Synonymous with Seattle sports are the rocking crowds that have filled every venue from the King Dome to Husky Stadium. In 2019 almost 67,00 fans filled Husky stadium to witness a battle between two ranked teams. The 13th-ranked Huskies doubled up USC.

On the Trojans’ sideline was new Washington linebacker Ralen Goforth, then a freshman whose ears were ringing.

“I just remember it was so loud,” he said. “I couldn’t hear when I would talk to my teammates who were right next to me.”

Last December Goforth decided to trade in USC’s cardinal and gold for Washington’s purple and gold.  The senior transfer will have the opportunity to be an anchor on a team that’s going to be selling out stadiums game after game.

“Home field advantage is a critical part of the game. It helps a lot,” he said.

He’ll get to be front and center for a big third down while Husky Stadium is making life miserable for the opponent. Not only is the crowd a big factor in visiting Seattle, but so is its famous Washington weather.

“Dawg Weather” as it’s known in Seattle, took a bit of getting used to for the Long Beach, California-native.

“I’m used to it now because I’ve been playing in it for 3 months,” Goforth said.

He’s been treated to a mix of rain, snow, wind, and freezing temperatures–and that was just this past week in Seattle.

“It doesn’t really phase me like when I first got here,” he said.

Since his arrival in January, he’s gone from being bundled up to shirtless during workouts, something that he’s rather proud of.

Earlier in the year after a workout, Goforth was in a rare treat, even by Seattle weather standards: snow.

“We had a workout in here (inside Dempsey Arena) and I walked outside after the workout,” he recalled. “I had my shirt off.”

Husky linebacker coach, William Inge shot a video clip and sent it to Goforth’s parents.

“It was his my first time seeing snow fall,” he said. “It didn’t phase me the way it did when I first got here.”

Being phased is what he’s hoping opponents feel.  He knows how the cold weather can prey on the mind and is looking forward to USC’s trip to Seattle the first Saturday in November.

“I’m adjusted to it now, but I’m really looking forward to the home-field advantage the weather brings up here,” he said with a sly grin.

Dawg weather is one advantage–Husky Nation is another advantage.

“I’m hearing a lot of great things about the fan base,” he said. “I can’t wait.”

He expects the fans to work in tandem with the defense in key situations this fall–and perhaps Mother Nature.