And one I don’t…
There comes a time in every fan’s life where they look back at their favorite team and think of what and who they’ve had to cheer for. Every once in a while, they will put together an All-Star team based on their favorites they’ve seen throughout the years.
I look back on the University of Washington Huskies football teams of the past and revel in the great players who wore the Purple and Gold. There are so many teams and player to choose from.
There’s the National Championship team, the Rose Bowl teams, and the teams that fell just short despite having some pretty damn electric players on the squad.
Here are 5 of those players from the past that I would like to have back playing for the Huskies football team. And one I don’t.
5. Mario Bailey
Bailey was a big component in the 1991 Nation Championship team. He also had a stellar year that saw him broke several records. He has/had the record for touchdowns in a season with 18 and touchdowns in a career with 30.
In his final season in a Husky uniform, Bailey caught 62 passes for 1037 yards and 17 touchdowns. He averaged 94.3 yards per game.
Bailey was drafted in the 6th round by the Houston Oilers but bounced around from NFL to NFL Europe to the XFL and Arena Football.
4. Steve Emtman
Steve Emtman was a monster on the gridiron
Emtman was a monster in general, but he epitomized the term monster while at Washington. His enormous size and ferocity showed on every play as he imposed his will on opponents.
He took a redshirt in 1988 but in 1990 he merged as the force to be reckoned with. That season, the Huskies went 10-2 and went to the Rose Bowl.
The next season, in 1991, Emtman was named Consensus All-American and best player on that 1991 National Championship winning team as well as winning the Outland Trophy, the Lombardi Award, the Bill Willis award and the UPI Lineman of the Year award.
He was chosen first overall in the 1992 NFL Draft by the Colts and was entered into the college football hall of fame in 2006.
3. Lawyer Milloy
Milloy was a multi-sport star throughout high school and college. Not only was he stellar on the football field, but he was also drafted by MLB teams twice in his tenure at Washington.
On the football field, though, is where he was most dominant. After a stellar sophomore year at Washington, (106 tackles, first on team, 3rd in Pac-10) Milloy became the only sophomore to be named to the All-Conference team.
His junior season, he led the team in tackles again (115) as well as picking off a pass, causing 2 fumbles and recovering one.
In 1995, Milloy earned many honors: Parade All-American, first team All-American by the AP, Walter Camp, UPI, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association and Football News. He was First-Team All Pac-10 and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.
Milloy was drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft the next year by the New England Patriots.
2. Corey Dillon
Dillon was an enigmatic running back for the Huskies. Plagued with a troubled past, the Huskies took a chance on him and he had one of the greatest seasons in school history. He only played 8 games while in a Husky uniform but smashed every record along the way.
Had he stayed at school, he probably would own every major offensive rushing record that Washington has. He was that damn good.
Corey Dillon did in 8 games what some players don't do in 2 seasons
Dillon had 7 straight 100-yard performances including a record-setting quarter against San Jose State. In that game, Dillon gained 222 yards total and was pulled after the first quarter with the Huskies up 25-0.
His lone season, he put up 1,555 rushing yards, 271 attempts, 23 total touchdowns, 22 rushing touchdowns, 2,185 all-purpose yards and 138 points score in the season.
Dillon was drafted in the second round by the Bengals after leaving Washington prematurely. He went on to break several rushing records for the Bengals and the NFL record books.
1. Reggie Williams
Williams put up one of the greatest careers by a receiver while at Washington. In his freshman year of 2001, Williams caught 55 passes for 973 yards and 3 touchdowns. In 2002, he had 94 catches for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 2003, he had 89 catches for 1,189 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Williams earned first team Pac-10 in 2001 and 2002 and was a First Team All-American in 2002 as well.
He was a problematic receiver for opposing defenses as he was really hard to catch. He frequently made circus catches and just outplayed everyone around him. He is quietly one of the best Huskies to ever take the field.
My Bonus Selection – One UW Husky former player I don’t want back…
Quinton Richardson
I know he just completed his senior season at Washington, but he was a big part of the worst defense I have ever witnessed from the University of Washington football program.
If you followed my Huskies coverage this season, I ranted and raved about how terrible this guy was all season long.
He frequently blew his coverages, leaving the middle of the field completely wide open for opponents to march down field like it was a cake walk.
He covered like Aaron Curry and tackled like Tracy Porter…garbage.
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