HOUSTON — Following Washington's 34-13 loss to Michigan in the national championship game Monday, Michael Penix Jr. walked gingerly through the bowels of NRG Stadium, his right hand resting on his midsection.
Penix — the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, and college football's passing leader in both seasons — was sacked once and hit a whole lot more. He completed 27 of 51 passes and threw for 255 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
When asked how he was feeling physically, Penix — who sustained two torn ACLs and two shoulder injuries in four seasons at Indiana — smiled and said: "Better than I was three years ago. I'm just happy that I was able to finish it with the guys. I knew that I didn't want them to take me out of that game, because I've been through too much. And I knew that no matter what, I was going to make sure I finished for the guys, and just gave it my all.
"I'm not healthy, but I'll be there [when needed]. I'm good. It's nothing major. I know that for sure. I talked with the doctors and stuff like that. It's nothing major. If I had to play tomorrow, I'll play. I'm good."
Penix — a 6-foot-3, 213-pound senior — closed his Husky career with 9,544 passing yards, 74 total touchdowns, 19 interceptions, two bowl wins and a Pac-12 championship in two seasons and 28 games.
It was a painful end for the prolific Tampa product.
But a more rewarding run.
"This guy came here, and the trust he put in me to put people around him — whether it be offensive staff, offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, other players ..." said UW coach Kalen DeBoer, before trailing off. "He picked up and moved all the way across the country, and I just can't tell you how much that means to me to have that trust from someone like Michael. Because this was his last crack at it. We all know his story. It was kind of at that point where it was do or die, and I knew in my mind what he was made of. I knew what he was capable of, and now it was just a matter of bringing it all together.
"Seeing him grow and develop, and just the mindset he has, the fighter's mentality he has, the leadership ... a lot of credit goes to our staff working with him, [offensive coordinator Ryan] Grubb working with him. But, man, just seeing growth, seeing the fight, seeing the passion, the love that he has for everyone here in this program ... I hope Husky Nation just always holds him in the highest regard. I think they will. I expect nothing less than that, because I think they understand what he's given all of us."
