1990 Washington Huskies football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1990 Washington Huskies football Pacific-10 Conference Pac-10 5 5 10–2 7–1 Don James 16th Gary Pinkel 7th Jim Lambright 13th Greg Lewis Eric Briscoe Dean Kirkland Greg Lewis Travis Richardson Husky Stadium National co-champion (Rothman)Pac-10 championRose Bowl champion Rose Bowl W 46–34 vs. Iowa The 1990 Washington Huskies football team represented the University of Washington in the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Huskies won their first conference championship since 1981 and defeated No. 17 Iowa in the Rose Bowl by twelve points, 46–34. It was the first victory in that game in nine years as well, when Washington crushed Iowa 28–0 in the 1982 game. The Huskies were led by head coach Don James, offensive coordinator Gary Pinkel, and defensive coordinator Jim Lambright. Pinkel left Washington after the season to become head coach at Toledo, where he stayed for a decade and then moved to Missouri. Lambright succeeded James as head coach of the Huskies in August 1993. Five Huskies were selected in the 1991 NFL draft, led by running back Greg Lewis and defensive back Charles Mincy. Sophomore defensive lineman Steve Emtman was the first overall pick in 1992. Schedule 1990 AP Pacific September 8 12:30 p.m. w y 20 San Jose State Husky Stadium Seattle, WA 20–17 66,337 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bellingham-herald-huskies-survive-cl/190145333/ The Bellingham Herald Huskies survive close one September 9, 1990 January 29, 2026 Newspapers.com September 15 11:00 a.m. w y y 22 Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 20–14 33,113 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-republic-boilers-hunted-down/190145462/ The Republic Boilers hunted down September 16, 1990 January 29, 2026 Newspapers.com September 22 3:30 p.m. w 21 USC 5 Husky Stadium Seattle, WA Prime 31–0 72,617 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-sun-shines-on-huski/190145635/ The Orlando Sentinel Sun shines on Huskies, fries Trojans September 23, 1990 January 29, 2026 Newspapers.com September 29 12:30 p.m. l y y 12 Colorado 20 Folsom Field Boulder, CO Prime 14–20 52,868 https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-maria-times-colorado-edges-huskies/190145761/ Santa Maria Times Colorado edges Huskies, 20–14 September 30, 1990 January 29, 2026 Newspapers.com October 6 4:00 p.m. w y 17 Arizona State Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ Prime 42–14 62,738 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-sun-devils-no-matc/190145905/ The Los Angeles Times Sun Devils no match for Huskies October 7, 1990 January 29, 2026 Newspapers.com October 13 12:30 p.m. w 17 Oregon 19 Husky Stadium Seattle, WA rivalry ABC 38–17 73,498 https://www.newspapers.com/article/anchorage-daily-news-turnovers-doom-duck/190146128/ Anchorage Daily News Turnovers doom Ducks, 38–17 October 14, 1990 January 29, 2026 Newspapers.com October 20 12:30 p.m. w y 13 Stanford Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA ABC 52–16 36,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-register-guard-its-another-big-blow/190146236/ The Register-Guard It's another big blowout for Huskies October 21, 1990 January 29, 2026 Newspapers.com October 27 12:30 p.m. w 7 California Husky Stadium Seattle, WA 46–7 71,427 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-the-beat-goes-on-f/190146329/ The Los Angeles Times The beat goes on for the Huskies, 46–7 October 28, 1990 January 29, 2026 Newspapers.com November 3 12:30 p.m. w 7 Arizona 23 Husky Stadium Seattle, WA ABC 54–10 70,111 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-huskies-clinch-rose-bo/190146411/ The Roanoke Times & World News Huskies clinch Rose Bowl trip November 4, 1990 January 29, 2026 Newspapers.com November 10 12:30 p.m. l 2 UCLA Husky Stadium Seattle, WA ABC 22–25 71,925 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tri-city-herald-bruins-drown-husky-hopes/190146552/ Tri-City Herald Bruins drown Husky hopes November 11, 1990 January 29, 2026 Newspapers.com November 17 3:00 p.m. w y 10 Washington State Martin Stadium Pullman, WA Apple Cup Prime 55–10 37,600 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-dawgs-are-snarling-again/190146695/ The Olympian Dawgs are snarling again November 18, 1990 January 29, 2026 Newspapers.com January 1, 1991, 1991 2:00 p.m. w y y 8 Iowa 17 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl ABC 46–34 101,273 