Washington Huskies College Football Pregame Quote, 12/28/2023

RYAN GRUBB: Yeah, great to be here representing the University of Washington. And just excited to be part of the Sugar Bowl and get our guys out on the field and enjoy this process. So appreciate y’all.

Q. Wondering if you can tell me the worst road trip in the Great Plains Athletic Conference? And why you guys’ coaching has been able to translate up levels from there?

RYAN GRUBB: Well, the worst one was probably my first one. I just didn’t know the mode of operations. So we were going to Nebraska Wesleyan, and we stopped for the pregame meal, which was at a park, and we pulled the coolers out of the bus and had sandwiches before the game. So I was like, wow, this is intense. No, they were all great. I enjoyed all of them.

I think as far as your question, the translation piece is, you know, we’re mentors and teachers first. And I think that the better you can be at filling in gaps and doing the best with the resources that you have, regardless of where you’re at ‚Äì if you’re at the New York Jets or Washington or University of Sioux Falls, it doesn’t matter.

I think you always want to make the most of what you have and try to do a great job with the resources that are available. And make everything about the players and the people. And I think that that translates, no matter where you’re at.

Q. What’s the dynamic of being the play caller for a guy who has made his reputation as a play caller? Obviously, you and Kalen [DeBoer] have worked together for a long time. But what’s it like calling plays for somebody who has called plays?

RYAN GRUBB: Well, I think it depends on the relationship. It can be a little bit brutal or it can be awesome. And mine definitely would be the latter. I think that part of that is the relationship that you have with the person you’re working with can be either that of a sounding board or a critic.

I think Kalen’s always been good at that. And obviously, long before I was calling plays, I was sitting in that room with him as his sounding board. So prior to being the coordinator, Kalen and I working together, coming up with solutions and thinking of ideas and ways to be creative offensively. And I think that relationship has just stayed status quo.

So I’ve always felt the ability to stay creative and things like that. Not worry about the critical part. Only that there would be just a constant flow of information of: Hey, I see this, I see that. And then just knowing that he doesn’t have to have the pressure of doing that; that there can be trust both ways as far as letting me take care of the offense. There’s a lot, obviously, that Kalen has to tend to. So I think there’s a lot of freedom in it.

Q. Your offensive line won the Joe Moore Award. What’s the significance of that, really? And tell me how good your offensive line is.

RYAN GRUBB: Yeah, I think the significance part is it’s one of the most unique awards. I don’t think our guys get too high or low based on certain awards. But that being a group award, especially that’s kind of the team within the team, the dynamics you have to have within the offensive line unit make it very special.

And that group or that unit has had to overcome a lot of injuries throughout the season. So to stay together and turn into a really good unit, I think, says a lot for the room and Coach [Scott] Huff and what they have been able to accomplish.

I think they’re very athletic. I think they’re smart. I think they’ve learned to be resourceful with some of the situations they’ve been put in. And I think they’re still hungry. I think they still think they can play their best game yet.

Q. So many playmakers in this offense, but I wanted to ask about Jack Westover, guy who has been there for a long time, former walk-on. What makes him a different dude from a personality standpoint? But also, what he brings. And I’m curious, when you came in two years ago, did you have a sense of who this guy was and what he could do? Or was there a point where he showed you what he was capable of?

RYAN GRUBB: That’s a great question. I think Jack’s been showing us the breadth of his playing style. He just is so versatile. And that was one of the things that stood out right away with Jack, his athleticism and all the different things that he could do on our offense.

That was something that, in our system, we always feel like guys like that can have a role and find ways to be productive within our system. And Jack, you know, to his credit, because of how bright he is and just a really astute football player, has been able to maximize that role, and just show his ability to continue to find different ways to utilize him. I think that says a lot to both his intelligence and just his savvy as a football player.

Q. What makes Rome [Odunze] such a good receiver? And how vital is he to the Washington offense?

RYAN GRUBB: Rome is obviously very vital. And I think that one of the things that always shows up on any good team is in critical and big moments, your best guys have to step up and make big plays. You could go down throughout the season, and Rome has made those plays on almost every single week.

So as far as what makes him special, I think Rome is never satisfied. I think he’s a guy that truly feels like his technique can be better. How he runs the route can be better. The separation can be better. He can understand the concept more.

Again, another guy, extremely blessed to have within our system. He’s incredibly bright. One of the smartest receivers I’ve ever been around. And he’s physical, tough, wants to be out there every day, grinding, trying to get better. He’s a phenomenal kid and I think he’s going to be really, really special on Sundays.

