BELLEVUE, Wash. -- For Bellevue (Wash.) teammates Bishard “Budda” Baker, Myles Jack and Sean Constantine, Washington’s 17-13 win over No. 8 Stanford allowed them to experience something special for the first time.
They stormed the field.
When the clock hit zero, the talented teammates found themselves surrounded by players, fans and coaches. They wandered into the sea of people celebrating the upset. They savored a moment they won’t soon forget.
“It was awesome, actually,” said Baker, a junior safety on the ESPN Watch List. “Everyone just jumped off the bleachers and, I don’t know, had a good time.”
Jack, a UCLA commit, said he was at one point tackled by Washington’s ace recruiter Tosh Lupoi.
“That was crazy,” Jack said. “Just running in the middle of the field and being a part of that, getting to witness an upset like that, that was big. That was cool.”
Constantine, a linebacker committed to Washington, spent most of the game standing on his seat. He was ready to put on pads and contribute, so he couldn’t wait to storm the field.
“It was amazing,” Constantine said. “Obviously, that’s where I’m going next year and, just the atmosphere, it was something I’ve never seen before in college football. There was something special there. And, to see them pull off the upset against No. 8, was huge. The crowd was amazing last night.”
Baker and Jack were at UCLA’s 27-20 loss to Oregon State at the Rose Bowl one week earlier and Jack noted the different atmospheres from one week to the next.
“The difference was, it was a blackout,” Jack said. “UCLA’s school wasn’t in but, at the same time, the atmosphere was different. UW was coming in off a bye week, so they were coming in really hyped. The fans and everything, it was crazy. That was probably more of the difference.”
But, while the win made an impact on both Jack and Baker, it won’t be a final factor in their decisions.
“It always does,” Baker said. “Those games are always good. But, at the end of the day, it’s my own decision.”
Washington coaches Steve Sarkisian, Justin Wilcox, Peter Sirmon and Eric Kiesau were all at Bellevue’s 49-0 victory over Kirkland (Wash.) Juanita the day after the program upset the Cardinal. Since Jack committed to UCLA, the Huskies have put a full-court press on the 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker recruit.
“Even though I committed, just to see their persistence and everything, it catches my eye,” Jack said. “I like that. They’ve been going even harder since I committed, so that was cool.”
Jack said Washington's coaching staff sent him a box of letters like the one Baker was given after the Portland State game. But he hasn't seen it yet.
“Apparently, I have letters waiting for me,” Jack said. “I’ve got to read all those, just like Budda got the special treatment. UW, they’re coming hard and you have to respect them.”
Constantine continues to try and sway his teammate to the Huskies. But, in the end, it is Jack’s decision.
“I’m always working him,” Constantine said. “Once again, I made a decision that I feel like is the best possibility for me to personally succeed. I just want him to fully understand what I’m saying and I want him to get there. But, of course, it’s his decision. I’m going to, at the end of the day, let him make it.”