Most Husky fans have seen the small defensive scoreboard at the northwest end of Husky Stadium. But few know the significance. As the D gets up, so does the crowd, more so than for the offense. It's the Purple Reign concept that has survived two coaching and hundreds of personnel changes in the '90s.
Husky defense is about attitude.
With its hard-hitting and surly demeanor, the D has always been committed to applying pressure. Neuheisel is excited about his outside enforcers for this fall. Neuheisel's great ones are Kai Ellis and Zach Tuiasosopo. Ellis and Tuiasosopo are both Washington natives, but they have walked very different paths to end up in their friendly springtime-position battle. Ellis was an under-sized defensive end when he left Kentridge High School, and was recruited by Washington State until he failed to qualify because of a learning disability.