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Penix Is a Picture of Cool as He Puts In Spring Football Reps

The Husky quarterback assumes an effective leadership role.
Dan Raley|
Penix Is a Picture of Cool as He Puts In Spring Football Reps
Penix Is a Picture of Cool as He Puts In Spring Football Reps

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Washington Huskies

Michael Penix Jr. is a lot like those purple seat cushions now strewn all over Husky Stadium, the ones left half hanging off the benches, after resisting going into storage.  

Both look well utilized but forever comfortable.

Ten practices into spring football, the University of Washington quarterback stands in a media scrum much like a game-day pocket. You just can't touch him. He hardly flinches when pressed about something that might benefit him personally — such as winning the Heisman Trophy. In effect, he sidesteps the topic by addressing another.

"I'm looking for a national championship," Penix said. "A national championship comes with those awards, those big awards. We get that national championship, whatever comes with it is what it is."

Well, simple enough.

Penix is alternately folksy with his soft Florida drawl, extra funny when offering his particular take on things. Such as his possible involvement in a UW Heisman campaign on his behalf.

"It's just a button," Penix says mischievously, "and I hit retweet."

As he prepares for his sixth season of college football, and second in Montlake, Penix looks as polished as he's ever been at the UWand probably at Indiana for that matter, too, and he throws the ball as hard as he's ever done.

In a year's time, the savvy lefty notes how he's getting more repetitions in Husky practice now that he's the designated starter and not in a three-player quarterback competition, as he was last spring with Dylan Morris and Sam Huard. 

Penix keeps everyone loose on the field yet moving down it as fast as they can. Even with all of the success he's enjoyed, especially after coming to Seattle, this veteran quarterback is quick to cajole more effort out of his teammates while keeping things light in approach.

"I'm going to give it my all," he said, "because I expect it from them."

Walk-on quarterback Tyson Lang and Husky starter Michael Penix Jr. share a spring practice moment in Dempsey Indoor. 

Michael Penix Jr. makes sure he maintains ball possession as the run through a spring practice drill. 

Stepping around padded obstacles, Michael Penix Jr. works on his steps while setting up to throw. 

The press corps that follows University of Washington football finds Michael Penix Jr. to be an entertaining interview. 

Not permitted to run much during the regular season, Michael Penix Jr. gets his exercise during Husky spring practice. 

Michael Penix Jr. sets himself as he works on throwing from the pocket in Dempsey Indoor. 

Michael Penix Jr. walks through Dempsey Indoor and its inspirational signage. 

Michael Penix Jr. shows off his passing form as he unleashes one during spring practice in Dempsey Indoor.

However, Penix is the last guy on the Husky roster who's going to pull rank or attitude on any of his football teammates. He's often spotted chatting up one of his walk-on quarterbacks, such as Tyson Lang or Teddy Purcell, as much as he is the star power in veteran receivers Rome Odunze or Jalen McMillan.

The Husky quarterback is motivated to please a fan base that has wholly accepted him; to enjoy his stadium surroundings, being able to play in the so-called "Greatest Setting in College Football;" and to continue to celebrate staying healthy this past year after four season-ending injuries at Indiana.

He's appreciative to finally have some control over the direction of his football career. A tad wary, but thankful. It keeps him humble.

"Every rep that I have I treat it like my last," Penix said. "For me, coming through what I've been through, I understand it could be your last rep of the season at any time. Obviously, I don't think about that, but I always think about me going out there and doing my best each and every play — because I know it can be taken away from me."

 

 

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Dan Raley
DAN RALEY

Dan Raley has worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, as well as for MSN.com and Boeing, the latter as a global aerospace writer. His sportswriting career spans four decades and he's covered University of Washington football and basketball during much of that time. In a working capacity, he's been to the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the MLB playoffs, the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and countless Final Fours and bowl games.

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