Huskies Also Came Into Southland Out of Cold

Another Rose Bowl team came in out of the snow, only this one was from the West Coast.

The Washington Huskies arrived Tuesday night, getting away from several inches of snow in Seattle. Iowa arrived Monday from the snow-covered Midwest.

The Huskies were full of good cheer for the Holiday season, especially with the news that tailback Greg Lewis will be available to play in the Jan. 1 game.

Lewis, the Pacific 10’s leading rusher with 1,279 yards, injured his left knee against UCLA Nov. 10 in Seattle.

He had arthroscopic surgery and is wearing a brace he expects to discard soon.

“The knee is feeling pretty good and hasn’t given me any problems,” Lewis said at Ontario Airport. “Hopefully, I’ll be 100% for the Rose Bowl game, although I’m a little rusty now.”

Washington (9-2) will be making its fourth Rose Bowl appearance since Don James became coach in 1975.

It is also the Huskies’ 12th bowl game in the last 13 years.

Hayden Fry, Iowa’s coach, said upon arrival that he regards Washington as the nation’s No. 1 team, even though they’re ranked eighth.

When told of Fry’s assessment, James smiled and said, “He’s really good at setting up opposing teams.”

James said that Iowa is similar to his team statistically and in offensive design.

“They’re like our team as we’ve both come a long, long way in a year and half,” James said.

It was inevitable that James would be asked about how close his team came to a No. 1 ranking and, perhaps, an eventual national championship.

Washington was No. 2 when it was upset by UCLA, 25-22.

“We had closed out the Pac-10 Conference (clinched the title) as early as I’ve ever seen it, with two games to go,” James said, “We put a lot of emphasis on it. We put too much on it.

“UCLA was a great football team that day. They were solid, had a good plan and won the game. We don’t look back.”

Washington will be quartered in Anaheim and will work out at Golden West College in Huntington Beach.