See Michael Penix Jr. Get Flustered, Flushed from Media Pocket
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Michael Penix Jr. handles news conferences much like he does a snap count — always calm and collected, in a steady cadence, knows exactly what to say and do.
Except on Saturday afternoon, following the team's final spring question, this highly accomplished University of Washington quarterback got a little flustered.
In an old team room where legendary Husky coach Don James used to hold court, Penix got flushed from the pocket. He had to scramble, if not regroup.
It was fun seeing the golden one stumble a little, lose a little of his football polish.
Once a UW publicist said, "We'll take one more," meaning question rather than pass play, a voice to the right of Penix spoke up.
"Mike, right here," said a persistent guy all dressed in purple but without an accredited news organization, drawing laughs once he opened his mouth.
"How's a guy like Rome in the locker," that person wanted to know. "He's so funny. Is it hard to concentrate day in and day when he's cracking jokes and getting you riled up?"
Penix took one look at his inquisitor, which, of course, was wide receiver Rome Odunze, who was sitting in the front row with assorted media types, ducked down in his seat and tried to play along.
He attempted to get back on his personal script with an answer, but he covered his face and stumbled.
"I can't concentrate right now," Penix said. "He's tripping me up."
He first pretended that Odunze wasn't in the room. Then he spoke directly to his pass-catcher.
Penix clearly was off his public persona right now. He referred to UW receiver Denzel Boston as Denzel Washington before he caught the mistake himself, now chattering to himself.
"He's got me off track now," the starting quarterback said, scuffling in an entertaining way.
After finishing out this spring-ending bit, Penix was ushered down the tunnel to waiting fans hoping to have their photo taken with him, with a long line forming to a Husky backdrop set up for the moment.
This UW football player turned media member routine has become spring tradition in Montlake.
A year ago, then redshirt freshman wide receiver Lonyatta Alexander Jr. grabbed an iPhone for recording purposes, joined a media scrum in the same room and played the part of reporter with quarterback Sam Huard, also a redshirt freshman.
More laughs, more Husky antics.
Both of those players had enjoyed a strong closing spring scrimmage in 2022. Unfortunately for them, that would mark the high points of their UW football careers.
Huard now plays for Cal Poly, Alexander for Montana State, Big Sky schools.
A year from now, the media-savvy Penix and Odunze should be preparing for the NFL draft, maybe each as a first-rounder. They'll be smiling, though maybe not cracking jokes.
And they'll be ready for any question-and-answer session.
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