Dawgman Radio: A Washington Huskies athletics podcast

The guys from Dawgman.com - Kim Grinolds, Chris Fetters, and Scott Eklund - got off their phones long enough to record a podcast outlining next steps for new Washington Head Coach Jedd Fisch now that he's in Seattle.

To start, the guys talk about the coaching staff shakeups at both Washington and Arizona, as well as the coaches that are expected to be with Fisch Tuesday morning when he is introduced as UW's next Head Coach.

Then the guys talk about the portal comings and goings, and there is a lot to talk about there, as there have been over a dozen current UW players enter the transfer portal since Kalen DeBoer announced Friday he would be leaving Washington for Alabama.

What are the chances UW can get those players back in the fold? Who might be thinking about joining DeBoer and some of the old UW coaches in Tuscaloosa? And what are the chances some of Arizona's players will want to join Fisch and his assistants on Montlake?

After a quick break, the guys talk about what Fisch plans to do on the defensive side of the ball in terms of coaching. Will he try and retain some of the current UW defensive staff? Will he supplement that group with some coaches from Arizona? Will he start from scratch and use his vast rolodex of contacts at both the college and NFL levels to find Washington's next defensive coordinator?

And before they finish things up, Chris asks Scott and Kim - if Jedd Fisch can only get two quarterbacks to UW from the group that includes Will Rogers, Austin M, and Noah Fifita, which two would they choose heading into the 2024 season?

The guys from Dawgman.com - Kim Grinolds, Chris Fetters, and Scott Eklund - cranked up the podcast machine for a quick emergency podcast with thing going a mile a minute on Montlake at the moment.

Jason Scheer from Wildcat Authority is reporting that Jedd Fisch has accepted UW's offer to become their next head coach, just days after losing Kalen DeBoer to Alabama. So what does that mean for UW now? Did new UW AD Troy Dannen get the hire right? 

Kim, Chris, and Scott give their initial thoughts on the hire and then talks about staff. Arizona already has a few connections to Seattle and UW on their staff. What current staff at UW could be retained? Which staff members at Arizona are likely to join Fisch in Seattle?

After a quick break the guys come back and talk about the players in the portal that have left UW in the past few days, the possibility of their return, who UW could lure from Arizona, as well as others.

And they finish out the 30-minute pod talking about what this means for UW in the short term. Is Fisch a short-term coach? Is he a short-term fix? Is he the best fit for what Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb were doing on offense? What is he going to do on defense?

The guys from Dawgman.com - Kim Grinolds, Chris Fetters, and Scott Eklund - give their gut reactions to the news of Washington Head Coach Kalen DeBoer going to Alabama to replace Nick Saban and initial thoughts on who UW should target as his replacement.

How big of a shock was this news? Did they see it coming? Was all the news surrounding the other coaches reportedly involved in the coaching search just a smokescreen? And just how much was super agent Jimmy Sexton's fingerprints all over this deal, considering a handful of his other clients all ended up with big extensions and raises?

After a quick break the guys give their initial thoughts on who new UW AD Troy Dannen might target, starting with current Washington Offensive Coordinator Ryan Grubb. Might he even take a look at Receivers Coach JaMarcus Shephard? And there's other names out there that certainly have connections to Dannen, and also coaches that have plenty of connections to Washington and to the city of Seattle.

Who knew news in Tuscaloosa, Ala would cause two guys in Seattle to react with an emergency podcast? But that's exactly what happened today, as news of Nick Saban's retirement created earthquakes that reverberated from coast to coast.

Kim Grinolds and Chris Fetters of Dawgman.com just had to get on the horn and talk about how Saban's retirement could affect Washington and the situation they currently find themselves with their head coach, Kalen DeBoer. The Huskies and DeBoer have been locked in extension talks that have continued to persist while the Huskies went through their championship run.

Now that the 2023 season is over, new Washington Athletic Director Troy Dannen is working beyond overtime to keep DeBoer and his staff satisfied and on Montlake. It's job number one, two, and three at the moment.

But Saban's retirement may have thrown a huge monkey wrench into those negotiations. Would DeBoer leave Seattle for Tuscaloosa after just two season? Kim and Chris hash it out, as well as give their thoughts on the other names that have been thrown out there as initial candidates: Dan Lanning, Dabo Swinney, Lane Kiffin, James Franklin, Mike Norvell, and Marcus Freeman. What about Steve Sarkisian and his ties to Saban and Alabama?

Near the end of the discussion, Jalen McMillan broke the news that he is turning pro. When you add the fact that it was also announced today Pete Carroll will no longer be the Seattle Head Coach, it has been one of the most eventful day in football in a very long time.

Washington Head Coach Kalen DeBoer, QB Michael Penix Jr, LB Edefuan Ulofoshio, RB Dillon Johnson, WR Ja'Lynn Polk, WR Jalen McMillan, TE Jack Westover, LT Troy Fautanu, DL Tuli Letuligasenoa, DB Mishael Powell, CB Elijah Jackson, and LB Coach William Inge spoke in the UW locker room after UW's 34-13 National Championship loss to Michigan Monday night in Houston.

