For the Huskies, the Rose Bowl is much more than just a game. It represents some of the best days – a time where going to the Rose Bowl was the expectation for the purple and gold.
“It was about the Rose Bowl, every single year," said former Husky running back Terry Hollimon.
For Hollimon, that was all he heard when they recruited him from Texas back in the fall of 1993
"Through my entire freshman fall camp all I heard about was the Rose Bowl,” Hollimon said. “Because everyone who played on that team had only been to the Rose Bowl."
UW has a long history at the Rose Bowl – the team has made the trip 15 times since 1924, including this year. They have won seven Rose Bowl championships.
Following three straight trips to the Granddaddy of Them All from 1991-93, Hollimon says he was ready to carry on that tradition, but that wouldn't happen. The Huskies were slapped with a two-year probation in 1993 that prevented from playing in the Rose Bowl or any bowl.
The Huskies wouldn't reach the Rose Bowl again until a 34-24 win over Purdue in 2001. Then, There was another 18-year another gap until this season – a return to glory for a team that had lost its way.
"Four years ago you would have never expected these guys to be where they are,” Hollimon said. “Coach (Chris) Petersen has these guys believing and expecting to win every year."
Today, with the help of quarterback Jake Browning and running back Myles Gaskin, they'll look to make it eight championships.
"Myles Gaskin, Jake Browning – these guys spent four years playing coming up from the dirt, diggin’ this program out of the mud, and now to come out of here with a Rose Bowl victory I think would cement them in Husky history forever," Hollimon said.