Q. One of the things that’s changed college football a lot, in a way that fans may not see, is the rise of, NIL collectives. Can you explain how much those have changed the way the game works and the way recruiting and retaining works? And how are you trying to take advantage of that to make this team better; make this team what it is?

RYAN GRUBB: You said 15 minutes, right? Okay. There’s a lot to that. One of the things I would say that I think from a positive side, I’ve seen definitely more good than bad. I’ve seen kids in families that have had resources to be able to have families travel to games that would not have been able to send money back home. Things like that.

We’ve been really fortunate with some of our guys that make more money that have done it very responsibly and not been any different. When you look at Troy Fautanu, Mike Penix, Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, those guys have been the same guys. It has not changed them one bit ‚Äì other than benefiting them to be able to think about: Do I want to be a late-round draft pick or come back and try to improve my stock and be a higher draft pick and utilize NIL to make the most of my talent?

So I think there’s a piece there that can be really valuable. But honestly, the changing landscape is literally monthly, almost. And I think about when Michael [Penix Jr] came to Seattle. You know, there was talk of what University of Washington would do, A collective and all these things. And now just to see how much it’s changed and grown and, obviously, Michael has reaped the benefits of that for sure. And he’s earned it. But it is so much different now.

So I think when people talk about money as the first thing that they want to know about with your program and things like that, I think that attendance can go up a little bit. But I don’t think you can back away from the conversation and just try to be part of it. Evening the playing field and trying to figure out ways to understand what the maximum amount would be, and making that level for all the teams would be the logical thing. But obviously, free enterprise is free enterprise. And you certainly want these kids to be able to get everything that is possible.

Q. Coach, I was wondering, why are so many coaches loyal to Coach [Kalen] DeBoer over the years? Yourself, Chuck [Morrell]. I know you’ve had opportunities to go elsewhere, at quote ‚Äì unquote, bigger schools, but what makes Kalen special to work for him?

RYAN GRUBB: Yeah, everybody probably has a different answer for those things. But I think when you’re looking at wherever you’re working, you want to be somewhere where, number one, you feel like you can make an impact. Where you can be yourself. And those were things that were important to me.

My style of offense and the things I wanted to accomplish, that I didn’t want a bunch of restrictions on that. And I wanted to be able to be more collaborative with the people I was going to be with and have more control of the situation. I feel like I do have a lot of input with what happens with the program.

So at that point, especially last season, I just really felt like, you know, everything that we had invested with the players and the kids that we had coming back, the talks I had with those kids, like Troy [Fautanu] and Rome [Odunze] and Michael [Penix Jr] just trying to get those guys to stay and be part of it for another year was important.

And then as far as Kalen, I think you just always want to work with people that you know you’re growing. And I felt like I was still in a position of growth. And that was going to continue to happen if I stayed put.

Q. I had a chance to stand next to (Texas player) T’Vondre Sweat this morning, and he’s the largest human being I’ve ever seen. I stood next to your center, Parker Brailsford, there’s about 100 pounds difference there. What do you do with a guy like that?

RYAN GRUBB: You got to block him. You got to keep bodies on him all the time. And you have to try to wear him out. He’s a talented, athletic player. I’ve said this before. I think they’ve got great front players, but I’m always amazed with how well the front is coached. I think Texas does a phenomenal job with the technique, and how hard those guys play, but they don’t play the whole game.

So I think trying to wear them down a little bit and get our guys to have the right mindset and physical mentality to just keep them moving and try to wear them out.

Q. You had the opportunity to take the job at Alabama, but chose not to. How satisfying is it for you to not only reach the College Football Playoff with Washington, but doing it alongside Coach [Kalen] DeBoer?

RYAN GRUBB: Yeah, very satisfying. I think regardless of other opportunities, I think this was the reason I came to Washington. And I know when Kalen [DeBoer] and I first started talking about him taking that job, and if I would go with or not, my response was pretty quick to accept the position, just because it wasn’t necessarily the onset of my career, like, hey, this is exactly what I’m going to do, I’m going to be a Power 5 coordinator, that wasn’t the trajectory at the beginning.

But as the career wears on and you start to see exposure to different levels, specifically Division I, and you start seeing why your system and your culture can be really special, I was excited to be able to put it on the biggest stage. And I felt like our system would work almost anywhere – just how we relate to people and get the culture right within the locker room, that big things were possible.

