media
Jacksonville Jaguars star linebacker Foyesade Oluokun was placed on injured reserve Saturday due to his foot injury and will miss at least four games. Oluokun is dealing with plantar fasciitis,…
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is preparing to play through a high-ankle sprain when the Kansas City Chiefs visit Los Angeles on Sunday, according to multiple reports on Saturday. Herbert was…
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is expected to start against the visiting Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, three-plus weeks after he sprained the MCL in his left knee, according to…
Reports: Chargers QB Justin Herbert (ankle) expected to start vs. Chiefs
Reports: Packers QB Jordan Love to start against Vikings
Kentucky knocks off No. 6 Ole Miss
No. 22 BYU leads early, holds off Baylor