The 1991 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington in the 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season. Head coach Don James, in his 17th season at Washington, was assisted by coordinators Keith Gilbertson (offense) and Jim Lambright (defense), both head coaches themselves within two years.
The 1991 team was arguably the finest team in school history and split the national championship with the Miami Hurricanes, who were also 12–0, and won the AP Poll by four votes, while Washington took the coaches' poll by nine. Washington could not have played Miami in a bowl game because the Pac-10 champion was bound by contract to play in the Rose Bowl against the Big Ten champion. The Huskies soundly defeated fourth-ranked Michigan 34–14 in the Rose Bowl; the final score differential was narrowed by a late touchdown by Tyrone Wheatley of Michigan. With a minute remaining in the game, Washington was on the Michigan five-yard line, but opted to stay on the ground and run out the clock with third-string quarterback Eric Bjornson leading the offense.
Eleven Huskies were selected in the 1992 NFL draft, led by Steve Emtman, a dominating yet under-recruited defensive tackle from Cheney. Emtman won both the Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy, and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting, won by Desmond Howard of Michigan. Defensive back Dana Hall was also selected in the first round.
A fantasy article in Sports Illustrated titled "The Dream Game" had the Huskies narrowly defeat Miami in a playoff.
Overview The Huskies were ranked fourth in the 1991 pre-season. They dominated their six home games within the confines of Husky Stadium, which included two lopsided shutouts. The Dawgs' three closest games in 1991 were on the road: against Nebraska, California, and USC.
Behind 14–6 at halftime in Lincoln on ABC to no. 9 Nebraska in the second game of the season, UW rallied to outscore NU in Lincoln 30–7 in the second half to win by 15, and were graciously applauded at game-end by the Cornhusker fans. In mid-October, the no. 7 Cal Bears were the next-best team in the Pac-10 in 1991; the Huskies won by a touchdown in Berkeley to go to 6–0. In November in Los Angeles, the Huskies entered the game against USC undefeated at 8–0 and won a 14–3 defensive struggle, a second-straight victory over the previously dominant Trojans.
Like the rest of the Pac-10 in 1991, the Huskies played just eight Pac-10 conference games, missing one opponent; they did not play UCLA in 1991 or 1992. The 1991 Bruins finished at 9–3 (6–2 in conference), in the top twenty in both polls (no. 18 and no. 19). UCLA lost to Tennessee of the SEC and both Bay Area teams, Cal and Stanford, but won their bowl game.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries
At Stanford
Washington's forced five turnovers and scored four touchdowns on the ground in a 42–7 season opening victory at Stanford. Cornerback Walter Bailey had an interception and a fumble recovery, while running back Jay Barry ran for two scores. Billy Joe Hobert, making his first career start, completed 21 of 31 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns.
Source:
At Nebraska
Statistics UW NEB First downs 31 15 Total yards 618 308 Rushes/yards 47–335 36–135 Passing yards 283 173 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–40–2 12–29–2 Punting 5–41.0 9–44.3 Fumbles–Lost 3–1 1–1 Penalties–Yards 8–91 4–29 Time of possession 35:38 24:22 Team Category Player StatisticsWashington Passing Rushing Receiving Nebraska Passing Rushing Receiving
Kansas State
Statistics KSU UW First downs 15 23 Total yards 253 478 Rushes/yards 30–-17 41–238 Passing yards 270 240 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–32–4 14–22–1 Punting 6–40.3 1–40.0 Fumbles–Lost 3–1 0–0 Penalties–Yards 7–44 5–30 Time of possession 33:12 26:48 Team Category Player StatisticsKansas State Passing Rushing Receiving Washington Passing Rushing Receiving
Arizona
Statistics UA UW First downs 9 25 Total yards 142 445 Rushes/yards 43–30 53–280 Passing yards 112 165 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–17–2 10–22–0 Punting 9–37.8 5–35.8 Fumbles–Lost 5–5 1–0 Penalties–Yards 9–71 3–30 Time of possession 27:33 32:27 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Rushing Receiving Washington Passing Rushing Receiving
Toledo
At California
Statistics UW UC First downs 21 15 Total yards 441 329 Rushes/yards 43–252 36–114 Passing yards 189 215 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–34–1 18–41–2 Punting 7–43.3 7–42.4 Fumbles–Lost 4–0 2–0 Penalties–Yards 8–71 5–34 Time of possession 29:13 30:47 Team Category Player StatisticsWashington Passing Rushing Receiving California Passing Rushing Receiving
Oregon
Arizona State
Statistics ASU UW First downs 17 23 Total yards 231 489 Rushes/yards 19–78 51–177 Passing yards 153 312 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–42–1 25–37–0 Punting 7–36.6 3–37.0 Fumbles–Lost 2–2 0–0 Penalties–Yards 7–45 13–103 Time of possession 23:13 36:47 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona State Passing Rushing Receiving Washington Passing Rushing Receiving
At USC
At Oregon State
Washington State
vs No. 4 Michigan (Rose Bowl)
Statistics UW UM First downs 19 10 Total yards 404 205 Rushes/yards 43–123 33–72 Passing yards 281 133 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–42–2 14–28–1 Punting 6–41.8 10–37.8 Fumbles–Lost 0–0 3–0 Penalties–Yards 6–50 8–62 Time of possession 33:10 26:50 Team Category Player StatisticsWashington Passing Rushing Receiving Michigan Passing Rushing Receiving
Roster
Awards and honors National All-Americans: Mario Bailey, Steve Emtman, Dave Hoffmann, Lincoln Kennedy (consensus in bold) Steve Emtman: Lombardi Award Steve Emtman: Outland Trophy Don James: FWAA Coach of the Year
Conference All-Pacific-10: Mario Bailey, Lincoln Kennedy, Ed Cunningham, Steve Emtman, Dave Hoffmann, Chico Fraley, Donald Jones, Dana Hall Pacific-10 Offensive Player of the Year: Mario Bailey Pacific-10 Defensive Player of the Year: Steve Emtman Pacific-10 Coach of the Year: Don James
NFL draft selections Eleven University of Washington Huskies were selected in the 1992 NFL draft, which lasted twelve rounds with 336 selections. = Husky Hall of Fame
Player Position Round Pick NFL club Steve Emtman DT 1 1 Indianapolis Colts Dana Hall DB 1 18 San Francisco 49ers Ed Cunningham C 3 61 Arizona Cardinals Siupeli Malamala T 3 68 New York Jets Aaron Pierce TE 3 69 New York Giants Orlando McKay WR 5 130 Green Bay PackersMario Bailey WR 6 162 Houston Oilers Donald Jones LB 9 245 New Orleans Saints Kris Rongen G11290 Seattle Seahawks Brett CollinsLB12314Green Bay Packers Chico Fraley LB12319 Seattle Seahawks
Both 1991 UW quarterbacks were selected in the following year's 1993 NFL draft: '91 soph. starter Billy Joe Hobert by the Los Angeles Raiders (3rd rd., 58th) and junior Mark Brunell ('90 soph. starter, injured in spring '91 practice, '92 senior starter) by the Green Bay Packers (5th rd., 118th); where he was a reserve for two seasons behind Brett Favre, then led the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995.
References