Q. When you guys got to Washington, what was your philosophy on recruiting your current roster? Mining the portal? And sort of shopping for a quarterback? And what did that process look like landing on Mike [Penix Jr]?

RYAN GRUBB: Well, the recruiting right away was very busy. I spent the better part of the first ten days recruiting Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk. And they were all going in the portal. And not in a bad way. I mean this, because they were confused. They were going on their third head coach. And they just wanted to get it right.

So sitting down with those guys and a multitude of other players when it was really just Kalen and I in Seattle – right away, the first part of December was really just Kalen and I in Seattle, talking to guys, meeting them, spending time. And then really, just like you were saying, recruiting them. Sitting down, showing them how the offense has worked over the last 15 years. How we utilized different receivers. Backed by stats. And just watching film with them and then just getting to know them.

And I think that part allowed us a door to be open to begin the relationship. My only request to the guys was let’s just go through this and work at building this relationship. Because you can’t walk into a room and instantly have a relationship. We have to work on it. As long as we can have a little bit of trust and see if we can get this thing rolling a little bit, we’ll be great. So those guys were very open to that process and did a great job of buying in right away once we got rolling.

And as far as the quarterback, when I got there, there were two scholarship quarterbacks there, Sam Huard and Dylan Morris. I met with those guys right away. I told them that we can’t be the championship program with two scholarship quarterbacks, and I would be bringing at least one quarterback in to compete with them. And at that point, Michael [Penix Jr] was not in the portal yet. Once he got in, felt pretty strongly that he was going to be a guy that would not only fit in our system, but excel. And really, we just had to find a way to keep Mike healthy.

So his first winter with us was his first year that he had had an offseason since he was at Tampa Tech. So I think that first winter was really the platform and the catalyst for Mike starting to have the success that’s he’s had the last two years.

Q. I know you’re caught up in the moment right now, but how much thought, discussion, have you and the staff, maybe the players, given toward next year when you make the move to the Big Ten? And what’s it going to take to keep Washington on top like you are right now?

RYAN GRUBB: That’s a great question, and it is hard to balance that out. Right now, it’s tough to see the forest through the trees. But obviously, recruiting and roster management and future thought play into every week. So we certainly have those discussions. I think our footprint will still be on the West Coast recruiting and getting the best players out there. We’ll dip in where we need to and get the Dylan Johnsons out of Mississippi when necessary.

But as far as us, you know, how it plays out, we’re just excited to be playing some of the best teams in the country on a weekly basis. For us, I don’t think it changes who we are or what we do. But continuing to be relevant in the top five, top ten discussion is something that everything we do ‚Äì from how we operate in the offseason to the type of people we bring in the program ‚Äì will be, obviously, super important.

QUESTIONS FOR MICHAEL PENIX JR.

Q. Michael, can you talk about your experience in the portal when you left Indiana, and why reuniting with Coach [Kalen] DeBoer was so attractive for you?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: I just feel like, for me, I was trying to find a new home. I wanted to just get a fresh start. That was my biggest reason, just trying to find myself and myself as a person and a player. When I was in the portal, Coach DeBoer, he was always somebody that as soon as I hit the portal, I’m like, where is he going? Where is he at at that time?

Because our relationship that we built in 2019 at Indiana, and how comfortable he allowed me to feel when I’m back there taking the snaps, I knew I wanted to be part of something like that again. He was definitely something I was looking out for. So when I heard about him getting a job at University of Washington, it was definitely something I was staying on the lookout for. Once I got that call from him, it was really almost a wrap, really.

Q. How much of it was you pitching yourself to him versus him pitching himself and Washington to you?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: I wouldn’t say we were pitching ourselves to each other. I just feel that we’ve always had that trust and that belief in one another since our time at Indiana. Even though it was short, I feel like we built a great relationship through that time. So I feel like I knew what I was getting. And he had a feeling what he was getting with me as well.

The biggest thing was just making sure it was a good fit for myself. And it definitely was, obviously, as you can see. I’m blessed to be where I’m at today. So I’m excited I chose the University of Washington.

Q. Why did you guys have that bond after just one year?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: I feel like when you got a quarterback and offensive coordinator ‚Äì he was offensive coordinator at that time ‚Äì just clicking, on the same page with the reads, concepts, and schemes and stuff like that, I feel like that’s something that’s very special. It’s something that you can always build off of. It just started there, just trusting in the play calls that he brought in to us.

