Huskies undeterred by tall road task

Nov 14, 2013, 12:00 AM

The Washington football team knows what’s waiting in the Rose Bowl on Friday night. So the Huskies don’t need to be reminded that UCLA is good. They already know the Bruins are ranked 13th in the nation, and their only losses were at Stanford and Oregon. The Huskies understand what they’re up against. “We know they’re a very physically gifted team on film,” UW head coach Steve Sarkisian said after practice Wednesday. “They have a very big front seven on the defense, a lot of good athletes on offense, and they’re very well coached. They pose a lot of challenges, but I think ones that we have some things that can combat that.” Despite heading to Los Angeles as an underdog, the Huskies feel they have the personnel to compete with the Bruins on both sides of the ball. “They’ve got athletes, we have athletes,” tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins said. “We’re very similar in what we do. It should be a good game.” With the short week, the Huskies practiced Wednesday like they normally do on Thursdays. That meant no pads and what running back Bishop Sankey described as a fast, high-tempo practice to end the week. Sankey said the Huskies feel normal going into Friday’s game despite the adjusted practice schedule. While everything feels normal, the Huskies hope Friday’s game does not end up being the same “normal” they have experienced on the road in recent years. The last time they played away from home, the Huskies were obliterated in the desert, losing 53-24 to Arizona State. That loss continued a pattern of road struggles the Huskies have experienced. During Sarkisian’s five-year tenure, the UW is 7-18 away from home. The last time the Huskies beat a ranked team on the road was in October 2010 at USC. But despite their road struggles, the Huskies are confident they can win anywhere they play. Sankey said the key to putting those past losses behind them is to stay focused and play as a team. “We just need to focus in on the road and play together as one,” Sankey said. “Obviously you’re at a disadvantage when you go to somebody else’s house, but I think it’s important for us to just stick together and play as one.” Notes: – Sarkisian said there is a possibility that safety Will Shamburger could suit up Friday. However, Sarkisian did not give any further details or updates. Reach reporter Daniel Rubens at sports@dailyuw.com. Twitter: @drubens12

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