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-huskies-win-but-c/190146841/ The Los Angeles Times Huskies win, but can't go the rout January 2, 1991 January 29, 2026 Newspapers.com 2003 UW Huskies football media guide, p. 2901990 Washington Huskies Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football January 29, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/washington/1990-schedule.html Season summary The Huskies were ranked #20 in the 1990 pre-season,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JDExAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jAgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5920%2C5223056 Spokane, Washington Associated Press Preseason AP Top 25 August 27, 1990 C4 and started slowly with close wins over San José State at home and at Purdue. In the third game, #5 USC, in pursuit of a fourth straight Rose Bowl, entered Husky Stadium as a five-point favorite with a four-game winning streak over UW,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ImJWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TvEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1915%2C821075 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Huskies, USC face off in key Pac-10 game September 22, 1990 B1 but was shut out 31–0 on a hot afternoon on the Seattle AstroTurf.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Yp5fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zDEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4430%2C2169280 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press UW enjoys California Dreamin' by blanking USC September 23, 1990 5C The game started at 3:30 p.m. in the 92 F heat and the opportunistic Huskies led 24–0 at the half. Sacked three times and under pressure all day, Trojan QB Todd Marinovich stated, "I just saw purple. That's all I saw. No numbers, no faces, just purple."https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0SEuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B_oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6801%2C3428608 Spokane Chronicle Washington Bergum Steve Blanchette John Husky fans stop barking at QB September 25, 1990 C3 The Huskies suffered a letdown the following week, losing to #20 Colorado in Boulder by six.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KmJWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TvEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2647%2C6642909 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Colorado cuts 12th-ranked Huskies off at pass, 20-14 September 30, 1990 C1 (Colorado would claim half of the 1990 national championship, tainted by the "fifth down" touchdown at Missouri the following week.) The UW Dawgs regrouped and rolled through the next five games, all in conference and by large margins, and climbed to 8–1 record;https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=olNWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kusDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2478%2C1182598 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Pac-10 standings November 4, 1990 1F they clinched the league title and Rose Bowl berth on November 3 after a 54–10 drubbing of #23 Arizona.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SedPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dAgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6520%2C2550035 Spokesman=Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Huskies earn roses, eye top rank November 4, 1990 C1 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=olNWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kusDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1463%2C1183753 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Now it's on to Pasadena for Huskies November 4, 1990 1Fhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S-dPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dAgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6831%2C4438149 Spokesman=Review Spokane, Washington Boling Dave Huskies once had thorns, not roses November 6, 1990 C2 The Huskies moved up five places to a #2 national ranking, behind Notre Dame, when UCLA visited the following week.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S-dPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dAgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5337%2C4445974 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press College polls: AP Top 25 November 6, 1990 C4 In the wind and under dark but rainless skies on November 10, the 21-point underdog Bruins jumped out to an early lead with an 89-yard run. The game went back and forth, and was tied at 22 until a late field goal by UCLA ended UW's national title hopes.