ROSE BOWL / DAILY REPORT : WASHINGTON : Huskies Have Made Their Kicks Count

If the difference in the Rose Bowl comes down to the kicking game, Washington has a couple of important weapons, although they might fool you at first glance.

John Werdel’s punting average of 38.5 yards isn’t overly impressive, but he placed 21 of his 69 punts inside opponents’ 20-yard line. Meanwhile, Travis Hanson kicked off 54 times and only 12 went for touchbacks, but the average field position after his kickoffs this year was the 22-yard line.

Hanson also made 10 of 13 field-goal attempts and was 36 for 36 on extra points. He has kicked four field goals in Rose Bowl games--two against Iowa and two against Michigan.

Washington is one of only nine Division I schools that have not had a losing season in the last 10 years. The Huskies’ 16-year above-.500 streak is the third-best active mark behind Nebraska’s 30 years and Oklahoma’s 26. Florida State also has a 16-year streak.