Braxton Cleman, the Player of the Game for the 2000 Apple Cup had gone over film numerous times with his coach that his moves would be nearly instinctive. Every movement was analyzed and there he stood at the ready for the signal to come in to let him know it was “Go Time”.
Even so, he made a few last second adjustments, which appeared to be more to calm his nerves than having any actual purpose. Moments earlier he was an emotional wreck, according to his coach. But this was his game, on the biggest stage for this event and he wasn’t going to leave anything to chance.
And it was on his home turf. There was no number 29 on his back. He had slid his hat from his signature slight tilt to the right to being back-to-front so that the bill wouldn’t interfere with what was about to take place.
This was the 2023 Anthony’s Oyster Slurp Championship.
“I’m trying to regain my title this year on my home court,” he told RealDawg before the Slurp Off.
Braxton began competitive oyster slurping in 2009 and has won several titles but this year he wanted to reclaim the overall championship.
After years on the gridiron he’d become an expert at breaking down film. He and his coach aka his fiancé Tasha Cawyer, had spent hours going over everything. They’d gone over every nuance of efficient movement to make sure that there was no wasted motion.
Anthony’s restaurant held Slurp Offs at each of their locations from Bellingham to Olympia. Braxton won the Kirkland round, punching his ticket to the championship. The former Husky would be facing the best of the best slurpers in the Evergreen State.
Twenty-two and a half years earlier Braxton helped his Washington Huskies punch an even bigger ticket.
Ranked 6th in the country, Braxton and his 9-1 Washington Huskies went into Pullman, Washington to face a very good Washington State team. Despite a losing record the Cougars wouldn’t roll over for the Huskies, especially in front of a packed house at Martin Stadium.
WSU had lost 6 games, but dropped 4 games by a total of 16 points, including 3 overtime losses–and they were coming off of an upset of USC
But the Cougars hasn’t accounted for a career day from the Washington back. He was awarded the Apple Cup Player of the Game for his 15 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 2 passes for 39 yards as the Huskies dismantled the Washington State Cougars, 51-3.
”This is what we came to do,” Braxton said after the game. “I’m sitting here holding a rose.”
He was given a miniature football helmet with the placard that read, “Braxton Cleman, Offensive Player of the Game. Washington State November 18, 2000”. The victory secured a spot in the Rose Bowl against Purdue where he scored the game’s first touchdown.
In the years since, the Apple Cup award was put into storage until it was stolen 10 years ago.
Several years later it popped up for sale on eBay for $200. I bought it not knowing the truth of it’s path to the online marketplace.
I sent Braxton a message with a picture saying, “recognize this?” I figured that he’d sold it for some money. I was simply hoping to get meet up to get it autographed.
I was unprepared for a plot-twist!
He responded, “What the heck?!! That was taken out of my storage unit!!! Are you serious! I had things stolen… all my husky gear!”
“I had my Lettermen jackets! Articles,” he said. “Everything over the 5 years at UW was all stolen.”
The only thing they didn’t get was his jersey and Rose Bowl ring but he told me keep it since I’d paid for it. According to the seller the helmet had changed hands several times before he got ahold of it.
But I couldn’t—it didn’t seem right.
We agreed to meet in Kirkland Saturday night after what he called “event”. As it turns out, the event was Anthony’s Restaurant’s Oyster Slurp Championship.
Not only would he regain his Oyster Slurp title Saturday with a time of 8.75 seconds but he was able to reclaim his 2000 Apple Cup award.
Special thanks to Anthony’s restaurants and the MC Mike Gastineau for making this presentation possible.
Here’s the video of the event:
