HOUSTON – On December 3, 2005, Karen DeBoer faced a painful turning point.
This probably won’t be the last time.
After posting an 11-1 record in his first season as a college head coach, DeBoer led his alma mater, the University of Sioux Falls, to a game against three-time national champion Carroll University in the NAIA semifinals. In the aftermath of the ice storm in Helena, the 31-year-old former receiver was given a chance to see where the Cougars really stand…
and unflinchingly identifies their flaws.
After 2 hours and 54 minutes, the team’s weaknesses were exposed.
“We lost 55-0,” former Sioux Falls radio play-by-play man Tom Frederick told the Times in 2022. -I know. He always did the postgame live with us, so when the game was over, he had to climb up the ladder to join us. There’s a commercial break in progress. We were having snacks for our halftime meal. Some chips were sitting there. He starts munching on them.
“The 55-0 (score) didn’t affect him the way it affects some coaches. They’d be more furious and not want to talk to you. Cullen wasn’t like that. He knew exactly what we had to do. We had to get big up front. We had to be able to establish the run game and dominate the line of scrimmage and That was their focus after that loss. That was the turning point as far as I was concerned.”
DeBoer went 56-1 and won three national championships over the next four seasons.
Sometimes there comes a tipping point.
The upcoming season will tell whether Monday’s 15-0 national championship game, a 34-13 loss to No. 1 Michigan, qualifies. The Wolverines rushed for 303 yards on 8 yards per carry and 4 touchdowns while generating 20 pressures and 15 rushes against uncomfortable Husky quarterback Michael Penix Jr., both They won by dominating the line of scrimmage.
Suddenly, Seigaku has to replace some of Montlake’s most impressive key players – Penix, wide receivers Roman Odunze and Jalin Polk, left tackle Troy Fautanu, tight end Jack Westover and others. Devin Culp, edges Bralen Trice and Zion Tupuola-Fetui, defensive linemen Tuli Letuligasenoa and Urumu Ale, linebackers Edejuan Ulofosio and Lahren Goforth…and possibly Jalen McMillan and Dillon Johnson, Jabar. Also Muhammad and Roger Rosengarten.
Despite his departure, DeBoer’s challenge is not to maintain, but to improve.
“I always look at the players (after the season),” he said Monday. “We’re losing this guy. We’re losing that guy.” And some of these guys are just super special players. But they raised the bar again and put our program back where it should be and a lot of people got a chance to see what it should be like. Watching guys like Eddie (Ulofosio) and Michael (Penix Jr.) do what they have to do and lead, and how much effort you have to put in and win football games every week. find out how difficult it is and how difficult it is. It’s obviously about winning championships…a lot of people have seen what it takes.
“And because of what we’ve done this year, we’re going to be very attractive to the players that come in. The players that want to win championships are going to come into this program and next year. I believe we can achieve that.”
It might happen again next year. If they can get the right people.
So far, UW’s roster rebuild includes 15 freshman signees and seven transfer portal additions in the last month – Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers, Vanderbilt University lineback Bucker Ethan Barr, San Diego State offensive tackle Drew Azzopardi, Montana State defensive lineman Sebastian Valdez, Fresno State tight end Tre Watson, California wide receiver Jeremiah Hunter, Arizona State’s BJ Green is the edge. This transfer class ranks him No. 22 in the country by 247Sports.
With this system and this staff, the Huskies will always attract the best skilled talent. They don’t have to abandon their style of play or the explosive offense that got them there. There is no need to overreact or reconsider.
They need to extend DeBoer and provide resources to enhance recruitment and staff retention.
But the problem is still in the trenches.
As the University of Washington moves into a Big Ten Conference based on a relentless running game, it may not be aesthetically interesting, but can Washington consistently beat the best teams?
“There is no question in my mind that we have a good enough football team to win a national championship,” a resolute DeBoer said Monday.
Perhaps that will be the case for the next few years.
But Frederick’s assessment of Sioux Falls still rings true.
“[DeBoer] I knew exactly what I needed to do. We needed to be big up front. We have to be able to establish the run game and dominate the line of scrimmage, and that was their focus after that loss. That was the turning point as far as I was concerned. ”
Monday could be the tipping point or peak.
We’ll find out which one it is in the next few years.
