[gailtate]

If you were Fickell (or some other coach-in-demand), which job would you rather have:  USC or UW?

Probably I would say the correct answer is neither, but for different reasons.

 I don't think it's that crazy a question because UW has real program history and a fan base that is solid (as opposed to . . . well . . .LA-ish).  Still, I'd probably take the former, if only because I think the prospect of beating Utah/winning the south regularly is much greater than beating Oregon/winning the north.  And you have to win the division before you can do BIG THINGS.

I would really like to hear from Coach Petersen (off the record) about the UW fan base. Both the U$C fan base and the UW fan base seem to think they are entitled to championships every year. Assuming you aren't going to cheat in some fashion that probably just isn't possible. I think the UW fan base gets ugly about it much faster than the U$C fan base does (after all, it is LA). Both schools have significant internal tensions about football, but I think the UW situation is also worse in that regard. Both fan bases seem to get madder when the team is close but not quite there. If they are mediocre (certainly at U$C) there is lots of bitching but not rancor. It seems that if you get close and fall short it is worse and more bitter.

What little personal exposure (FtF) I have had to Husky Nation has not been all that pleasant, but it's limited. Frankly, the most blatantly obnoxious encounters--far and away--have been Cal fans. Year in and year out. Really crude, ugly behavior by old and young alike. Very strange.

[gailtate]

If you were Fickell (or some other coach-in-demand), which job would you rather have:  USC or UW?

Probably I would say the correct answer is neither, but for different reasons.

 I don't think it's that crazy a question because UW has real program history and a fan base that is solid (as opposed to . . . well . . .LA-ish).  Still, I'd probably take the former, if only because I think the prospect of beating Utah/winning the south regularly is much greater than beating Oregon/winning the north.  And you have to win the division before you can do BIG THINGS.

I would really like to hear from Coach Petersen (off the record) about the UW fan base. Both the U$C fan base and the UW fan base seem to think they are entitled to championships every year. Assuming you aren't going to cheat in some fashion that probably just isn't possible. I think the UW fan base gets ugly about it much faster than the U$C fan base does (after all, it is LA). Both schools have significant internal tensions about football, but I think the UW situation is also worse in that regard. Both fan bases seem to get madder when the team is close but not quite there. If they are mediocre (certainly at U$C) there is lots of bitching but not rancor. It seems that if you get close and fall short it is worse and more bitter.

What little personal exposure (FtF) I have had to Husky Nation has not been all that pleasant, but it's limited. Frankly, the most blatantly obnoxious encounters--far and away--have been Cal fans. Year in and year out. Really crude, ugly behavior by old and young alike. Very strange.