2) The UW did NOT want him signing with a rival, in my dad’s case that meant WSU. The Cougs basketball coach at the time was close friends with my grandparents (and my dad was a 2nd team All-State basketball player)
Yeah it’s weird to reply to my own comment, however one of Joe Ryan’s OL peers, Mike Briggs, was one of my dad’s best friends and who I’m named after. After graduating from UW with a degree in physics (and being named Academic All-American), Mike Briggs attended Harvard for graduate school (where he obtained his MBA), which is where Mike Ryan, Joe’s younger brother another former Husky, also attended graduate school, though the younger Ryan earned his law degree.
It gets weirder, another of my dad’s close friends, not coincidentally with the same first name, also attended Harvard Law School and would have overlapped with John Mills’ great uncle Mike
Great storytelling Christian! Really enjoy you filling us in with all the details. He is the best OL we have had in quite some time. Need a couple more like him and we will be ready for next year.
I love watching him go after an adversary but, even more so, I appreciate how he helps his teammates up or celebrates their accomplishments. He strikes me as someone who enjoys life and would be fun to be around.
Wow, what an incredible story! Brought tears to my eyes when John told his grandpa and wore his number. He was already one of my favorite players, but now even more so. Incredibly bright future including the NFL if he stays healthy. He could be an All-American LT if you ask me. No limits.
Excellent article! Now that you mention Joe and Kathy Ryan lived in Maryland--I checked my email, they used to host the DC UW Alumni Salmon BBQs every Spring, had a terrific time!
Love your words Christian, but OMG that photo says so much! Truly enormous eight year old barreling down the field in search of someone to truck. Then as now it seems. I've enjoyed watching him goodheartedly dispatch his opponents.
Christian, your video of John Mills hobbling out to greet his teammates after the Illinois victory told me a lot. His joy and competitive energy and leadership was off the charts.
Terrific job again Christian. Having this kind of in-depth coverage is so much better than what we get on the internet.
I thought I was going to have to get a pencil and pad to track the genealogy. 😀 Kudos to the Mills family for the enduring connection to U-dub.
Right?! I graphic with the family tree would be awesome with their UW roots going back more than a century. Amazing.
This is amazing - my dad was in the same recruiting class as John Mills grandfather
What was his NIL deal?
My dad was recruited for two primary reasons:
1) The UW badly wanted his HS teammate
2) The UW did NOT want him signing with a rival, in my dad’s case that meant WSU. The Cougs basketball coach at the time was close friends with my grandparents (and my dad was a 2nd team All-State basketball player)
A soda and a bag of chips? 😁
Yeah it’s weird to reply to my own comment, however one of Joe Ryan’s OL peers, Mike Briggs, was one of my dad’s best friends and who I’m named after. After graduating from UW with a degree in physics (and being named Academic All-American), Mike Briggs attended Harvard for graduate school (where he obtained his MBA), which is where Mike Ryan, Joe’s younger brother another former Husky, also attended graduate school, though the younger Ryan earned his law degree.
It gets weirder, another of my dad’s close friends, not coincidentally with the same first name, also attended Harvard Law School and would have overlapped with John Mills’ great uncle Mike
Great storytelling Christian! Really enjoy you filling us in with all the details. He is the best OL we have had in quite some time. Need a couple more like him and we will be ready for next year.
In an era of nomadic players and coaches, this is a reminder that deep connections can survive. Carson Breuner was another reminder.
If it was Fisch’s idea to use Pop’s number, that’s an excellent consideration…
I love watching him go after an adversary but, even more so, I appreciate how he helps his teammates up or celebrates their accomplishments. He strikes me as someone who enjoys life and would be fun to be around.
My dad played on that ’64 Rose Bowl team with Mills’ grandpa. Always special to read about a legacy Dawg.
With all this coaching carousel talk, it kinda feels like the old days, with kids choosing the school, not the coach.
Thanks for penning, CC.
Awesome story, Christian.
UW pursued Mills more aggressively than UT with NIL.
People that whine about UW not having means or a funded program need to STFU.
We got us a Legacy War Daddy! Thanks Joe!!
You’re telling me John Mills has a younger brother?
Great article Christian! Thanks for the in depth background - once a dawg always a dawg!
The most awesome story to date. Just love it:)
Wow, what an incredible story! Brought tears to my eyes when John told his grandpa and wore his number. He was already one of my favorite players, but now even more so. Incredibly bright future including the NFL if he stays healthy. He could be an All-American LT if you ask me. No limits.
Thanks, CC!
Excellent article! Now that you mention Joe and Kathy Ryan lived in Maryland--I checked my email, they used to host the DC UW Alumni Salmon BBQs every Spring, had a terrific time!
Love your words Christian, but OMG that photo says so much! Truly enormous eight year old barreling down the field in search of someone to truck. Then as now it seems. I've enjoyed watching him goodheartedly dispatch his opponents.
Awesome story, Christian. Joy to read this
Christian, your video of John Mills hobbling out to greet his teammates after the Illinois victory told me a lot. His joy and competitive energy and leadership was off the charts.
Really enjoyed this, Christian. Phenomenal piece. Thank you.
That's a great story! Well- they're all good, but the best ones are those we wouldn't ever know about if it wasn't for you!