Monday's national championship game against No. 1 ranked Michigan will be one of the biggest moments in Washington football history, and for many fans who attended UW's most recent championship in 1991, making the trek to Houston was a no-brainer.
Some of them were there the last time Washington won it all by beating Michigan in the 1992 Rose Bowl, and Monday's game offers a chance to share their love of UW football with the people who matter most to them.
Some grew up watching the Huskies on TV, others have attended games at Husky Stadium since childhood, but the one constant among those heading to the "natty" is that family and friendship have played a huge role in their love for the Dawgs.
Lisa Olsson was a UW student from 1988 to 1992 and attended the 1992 Rose Bowl with her parents. She will be there in Houston with her 85-year old father and her son, and is thrilled to have three generations of her family at the game.
Though she doesn't have many distinct memories of the Rose Bowl, she remembers the exciting atmosphere of that game and is eager to share that experience with her family once again.
"The opportunity for a third-generation Husky student photograph with my father, myself and my 21-year-old son felt like too big of an opportunity to pass up," Olsson said. "The price is steep, but I think that the memories and the photographs will be priceless. This has been a wonderful season, and one that I will remember for many years."
Another longtime fan making the trip is 1993 UW graduate Dominic Marshall, who will be joined in Houston by his wife, along with friend Pete Pierson, a 1991 UW lineman who went on to play eight seasons in the NFL.
Marshall has many treasured memories from that "magical" 1991 season. He attended every home game in the student section and says he wouldn't have missed Monday's game for anything.
"The leadership, character and poise of the coaches and players is off the charts, which makes it especially fun to root for them," Marshall said. "In my opinion, one can only be a true fan if you stick with your team during the highs and lows. We have certainly had our lows, but the program is clearly all the way back and it is sweet to have a chance to win another national title."
Mike Burgess attended the 1992 Rose Bowl as a high school senior with his family, and will be in Houston with his wife Selena and teenage sons Jaxson and Lincoln.
His father Jim is a 1960 UW grad, and Mike still remembers the smile on his face when UW wide receiver Mario Bailey struck a Heisman pose in the end zone, mocking Michigan's Desmond Howard.
"He was so excited," Burgess said. "That moment is etched in my memory, and the first thing that comes to mind when I think of that game."
Burgess heard about the heroics of Hugh McElhenny from his father, tells his kids about Steve Emtman's dominance, and hopes that one day his kids will tell their children about the glories of Michael Penix Jr. and Rome Odunze.
"I know I'm just like so many other fans that have an emotional connection that isn't rational," Burgess said. "I have two sons that are fans now, it's been fun to watch them watch the team like I used to. I get to relive my childhood through their eyes."
Bill Daugaard attended his first Husky game in 1958 and graduated from UW in 1963. Having watched the team since the days of coach Jim Owens, Daugaard has seen the Huskies through both of their national titles, as well as many lean years.
He will be in the stands Monday with his daughter Lisa and granddaughter Lucy, who both convinced him to make the once-in-a-lifetime trip to Houston. Daugaard sees some similarities between the 1991 and 2023 Huskies, but thinks this year's team is playing more thrilling football.
"This team this year, just they just pull rabbits out of the hat and they just work such magic that is unforgettable, and it creates kind of a different sense," Daugaard said. "There weren't very many games in '91 that were in doubt, but every game this year is in doubt and has you on the edge of your seat right to the end."
While every fan has a different reason for making the trip, the chance to share treasured memories with people they love is what seems to matters most those heading to Houston.
UW season ticket holder and San Diego resident Patrick Perkins went to every 1991 home game and attended the Rose Bowl at age 12 with his father Dennis. The pair will be there together again in Houston, cheering for a team whose edge-of-your-seat style of play Patrick describes as "easily the most stressful thing in my life."
Like so many others, for Perkins, these games are bigger than football.
"We've overcome so many obstacles, both good and bad, to attend games together," Perkins said. "The passing of my brother who also attended games and bled purple, my moving to San Diego, and becoming a father myself. The '91 Rose Bowl was the first sporting event I cried at, and I hope the Natty will be my next one. It would bookend perfectly. Two national championships by beating Michigan, and both occurring while sitting next to my dad."
David Anderson is another Houston-bound fan with deep UW roots. His father was a member of the marching band for the first UW national title in 1960, and the two of them have been there for most of the biggest games in modern program history.
As Anderson notes, it's good to have perspective.
"I can say I attended every single one of those home losses and the Apple Cup in Pullman of that 0-12 year (2008)," he said. "As my friends often say, no one can give me crap for bragging about good teams since we had to eat those terrible years."
Longtime fans understand that games like Monday's don't come around often. Whether they were around for the mediocrity of the mid-1970s or the winless 2008, UW supporters have been through plenty of tough times, making it even more important to enjoy this glorious moment while they can.
West Seattle's Jay Gewin was a UW senior in 1991, and will be there to cheer on the Huskies in Houston. To him, it's important to think about how truly special this moment is.
"I've tried to enjoy every moment," Gewin said. "Not just of the games, but the whole experience of what makes Husky football special. Tailgating with friends, road trip experiences, shared group texts leading up to the game, photos, enjoying the moment and not taking anything for granted. It might not happen again for another 32 years, but I certainly hope it does."