I just fell in love with the play calling. Every time I got the ball in my hands, I always felt like I had the opportunity to do something great with it. I feel like there was a lot of trust that I had in him built up through that. And then just the way that I was handling the offense and stuff like that, I feel like that built trust into me that he had for me.

Q. How much were you asked to sell or teach his offense to the new team when you came in?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: I was just doing my part. Obviously, we have a great coaching staff. They do a remarkable job making sure that everybody is ready for the whole scheme throughout the weeks. But any way that I could, whenever we’re doing individual stuff with the receivers and stuff like that, I’m always giving them points on how we ran the routes in the past, how it’s supposed to look, different things like that.

Other than just having those guys just look at lines drawed up on the board, it’s like, okay, I’ve been through it, so I know what it’s supposed to look and feel like. So just helping them understand the windows and the areas that we’re trying to attack on the field.

Q. Those last five games that you had, the gauntlet that you ran in November plus the Oregon game, what’s it like to get a little bit of rest, just to heal back up and get your body back to where you want it to be?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: It felt great. I’m super excited for this game. But yeah, man, we had a very long season. It was a good season as well. Coming out 13-0, definitely something big for us. But the work never stopped for me, to be honest. We had a break, but I really didn’t go on break. I was still training, doing things, trying to find ways to get better each and every day.

But it’s been good for everybody to get away and be able to see their families. Because some people didn’t really see their families much throughout the year, maybe every once in a while at a game. But it was good, I feel like, for the team.

Q. I know you said you took a break ‚Äì didn’t get much of a break, but you did go to the Heisman. Where did the idea for the coat come from? And how long did it take you to get it made? I saw you’re putting it in your closet and leaving it there, right?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: Yeah, it took a couple of weeks for it to get made. It didn’t take too long. Those guys did a heck of a job, Unique Threads, helping me look the best I can out there in New York. But the idea, it was just something I knew I wanted to be able to find a way to highlight the ones that helped me get to that point, get to New York, because obviously I couldn’t do it myself.

I had to make sure ‚Äì I was like, what’s one way I can show my appreciation to the ones that helped me get here? And the idea was brought up, and I was like, Oh, that’s perfect. It’s something that I collab ed with my family and friends to make sure it was something that was special.

Q. You said a couple weeks, but you hadn’t been named a finalist yet. So you must have had a lot of confidence there would be a time to use that?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: I didn’t know, like I said, I didn’t know. It happened so fast, you can’t wait too late. I would imagine the other guys, they probably had their fitting and stuff like that dealt with in the beginning. But for me, the fitting, it was like the fitting and stuff, that’s what I was doing ahead of time before I really heard the announcement.

But I knew the color scheme that I wanted and stuff like that. But the names and stuff like that, that came the same day it was announced. I was like, that was something we thought about it was going to be special and still trying to figure out shoes and stuff like that. But it all came together.

Q. You talk about appreciating your teammates. What does a quarterback who has only been sacked 10 times do for his offensive line? What ways do you show appreciation to your offensive line? Take them out to dinner?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: Give them boys big hugs and tell them I love them (laughter). I’ve been able to do quite a few things. I’ve been to dinner out with those guys. Been able to get those guys flight vouchers, get them a free flight, a round-trip flight anywhere they want to go during the offseason.

There’s been a lot. Our connection, it extends way outside of the field. My relationship with the whole team, just trying to find ways to be involved and be around those guys has definitely been something I’ve been pushing myself to do, to be the best player and best teammate that I can be.

So it’s been smaller stuff too that I’ve done behind the scenes. Those guys know that I appreciate them a lot.

Q. During those earlier conversations with Coach [Kalen] DeBoer when you were thinking about coming to Washington, did you envision being able to get the program to this point even back then?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: Yeah, for sure. I was talking to Devin Culp yesterday. He came up to me, he’s like: Brah,I remember our first conversation we had when you first came in the spring. So I was probably like two, three months in. I kind of remember the conversation. He remembered it more than me. He was like: Man, I remember you told me ‚Äì he said this is what I said.

I said that I watched the film and I told him that we can beat anybody, anybody out there. When I say watched the film, I’m saying watched the film on the University of Washington, the guys. I seen all the guys I had around me. I knew it was going to be something special, because I knew the offense that Coach DeBoer was going to bring in was going to be special. And with the guys we had, I knew we would be able to make something special out of it. He just reminded me about that yesterday, and I was like: Oh, yeah, I remember that conversation.