The guys from Dawgman.com - Kim Grinolds from Houston and Chris Fetters and Scott Eklund in Seattle - break down the key moments behind Michigan's 34-13 win over Washington in the College Football National Championship Game Monday night in Houston.

Kim starts the podcast out by setting the scene, detailing the famous Husky alumni he saw in attendance, starting with 91, Steve Emtman, who was an honorary captain on the day. From all accounts, it looked like it was about 65 percent Michigan fans and 35 percent UW fans, which is remarkable in itself given the issues Washington fans would have had trying to get to Houston from Seattle.

Then the guys dig right into the game. The Wolverines got the ball first and drew first blood with two quick touchdowns that really sent the Huskies reeling. Couple that with Michigan's ability to muddy up the works when the Huskies had the ball and the first quarter couldn't have gone much worse for the team in white.

But the Huskies found some momentum near the end of the second quarter and the momentum was shifting in UW's favor as the teams headed to the locker room at halftime. Getting the ball to start the third quarter, Washington had a chance to go down and set a marker early by tying the game, but instead a bit of a fluke-ish play happened where Michael Penix Jr. got stepped on as he was trying to throw a pass to the sideline. It also looked like it was tipped a bit, but Michigan's Will Johnson made a valiant play to pick the ball off even when UW RB Tybo Rogers looked to knock the ball out of his hands.

Washington's defense stood tall, but the Wolverines cashed in with three points and once again UW was down two scores. It never got any better for the Huskies, especially with self-inflicted wounds that kept them from pushing the ball down the field and ultimately led to another UM defensive back - Mike Sainristil - picking off Penix and almost going the length of the field if it weren't for the heroics of Jack Westover to deny them a pick-six.

But Michigan scored a couple plays later and that was that.

After breaking down the key moments in the game that swung momentum in Michigan's direction and away from UW, the guys then talked about the number of walking wounded on the UW side of the field. Starting with Penix and moving to Westover, Dillon Johnson, Germie Bernard, and others - it was clear by the end of the season the team's gas tank was on empty and Michigan was able to use its strength in numbers to overpower UW on both sides of the ball.

Post-game, Kim and intern Josh Wodka were able to talk to a number of players in the UW locker room, and the mood was obviously one of frustration and heavy emotion. So much blood, sweat, and tears were poured into the season, and as Kalen DeBoer rightly said, they didn't come this far just to get this far.

Before offering their final thoughts on the game and the season, Scott gave a quick update and scouting report on Washington's latest commitment, 2025 LB Zaydrius Rainey-Sale from Bethel, the top in-state prospect for the next recruiting cycle. Scott also talked about the 2024 mid-year signees that were at the game, both high school and portal players.

The guys from Dawgman.com - Kim Grinolds in Houston and Chris Fetters and Scott Eklund back in Seattle - got together one last time before the No. 2 Washington Huskies face off against the No. 1 Michigan Wolverines to break down the most important game in the history of UW Football.

To start, Kim sets the scene around NRG Stadium, including what it's been like to deal with the short turnaround from the Sugar Bowl, back to Seattle, and then to Texas all within a few days. The team that deals with the external demands might just be the team that ends up winning it all Monday night.

As far as the game itself, the guys break down their takes when looking at Michigan's offense versus Washington's defense. After a quick break, they turn the tables and look at the other matchup - Washington's offense versus Michigan's defense.

Before the pregame show ends, Kim offers up some updates on other topics surrounding the playoff games, like former UW assistant coach re-joining Steve Sarkisian at Texas, the future of Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, and the latest on Kalen DeBoer's expected extension at Washington.

The Dawgman.com interns - Luke Mounger and Jack McCauley - got together this weekend to talk about the biggest game in the history of Washington Football - No 2. UW versus No. 1 Michigan Monday night in Houston to settle the College Football National Championship for 2023.

To start the preview podcast, Luke and Jack set the scene. Have they come to terms with their alma mater playing for the National Championship? After that they break down the key matchups on both sides of the ball, starting with Washington's vaunted offense versus Michigan's top-ranked defense.

After that, Luke and Jack switch sides and look at Michigan's offense versus Washington's defense. Both undervalued compared to the other matchup, but what is going to spell the difference when UW's defense is on the field?

To finish up the half-hour preview, the guys give their final thoughts on the game, including their predictions.

Washington Quarterback Dylan Morris, Running Back Dillon Johnson, Receiver Giles Jackson, Left Tackle Troy Fautanu, Linebacker Carson Bruener, Cornerback Jabbar Muhammad, and Cornerback Elijah Jackson talk about Monday's National Championship Game in Houston against No. 1 Michigan.

Washington Receivers Coach JaMarcus Shephard, Tight Ends Coach Nick Sheridan, Offensive Line Coach Scott Huff, Safeties Coach/Co-DC Chuck Morrell, and Strength and Conditioning Coach Ron McKeefery talk about Monday's National Championship Game in Houston against No. 1 Michigan.