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I BEHIND THE DESK Headline 14 BY BARRY ALVAREZ // UW DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS feel like I have a little more kinship with this graduating class because I coached the Rose Bowl. I wouldn't have known these seniors really other than in passing. But I had a chance to visit with them and spent some time with them in preparation for playing Stanford, and this is really a special group. I've said it many times; they've been very resilient, they've shown great leadership and they've made a seamless adjustment to a new head coach. I told them, "Embrace change, don't be afraid of it. Most people are." They've embraced it and wrapped their arms around Gary Andersen and the staff. Last week, I ran into Brian Wozniak in the training room and he was talking about what he was going to do after graduation. He said that his time here has really gone fast. Woz also said that he wishes he could play another year for Coach Andersen. I know that he's not the only senior who feels that way. They adjusted to the change and they're having fun. These seniors have contributed a lot to three straight Rose Bowls. They've contributed as leaders and taught the other kids how to work; they've taught them what leaders do. I will have many fond memories of this group. When Chris Borland was a freshman, I can remember telling Kirk Herbsteit that he's the best football player on our team and we had // VARSITY November 28, 2013 some first-rounders on the roster back then. The pro scouts haven't asked me about Chris yet, but I would tell them he's going to play in the league for a long time; they're going to love him. He'll be just as productive there as he has been here. Ethan Armstrong is another one of our classic walk-on stories. He's gone through all those surgeries and bounced back. He's a tough nut and a good football player. We bring in guys from all over the country that never touch the field. But here's someone who walks on and becomes a very valuable member of the defense. He has a great nose for the ball. Jared Abbrederis is another walk-on, an in-state kid who came in as a scout team quarterback and changed positions. He's now one of the better receivers in the country. He's special. I'm really proud of Ryan Groy. He's so versatile that it's no big deal where he plays. You can plug him in at tackle or center, anyplace at all, and he never complains. He just goes out and plays. He's very athletic and very smart and he's one of the leaders of that offensive line. He's the one that holds them together and you need guys like that. It's nice to see James White finally get a chance to be the featured back. Here's someone who has played behind John Clay and Montee Ball and has still always found a way to be productive. What he has done this year has just been phenomenal. If you're an NFL team, you have to draft him, you have to take him with his productivity. He runs, he catches, he blocks. He does everything. I see where Jacob Pedersen is rated among the top four or five tight ends and I can understand why. He's not real flashy, he just catches everything and he's a good blocker. He's a good company guy. I always used to talk my seniors about their legacy. What's it going to be when you come back some day? What are they going to remember 10 years from now about what you did? This group was resilient and productive. They had a chance to play in a lot of big games and they've won a lot of big games. There will be a lot to remember about this senior class.