Q. I asked T’Vondre Sweat this morning about your offensive line. He said: They’re just another O-line. You agree with that? Or was he giving you a little bulletin board material there?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: Yeah. Um… Joe Moore (Award).

Q. I said: I watched them win the Joe Moore Award. And he said: They’re just another O-line.

MICHAEL PENIX JR: Yeah, man, I guess so. We’re going to see (laughter).

Q. You spent spring and preseason camp working with Mattteo [Mele] as starting center, and he goes down in week two. What it’s been like playing behind Parker Brailsford moving over from guard? He was second team All-Conference. How is that transition going from the guy you’ve been working with all camp to a redshirt freshman?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: It’s been great. Parker, he was always the second string center at that time. So we knew if ‚Äì obviously, we didn’t want Matteo to go down, but we have full confidence in Parker as well. He’s done a lot of great things. Obviously, getting the postseason recognition and stuff like that.

He’s been putting in the work. Somebody that since day one I’ve seen work extremely hard at everything he does. Man, he leads with pride and confidence and that’s what it’s all about. He’s been doing an amazing job. I feel very comfortable with him. We’re definitely always on the same page, so it’s been great.

Q. When the call came in the Apple Cup against Washington State fourth and 1, what was your reaction to going forward? And B, that being the call?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: I wanted to go for it. I would have been upset if we had punted it. The play call, that was something we had dialed up. We took that play call. But that’s what happens in football.

We were like, oh, man, this is something that was going to hit big for us in a big-time moment, and it did. Something that we rep throughout the week. Always have it in our back pocket being ready for ‚Äì I wouldn’t say ready for that situation, but just ready for any situation it needed to be brought up. It was just perfect timing.

Q. You had so many playmakers in this offense. I wanted to ask about Jack Westover, the guy people don’t talk about as much. What makes him different in terms of the kind of guy he is, his personality, and what he brings to you guys?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: Yeah, man, he’s an extremely hard worker. Somebody that prides himself into being the best person and best player that he can be. And he shows it each and every day. He’s always going to give max effort. And he’s going to be the same guy each and every day. And he does a lot of things to help our team win football games.

Like you said, people may not really notice him and stuff like that, but we notice him. We know the things that he does for us, blocking, in the pass game. He can do it all. So he’s definitely been great to have him a part of the team and seeing him do well.

Q. When you watch the Texas defense on film, what stands out?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: I’m not going to lie, their D-line is good. But at the same time, they haven’t played our O-line. So they showed a lot of great things throughout the year. Their whole defense, they do a great job. I feel like their coach (Steve Sarkisian) does a great job with their system.

And they definitely play ‚Äì what’s the word? They play good ball, man. But I wouldn’t say ‚Äì we’re not playing, like, the 49er’s D-line or the Eagle’s D-line. So we’ll be good.

Q. Do they look much different from bowl game you guys played against them last year?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: They had some good D-linemen last year. One or two might have left. They were good last year too. They usually have big boys over there on that side that can make plays. But I don’t know, but it’s different seeing them on film and being in the game. You see it on film, but at the same time, you’re watching a game against Texas Tech, K-State, all the teams they play, and I don’t feel like those teams have the offensive line that we have. So it’s like, we’ll have to see when it comes game day. I’m not going to discredit their talent. They’ve got talent. But it will be different when we play them. It’s always going to be different depending on the team.

Q. So in every season, there’s something that might come up that could potentially derail the season, whether it’s a distraction, injury, whatever, game result ‚Äì I mean, you guys are undefeated. Was there something like that this season that you felt like you had to overcome anything in particular? That you felt like you had to overcome in order to get where you are?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: Me personally or the team?

Q. The team, yeah?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: I don’t know. There’s been a lot of internal stuff. But I wouldn’t say it’s things that other teams don’t face or other teams don’t go through.

So I wouldn’t say it’s something specific that was just for our team. But, obviously, I guess COVID is still out there. Sickness, flu season, all that. I know it was a point in time a lot of guys were feeling under the wealth. Trying to overcome that. But another than that, I know that’s across every school probably had the same situation. So it’s like not really.

Q. Any particular games stand out, maybe, where it wasn’t looking good and you guys figured out a way? Whether it’s the Oregon game or the first one?

MICHAEL PENIX JR: No, we always just did our best to find a way to win. That’s what it’s all about, winning football games. And we’ve been doing great at it. So, whatever we can to find a way to win, that’s what we’ve been doing.