- 5
Chris Chandler, 1987: Chandler, who would go on to play 17 seasons in the NFL, threw 20 touchdown passes as a junior in 1986, when he led Washington to a Sun Bowl appearance opposite Alabama. A year later, Chandler threw nine fewer TDs and barely got the Huskies into the Independence Bowl opposite Tulane. - 4
Cody Pickett, 2003: Pickett threw 28 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions as a junior in 2002, setting up expectations for a great senior year. But when it came, he regressed to 15 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The Huskies finished 6-6 and failed to qualify for a bowl. - 3
Billy Joe Hobert, 1992: A redshirt sophomore, Hobert quarterbacked the Huskies to a 12-0 record and a share of the national championship in 1991, then didn’t make it through his final year. Caught accepting a $50,000 loan from an Idaho businessman, Hobert was booted off the team. Five years later, the Buffalo Bills released Hobert after he infamously admitted he hadn’t prepared to play a game: he simply failed to read the play book. - 2
Sonny Sixkiller, 1972: Sixkiller threw 28 touchdown passes during his sophomore and junior seasons (appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated on Oct. 4, 1971). A grand finale in 1972 didn’t happen as Sixkiller, hampered by injuries, started only seven games and threw just seven touchdown passes against 11 interceptions. - 1
Jake Locker, 2010: He began the 2010 season with a realistic chance of winning the Heisman Trophy and ended it not even being a contender, an All-America or an all-conference performer. Injuries played a prominent part. So did the lack of talent surrounding Locker. With expectations for Locker and the Huskies huge, Locker failed to improve as a senior, also undermining his draft status.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2124264 https://sportspressnw.wpengine.com/?p=2108362">3 Comments
What a great man! Really missed, He gave a lot of people employment, latitude to grow and thrive in life and business. He really cared. RIP Les, you were a GREAT man!
I’m sure the family will appreciate your comments. Thanks for taking the time to respond.
I remember functions at Kaye-Smith studios, probably Seattle’s first borderline world-class recording studio, which then became, I believe, Bad Animals or something like that, and now I don’t know what is going on with it. Too bad he was not able to leave more of his successful imprint on the Mariners. I saw elsewhere where it said one of his three happiest days as owner of the Mariners was when he sold the team, together with Opening Day 1977 and the 1979 All-Star Game. Kind of like the two happiest days of a sailboat owner’s life, the day he buys the boat and the day he sells it. Wonder what that says about his overall view of trying to build a successful major league baseball franchise in Seattle? He was, overall, a winner.