By Lauren Kirschman
The News Tribune
SEATTLE — The day after announcing he was stepping down as Washington’s head coach, Chris Petersen sat at a press conference and said informing his players — particularly those who recently joined the program — was one of the most difficult steps in the process.
The Huskies were just starting finals then, a week away from resuming a routine practice schedule. But Petersen was already looking forward to getting his players back on the field to start preparation for his final game. What would help everyone the most, he said, was a return to normalcy.
On Saturday, select players met with the media for the first time since Petersen announced his news and current defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake was tapped to succeed him after the Las Vegas Bowl. Asked if it’s been difficult to concentrate on football with all of the outside noise, junior defensive back Elijah Molden confirmed Petersen’s prediction.
“With all this news, I just want to practice a little more,” Molden said. “I’m weird like that. With a lot of the news and the news of the bowl game and Coach Pete and whatnot, we all need to get together and be together in that situation.”
Said senior center Nick Harris: “We’re just rolling. Nothing has really changed. He’s still coaching. It’s not like he’s just not here. He’s running practice. He’s in his office. He’s talking. Nothing changed. He just told us what the situation is going to be, but nothing’s changed and it’s not going to change, I really don’t think so.”
Junior defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike said he was surprised. but not sad when Petersen told them the news.
“This is what’s best for him,” he said. “Can’t be sad about that.
“It’s his choice. I think there’s a feeling everybody has when they’re ready to be done, ready to move on. I think people should follow those. We all support him. Coach Lake coming in, he already knows the system, so it’s not going to be a big transition for the team. It’s great for Coach Pete, great for Coach Lake.”
As the Huskies prepare to face Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl, Petersen has been the center of attention. It’s not a role he relishes, and he said last week he’d rather not coach his final game against his former team. UW’s coaching staff features nine former Boise State players or coaches, including Petersen and Lake.
Onwuzurike admitted there is extra motivation to send Petersen out with a win, particularly against the Broncos. Still, Harris said UW is trying to look at the season finale as just another game to win.
“It’s just another game we got to put on tape, and we got to get a good plan,” Harris said. “We got to get good practices and go out and execute. Obviously, with the circumstances that we’re in, it would be nice to send him out like that. But we’re just approaching it like any other game.”
Extra points
Two UW players — junior tight end Hunter Bryant and senior left tackle Trey Adams — decided not to be play in the bowl game. Bryant recently announced he will be foregoing his final season of eligibility to enter the 2020 NFL Draft.
Both players have battled injuries throughout their college careers. This season was the first in Bryant’s time at UW that wasn’t cut short by injuries. Adams has missed 16 games due to injuries, most recently undergoing surgery before last season for a bulging disk in his back. He missed the first 10 games of the season.
“It did not cross my mind at all,” Harris said of also potentially sitting out the bowl game. “I want to finish this thing right and go out with a bang. Obviously, it would be nice to go out with Trey. But he has to make the best decision for himself, and he made the best decision he thought he should make. I 100 percent support that. That’s my guy, as everyone knows. Whatever he wants to do, I have his back and I support him. Next man up.”
