It’s story time — and as we look ahead to the commencement of the Jimmy Lake era at Washington, I got one for ya.

In the summer of 2016,  when Jimmy Lake was still the defensive backs coach, it was about a week before the fall camp period ended.

As  a reporter who covers the team, I always try to watch how coaches coach, their techniques and attention to details, etc. This is insightful and helps us to gain a better understanding of why certain position groups perform so well come gameday.

I watched from the stands, as did other members of the media, and after two hours of a grueling practice under the hot sun, the players ran gassers; sideline to sideline races.

This was in full pads, mind you, and I was watching Budda Baker.

Baker was never a raw-raw guy, but if you were to ask teammates who practiced the hardest on that team? They would likely tell you it was Budda Baker.

I noticed Baker as he lined up on the sideline because his white t-shirt was pulled out from under his uniform and there was blood on it. He may have even played some offense that day as well.

The team ran between seven and 10 gassers — one voice boomed out loud, daring and almost taunting Baker.

It was the voice of Jimmy Lake.

He was going at Baker that day, being a little hard on his player. Not full-metal-jacket hard, but rather, pushing and pushing Baker.

“Grind Budda, grind, he almost has you. He’s gonna catch you! Run Budda, keep going!”, his voice echoed out.

Keep in mind, this was in full pads, after a two-hour practice, and on that day Baker won all of those gassers.

This wasn’t just a coach pushing a player physically, but pushing Baker’s mental toughness — that scene from Facing the Giants would come to mind.

This left a profound impression on me — I saw a coach pushing a player who was already exceptionally talented — to his fullest potential. And when it was over the coach ran over to his player and congratulated him with a high-five, that’s the way to grind”, he said.

I’ve never told this story because I always try to keep some things tucked away in my memory bank for the right time, and this is the right time.

Jimmy Lake knew that Baker was one of those special players, and in 2016 it didn’t make that much sense as to why he was going at him. We all knew Baker was a prize in his recruiting class, originally committed to Oregon but turning back to his home-state when Chris Petersen took the reins as the head coach. Why push so hard? Is he lagging? Is he being challenged by the coach for some unknown reason?

Today, Baker is the highest paid safety in NFL history — so I get it now. I know the reason.

Indeed, we all knew that Baker was good, but Jimmy Lake knew that Baker was a great player — a unique talent, meant for something extraordinary.

This is what Husky fans need to know about their new head coach; he will push the limits of these players. And as a writer covering this team, it is exciting to watch this coach taking his place as the Top Dawg.

You wonder why so many Husky DB’s went to the league under Jimmy Lake? Think about the story I just told.

Now, he will take that philosophy to the entire team — let the Lake era begin.