Typically, the young NCAA players aren't known for being too strategic with their words. Even when they engage in trash talk, it's usually direct and straightforward, lacking much subtlety.
But the sophomore quarterback from Washington University was a different breed—sharp and clever.
Rather than directly targeting Lance, he craftily heaped praise on the Crimson Tide's defense. Essentially, his message was, "Alabama wins because of their defense, so why is everyone talking about Lance?"
A seed of doubt was sown, waiting for it to take root and grow.
With other teams, this tactic might have caused some internal strife; but unfortunately for him, this time, the target was the tightly-knit Crimson Tide.
Neither Alan nor Foster bothered to respond, only Humphrey couldn't resist and shot back at the reporters:
"Who's that?"
The Seattle-based reporter was visibly flustered—
Washington University is not located in Washington, D.C., but in Seattle, Washington state, making it a part of the Pac-12 Conference.
Seeing the reporter's baffled expression, Humphrey chuckled, "Haha, Lance's trick really works. We should use it more often."
The Washington University quarterback, Jake Browning, turned visibly upset upon hearing this. It seemed as though he might grind his teeth to dust.
But as Humphrey had implied—
Who was Browning, anyway?
Jake Browning, a sophomore quarterback for Washington this season, had shown impressive skills, earning recognition as the Pac-12's First-Team Quarterback. He had led Washington to an 11-1 record and secured the conference title by beating Colorado.
Against all odds, Washington University ranked fourth in the NCAA and earned a spot in the College Football Playoff to face off against Alabama for a shot at the national championship.
It was hard to believe that Washington had only lost to USC all season. They had quietly and steadily carved a path to success, while more boastful teams like Louisville had fallen by the wayside.
However, Browning wasn't pleased with the lack of recognition. He was irked that quarterbacks like Jackson, Watson, and Mayfield received more praise, and even more so that running backs like Lance and Fournette overshadowed him.
In the Heisman Trophy race, Browning's name wasn't even in the conversation.
For most people, Browning and Washington University were not on their radar, so when Humphrey said he didn't recognize Browning, it wasn't entirely a joke.
Brutal as it was, it was the truth.
And what's more, in the future, Browning's name would remain relatively obscure—
Sophomore year turned out to be the peak of Browning's quarterback career. His performance faded as he continued in college, and by his senior year, he went undrafted, with no NFL team picking him up.
Browning didn't give up, though. He eventually made his way into the league, bouncing between practice squads with the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals.
But during this sophomore year, Browning was still hopeful about his future. The Pac-12 Conference even saw him as a potential NFL star quarterback.
Like Baker, Browning was ready to prove his doubters wrong at the Peach Bowl, intending to show that ignoring him had been a huge mistake.
However…
Brandt, the Baltimore Ravens scout, had his doubts.
Of course, Brandt couldn't see into the future, but he was simply offering an objective analysis.
Washington's 12-1 record this season—including the Pac-12 Championship victory—had surprised many, but the key to their success was their style of play.
The Pac-12 is the epitome of the West Coast offense in the NCAA, where pass-heavy tactics originated, including innovations like the shotgun formation.
Today, the West Coast offense dominates the NFL.
Naturally, Washington University's opponents were mostly teams with strong passing offenses.
Washington's offense was decent—neither terrible nor exceptional. Lacking star power, they relied heavily on teamwork. Their real strength lay in their defense, particularly against the pass, where their cornerbacks and safeties were top-tier in the NCAA.
Among the top eight teams, Washington stood out as one of the few built on a cohesive, team-first mentality, and this was their source of confidence.
But.
Against Alabama, Washington had no advantages; the teams' strengths and weaknesses were completely misaligned.
Washington's defensive strength was in defending the pass, but Alabama didn't need to rely on passing to win. On the other hand, Washington's offensive strength was passing, while Alabama boasted the top-ranked pass defense in the NCAA.
One strength countered the other.
In short, Alabama was Washington's kryptonite, and this matchup looked extremely challenging for the Huskies.
The key for Washington would be whether they could limit Alabama's ground game. Falling behind early would put them in a tough spot, and the outcome could be decided by the first quarter.
Brandt wasn't alone in this analysis; many experts voiced similar opinions—
The defending champions, Alabama, were heavily favored. Discussions about a repeat of last year's title clash between Alabama and Clemson were already widespread.
However, the underdog Washington Huskies were determined and well-prepared.
At the start of the game, Washington confidently chose to take the first possession, demonstrating their poise and readiness.
Quarterback Browning was both calm and decisive, relying primarily on the run game to set up his passes. His throws were precise, and he effectively utilized tactical movements to create openings, successfully executing several completions.
During a four-minute, thirty-seven-second drive, Browning achieved six first downs before connecting with their top wide receiver, John Ross III, on a 13-yard pass. Ross pushed into the end zone for a touchdown.
Washington University took the lead.
Browning showed boldness, composure, and meticulous planning, sending a strong message to Alabama that they were here to win.
"Yeah!" Browning roared in triumph after confirming Ross' touchdown, glaring at the frustrated-looking Humphrey, who had missed his mark. Not satisfied, Browning turned to Alabama's sideline, scanning the crowd until he spotted Lance eating a banana, and unleashed another roar.
"Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"
Lance's face was full of question marks. He hadn't been the one taunting Browning before the game, so why was this guy making a fuss now?
Lance didn't react much. Still munching on his banana, he offered it to Browning with a curious look, as if to ask:
"Want one?"
As if watching a gorilla at the zoo.
Browning's face turned beet red, and he erupted again, "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"
The Peach Bowl had just begun, and already, the atmosphere was electrifying and on the verge of boiling over.
(No, the ending isn't meant to be racist.)
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Powerstones?
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