For five years, the University of Washington football program was managed by somebody who turned out to be unmanageable. And then, on Dec. 2, 2013 — a date Huskies fans ought to recognize as Liberation Day — Sarkisian quit with two seasons remaining on his contract.
Sarkisian’s yearning to return to USC made it possible for Washington to land Boise State’s Chris Petersen, a far more accomplished coach who does not berate players half his age.
That’s not to say he tolerates the kind of unsportsmanlike penalty that unhinged Sarkisian the other night. Petersen simply chooses to remain composed, informing any player whose conduct costs 15 yards to look for a seat on the bench and, ahem, stay there.
Of the countless differences between the former Huskies coach and the man who succeeded him, self-control is the most obvious. Petersen preaches it — embodies it, actually — while Sarkisian presumes he’s too important to be constrained by expectations of etiquette.
Washington’s 17-12 upset of USC showcased some other reasons why Dec. 2, 2013 looks pivotal in the Huskies’ attempt to re-emerge as a national power. Thanks to an open date on the schedule last weekend, Petersen was given 12 days to prepare for the 17th-ranked Trojans.
The result?
“Sarkisian got completely out-coached by Petersen,” wrote Sports Illustrated’s Pete Thamel. “The team with less talented, inferior athletes and a liability at quarterback won with a better game plan, crisper execution and fewer penalties.”
Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/sp ... rylink=cpy
Sarkisian’s yearning to return to USC made it possible for Washington to land Boise State’s Chris Petersen, a far more accomplished coach who does not berate players half his age.
That’s not to say he tolerates the kind of unsportsmanlike penalty that unhinged Sarkisian the other night. Petersen simply chooses to remain composed, informing any player whose conduct costs 15 yards to look for a seat on the bench and, ahem, stay there.
Of the countless differences between the former Huskies coach and the man who succeeded him, self-control is the most obvious. Petersen preaches it — embodies it, actually — while Sarkisian presumes he’s too important to be constrained by expectations of etiquette.
Washington’s 17-12 upset of USC showcased some other reasons why Dec. 2, 2013 looks pivotal in the Huskies’ attempt to re-emerge as a national power. Thanks to an open date on the schedule last weekend, Petersen was given 12 days to prepare for the 17th-ranked Trojans.
The result?
“Sarkisian got completely out-coached by Petersen,” wrote Sports Illustrated’s Pete Thamel. “The team with less talented, inferior athletes and a liability at quarterback won with a better game plan, crisper execution and fewer penalties.”
Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/sp ... rylink=cpy
