Counting down “The 25 Days of Husky Christmas”…..

“DubLife” is doing its third consecutive season of the annual Holiday countdown to Christmas highlighting special moments in Husky Athletics history. Our segment is meant to bring positive thoughts of our favorite university during a time of the year where thanks and reflection are at the forefront of our minds. This year’s version will feature 25 random and exciting moments, in no particular order or ranking of importance.

19 DAYS ‘TIL CHRISTMAS

The 1984-85 Washington Huskies Football team earned a berth into the 1985 Orange Bowl as the first Pac-10 team to ever be invited to the event.

Washington was ranked #4 in the nation and they squared off against the #2 Oklahoma Sooners. The Huskies took an early 14-0 lead but the Sooners would battle back and lead 17-14, with under nine minutes remaining.

Junior Hugh Millen replaced starting quarterback Paul Sicuro in the fourth quarter. He guided the Huskies on a 74-yard drive in seven plays, capped by a twelve-yard pass to Mark Pattison in the end zone, for a four-point lead with less than six minutes to go.

The Husky defense would intercept a pass and the offense would capitalize. Washington scored again on a touchdown run by fullback Rick Fenney to make the final score 28–17.

The Huskies would finish #2 in both polls, forever sparking the debate about BYU finishing with the national title that season. Still to this day, this was the only Orange Bowl appearance in Washington’s history.