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NIYkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VQgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6474%2C123284 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Burlison Frank UCLA puts bite on UW title dreams November 11, 1990 C1https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qVNWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kusDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3522%2C3033339 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon wire services Husky title hopes crushed by Bruins November 11, 1990 1E The Huskies took their frustration at the loss and their drop in ranking to #10 by crushing Washington State in Pullman to win the Apple Cup 55–10.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NoYkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VQgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3473%2C5764086 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Bergum Steve Huskies regain their bite November 18, 1990 C1https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Jp1fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wDEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4294%2C650229 Lewiston Morning Tribune Washington Huskies bomb Cougars out of their misery, 55-10 Grummert Dale November 18, 1990 1B The Cougars scored their touchdown on Husky reserves with less than three minutes remaining to close the margin to 45 points. The #8 ranked Pac-10 champs then took on the Big Ten champions, #17 Iowa Hawkeyes, in the Rose Bowl, winning 46–34. Entering the fourth quarter with a 39–14 lead,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2XMfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7_ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4146%2C597280 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Blanchette John UW, Brunell in full bloom January 2, 1991 D1 reserves were entered into the game for the Huskies and promptly gave up two touchdowns; UW then scored its own touchdown to push the lead back to 46–26, answered by an Iowa TD and conversion to close the final score to a 12-point gap. The Huskies, like all Pac-10 teams in 1990, played an eight-game conference schedule. They did not play Oregon State, who finished last in the Pac-10 at 1–10 overall (1–7 in conference) and fired sixth-year head coach Dave Kragthorpe.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tFNWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kusDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4015%2C5617096 Eugene Register-Guard Cawood Neil Kragthorpe era ends suddenly November 22, 1990 1C https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Kp1fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wDEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5874%2C1753209 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Kragthorpe out as Oregon State head coach November 22, 1990 1B San Jose State 1990 San Jose State Spartans football team At Purdue #22 Washington at Purdue Huskies 7 3 3 7 Boilermakers 14 0 0 0 September 15 Ross–Ade Stadium yes Q1 PUR Vinson 11 yard pass from Hunter (Sullivan kick) PUR 7–0 Q1 WASH Brunell 47 yard run (Dodd kick) Tie 7–7 Q1 PUR Dennis 54 yard pass from Hunter (Sullivan kick) PUR 14—7 Q2 WASH Dodd 28 yard field goal PUR 14–10 Q3 WASH Dodd 20 yard field goal PUR 14–13 Q4 WASH McKay 35 yard pass from Brunell (Dodd kick) WASH 20–14 yes 1990 Purdue Boilermakers football team Gainesville Sun. 1990 Sep 16. Retrieved 2018-Oct-06. USC 1990 USC Trojans football team "All I saw was purple," -Todd Marinovich on Washington's defense At Colorado #12 Washington at #20 Colorado Huskies 7 0 7 0 Buffaloes 0 3 14 3 September 29 Folsom Field, Boulder, CO 1:31 PM 2:46 52,868 55 F, cloudy, Wind E 3 mph on Dean Cramer Source: Box score yes Q1 1 6:25 WASH Mark Brunell 1-yard run (Dodd kick) WASH 7–0 Q2 1 0:00 COL Harper 47-yard field goal WASH 7–3 Q3 3 12:47 COL Darian Hagan 15-yard run (Harper kick) COL 10–7 7:22 WASH Pierce 3-yard pass from Brunell (Dodd kick) WASH 14–10 4:52 COL Darian Hagan 3-yard run (Harper kick) COL 17–14 Q4 1 13:05 COL Harper 32-yard field goal COL 20-14 yes 1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team At Arizona State 1990 Arizona State Sun