Washington spring practice, Day 3: Chippy play leads to 'great growth moment'

Tempers flared throughout, and a sixth-year senior delivered an important message after

Kalen DeBoer speaks with reporters following Washington’s spring football practice Friday. (Photo by Christian Caple)

SEATTLE — Should they remember it at all, the Washington Huskies likely will not recall Friday’s spring practice for any particular football happening. 

What they heard after it was over, with the team gathered near the middle of the turf field inside the Dempsey Indoor, should have a more lasting effect.

This being the Huskies’ third practice of spring, pads came on for the first time. That typically increases the chippiness, and sure enough, there were a handful of scraps throughout the final 11-on-11 period. Thaddeus Dixon, a junior-college transfer competing at cornerback, wound up pulling the helmet off hulking offensive lineman Julius Buelow. O-lineman Gaard Memmelaar found himself skirmishing more than once. Defensive lineman Siaosi Finau found himself pancaked after a play.

It was all a little more than coach Kalen DeBoer wanted to see on a Friday morning in March, though he praised the players’ energy. It wasn’t his voice, though, that echoed throughout Dempsey once practice concluded. Instead, sixth-year senior edge rusher Zion Tupuola-Fetui gave an impassioned speech about adhering to the program’s standards. Ja’Lynn Polk spoke up, too.

“There (were) 10 guys,” DeBoer estimated, “but those were the two that were the most vocal.”