Road to 1991 Perfection: Donald Jones Recalls How 'One Mistake Could Have Killed It'
Donald Jones lives in North Carolina now, exactly 30 years and 3,000 miles away from one of the most defining moments of his life: the University of Washington football program's 1991 national championship.
He was an edge rusher on that team who unnerved every defense he went up against. He played in the National Football League. He's now into all kinds of digital opportunities involving phones and YouTube. Just looking at his videos, Jones even creates graphics that are amazing.
The national title, however, holds a special place in his world, affecting everything he's done since. The immediate celebration was something special. He and the Huskies went to the White House and shook hands with President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush.
"It gives you a certain level of confidence and a certain level of pride to know that we made history," Jones said.
This is another in a series of vignettes about the UW's 1991 national title run, supplementing the conversation for the recently completed pandemic-influenced season. We're now in the aftermath of the Huskies' 12-0 season in this throwback replay that will conclude soon.
Jones, whose son Donald Jones Jr. will be a desirable college recruit soon as an edge rusher, speaks to youthful audiences from time to time and tells them all about his experiences.
He reminds them how 100-plus guys came together to set goals and carried them out in an organized and dedicated fashion shepherded by legendary UW coach Don James.
Everything had to happen in a well-choreographed manner with everyone buying in. And now, three decades later, these UW players still carry the championship moment with them.
"We have that bond that we'll have forever," Jones said. "Think of the hard work that went into it. You have to be perfect. One mistake could have killed it all. To come out No. 1, that's extremely hard to do — and we did it."
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