Devils football team At Washington State 1990 Washington State Cougars football team Apple Cup Vs. Iowa (Rose Bowl) #17 Iowa vs. #8 Washington Hawkeyes 0 7 7 20 Huskies 10 23 6 7 January 1, 1991 Rose BowlPasadena, CA CDT 101,273 Pat Flood Keith Jackson, Bob Griese, and Jack Arute ABC yes 1 Wash Hanson 23-yard field goal Wash 3–0 1 Wash Hall 27-yard return of blocked punt (Hanson kick) Wash 10–0 2 Iowa Nick Bell 15-yard run (Skillett kick) Wash 10–7 2 Wash Hanson 34-yard field goal Wash 13–7 2 Wash Mincy 37-yard interception return (pass failed) Wash 19–7 2 Wash Mark Brunell 5-yard run (Hanson kick) Wash 26–7 2 Wash Mario Bailey 22-yard pass from Mark Brunell (Hanson kick) Wash 33–7 3 Iowa Matt Rodgers 7-yard run (Skillett kick) Wash 33–14 3 Wash Mark Brunell 20-yard run (run failed) Wash 39–14 4 Iowa Matt Rodgers 9-yard run (run failed) Wash 39–20 4 Iowa Nick Bell 20-yard run (pass failed) Wash 39–26 4 Wash Mario Bailey 31-yard pass from Mark Brunell (Hanson kick) Wash 46–26 4 Iowa Saunders 12-yard pass from Rodgers (Velicer pass from Rodgers) Wash 46–34 yes 1991 Rose Bowl 1990 Iowa Hawkeyes football team The New York Times Washington Outlasts Fast-Finishing Iowa https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/02/sports/washington-outlasts-fast-finishing-iowa.html January 2, 1991 August 12, 2019 Roster 1990 Washington Huskies f 5 So Mario Bailey SE y 42 So Jay Berry RB 11 So Mark Brunell QB y 29 So Beno Bryant RB y 79 Jr Ed Cunningham C y 12 So Billy Joe Hobert QB y 22 So Matt Jones FB 56 So Pete Kaligis G y 75 So Lincoln Kennedy T y 51 Sr Dean Kirkland G C 20 Sr Greg Lewis Greg Lewis (running back) TB y C 70 Jr Siupeli Malamala T y 4 Jr Orlando McKay FL y 58 Sr Jeff Pahukoa T 71 So Pete Pierson T y 84 Jr Aaron Pierce Aaron Pierce (American football) TE y 76 Sr Rick Schulberg G 31 So Darius Turner FB 28 Sr Eric Briscoe ROV C 46 Jr Brett Collins LB y 93 Sr John Cook MG 90 So Steve Emtman DE y 75 So D'Marco Farr DT y 26 So Jaime Fields CB y 39 Jr Chico Fraley ILB 5 Jr Dana Hall CB y Dana Hall (American football) 54 So Dave Hoffman ILB 48 Jr Donald Jones OLB 13 Fr Andy Mason DE 1 Sr Charles Mincy CB y 21 So Shane Pahukoa FS 58 Sr Travis Richardson DE C 4 Fr Travis Hanson PK 27 Sr Channing Wyles P *Don James (15th year) Gary Pinkel – OC Jim Lambright – DC Keith Gilbertson – OL https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NAIzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZusDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6559%2C2706597 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Today's game October 13, 1990 4Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Jp1fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wDEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2471%2C544850 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Starting lineups November 17, 1990 5D Awards Greg Lewis, running back: Doak Walker Award (inaugural) NFL draft Five Huskies were selected in the 1991 NFL draft, which lasted twelve rounds (334 selections). Player Position Round Overall Franchise Greg Lewis RB 5th 115 Denver Broncos Charles Mincy DB 5th 133 Kansas City Chiefs Dean Kirkland G 11th 305 Buffalo Bills Jeff Pahukoa T 12th 311 Los Angeles Rams John Cook MG 12th 328 Chicago Bears https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1991.htm 1991 NFL Draft Listing Pro-Football-Reference.com 2016-09-06 2007-12-20 https://web.archive.org/web/20071220211219/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1991.htm dead Both 1990 Washington quarterbacks were selected in the 1993 NFL draft. Sophomore starter Mark Brunell was taken by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round with the 118th pick. Brunell was a reserve for two seasons behind Brett Favre in Green Bay, then led the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrunMa00.htm Mark Brunell NFL Football Statistics Pro-Football-Reference.com 2016-09-06 Redshirt freshman Billy Joe Hobert was drafted by the Los Angeles Raiders in the third round with the 58th pick.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HobeBi00.htm Billy Joe Hobert NFL Football Statistics Pro-Football-Reference.com 2016-09-06 See also College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS References External links YouTube – UW video – "All I Saw Was Purple" (vs. USC on September 22) Washington Category:Washington Huskies football seasons Category:Pac-12 Conference football champion seasons Category:Rose Bowl champion seasons Washington Huskies football