Chow Down to Washington

Most people know Robb Weller, ’72, for helping invent “The Wave” at a Husky football game and for spending several years as the co-anchor of the TV show Entertainment Tonight. At the UW, however, Weller is also known as a dedicated volunteer who has been one of the University’s best friends. A former member of the UW Foundation board, Weller remains one of the University’s best cheerleaders.

When Chris Petersen was hired after the 2013 season, no one knew for sure how long it might take to return the Husky program to the top levels of the college football world. It turns out, it took about three years.

In 2016, the Huskies had their best season since 2000 and one of their best ever, winning the Pac-12 Championship, earning a spot in the College Football Playoff and finishing ranked No. 4 in the final polls. They did it with high-achieving, young players across the starting lineup while also succeeding in the classroom at an unprecedented and sustained rate.

That success continued in 2018, as the UW posted their third 10-win season in a row for the first time in program history. The season culminated in a trip to the Rose Bowl. In the meantime, the team maintained high academic standards, with 17 Huskies earning Academic All-Pac-12 honors.