Chris Petersen: Loss to USC helped No. 4 UW Huskies regain focus
Dec 8, 2016, 3:46 PM
UW was able to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff despite a 26-13 loss to USC on Nov. 12. (AP)
(AP)
In retrospect, the first nine games of the No. 4 Washington Huskies’ season were pretty much smooth sailing. There’s been a decidedly different feeling since then, however, thanks to what happened in their 10th game.
That, of course, is when the red-hot USC Trojans came to town and sent the Huskies crashing back down to earth for the first (and so far only) loss of 2016, leaving UW in must-win situations over their final two regular season games and the Pac-12 championship for them to keep their national title hopes alive. Washington did bounce back with wins over Arizona State, Washington State and Colorado, but the memory lingers from that meeting with Southern California.
Interestingly enough, Huskies head coach Chris Petersen told “Brock and Salk” that the experience from the USC game may have actually worked to Washington’s benefit, especially since it was still able to secure the fourth and final spot in the College Football Playoff.
“I think it’s important,” Petersen said of the loss to the Trojans. “We haven’t really haven’t even talked to our guys about that, but I think that kinda lurks in the back of your mind that, like, ‘OK, if we don’t play our best, you know, we’re gonna get beat.'”
Chris Petersen: Huskies want opponents worried about trick plays
Petersen indicated that the loss snapped the Huskies out of any feelings of comfort or invincibility, something that is known to be the downfall of unbeaten teams in meaningful games (see the 2007 New England Patriots, for example).
“I think if this team was completely undefeated, it’s like, ‘We’ll figure it out. We’ll get it done,'” Petersen said. “And I think to have a game where we didn’t get it done, certainly in my mind … kinda creates the urgency of ‘OK guys, you get this, right? You’re playing a team that’s got a lot of talent, and if you’re not really striking on all cylinders…'”
The Dawgs won’t be able to afford an effort in which they’re not all systems go against top-ranked Alabama in the national semifinal Peach Bowl on New Year’s Eve, a game that will be broadcast live on 710 ESPN Seattle. The Crimson Tide just so happen to be undefeated, but it’s hard to think head coach Nick Saban’s team could be caught on its heels considering the rigorous practices his staff is known for holding.
Petersen is well aware of that fact, but he’s not about to run his team into the ground over the three-plus weeks left until the matchup.
“We need to get better right now and keep the guys fresh and excited about playing this game,” Petersen said. “… We’re gonna have energy and all those things, but I’m talking about we need to get better. We’ll cut our practices down. We’re not going to go out there and turn it into punishment for these guys.”
