Earlier this week, during the buildup to the 110th Apple Cup, Washington coach Chris Petersen volunteered the highest kind of compliment that a Husky could offer up to the Cougars.
It was such lofty praise that, in some purple-and-gold circles, the words might be considered sacrilegious for a UW coach to utter. Petersen, you see, was asked about Washington State’s defense and some of the problems WSU’s defensive line has created this season.
“This defense,” he said, “reminds me of what Washington used to do back in the day. There’s some roots there.”
Those Husky defenses of Don James-Jim Lambright lore took great pleasure in punishing opponents, and featured some of the most feared players to ever play in the Pac-12.