At the 1992 Rose Bowl the stadium was packed—if it had rafters like Husky Stadium’s famed jaw-like overhangs—it would have been packed to the rafters.  The capacity crowd of 103,566, was split evenly between the Michigan Wolverines and the Washington Huskies.

The Huskies took home the victory as well as the Sears Trophy for winning a share of the 1991 National Championship with Miami.

115 days later the Huskies held a Spring Game to wrap up Spring Football.  Some time in that time frame, the National Championship rings were given out to the coaches.

After the game, an ACTUAL Spring Game, fans were allowed down in the field to meet the players and coaches.  I found defensive coordinator Jim Lambright and got see his ring up close.  Some where I still have that picture.

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But in the stands, there was an estimated 10,000 fans to see the national champions scrimmage.

That day in 1992 the NFL Draft was held and Steve Emtman was taken with the first pick.  It just so happened that after his name was called he was walking the opposite way of me in the old track around the field I high-fived his sausage fingers.

The Spring Game crowd Social Media flex falls on the deaf ears of Husky Nation.  In fact, I have a room full of autographs from Spring Games that, had there been 50,000 fans I’d never have gotten.

I love the time that I can meander and chat with players in between autographs, pictures, and hugs with families.

But, the ultimate flex happened 6 months later in the 1992 season when Tommie Smith dropped Nebraska QB Mike Gant in the end zone for a sack in the game now known as “A Night to Remember”.

That first night game at Husky Stadium produced a roar of 133.7 decibels— which is still the loudest stadium ever recorded for a college football game.

Husky fans show up when it matters.

Other times they’re also Mariners fans, Kraken fans, Sea Dragon fans, Sounders, Reign… 100,000 attended games the Saturday of the Spring Game 2023.  Ten times that watched the games on TV.

But trust me when I say this: Husky Stadium will be packed this fall when it’s all on the line.  Then we can talk about the game day atmosphere, not meaningless scrimmage atmosphere.