Senior Moment: Tailback Chauncey Washington

Senior Moment: Running Back Chauncey Washington

Chauncey Washington, The Long Road Home

Chauncey Washington. What a story this young man is. He suffered through years of difficulty to make the starting line up. He was injured in his freshman year, followed by two years of academic ineligibility.

He finally gained eligibility in 2006, had some good games but was hampered by injuries. 2007 figured to be his breakout year. Instead, he started the year off on the injury list, after one play in the preseason final scrimmage game at the Coliseum. He had a breakout game against California, racking up 220 yards and a touchdown in a rain-soaked stadium. Washington was again injured in the UCLA game and has been slowed down for the Rose Bowl practices. Look for Washington to have a big game in the Rose Bowl, his last in a long Trojan Career.

SCPlaybook caught up with Chauncey Washington to get his thoughts on the Rose Bowl and the end of his Trojan career.

The significance of this game according to Washington, “Just to have a chance to play in the Rose Bowl, I feel honored that we’re PAC-10 champs, to go out there.” He continued, “My personal goal, is to win, I just want to win, to win the Rose Bowl."

What was his best bowl experience? “Last year was my first year, I didn’t get to play much.” Who was the toughest team he’s played against? Washington says, “The USC defense.”

Reminiscing on what he’ll miss about being a Trojan, Washington said, “I’ll miss my teammates, I heard at the next level it’s not the same, because everybody is older, been in the league for 5, 6, 10 years and they have families. So I’m going to miss after practice, getting together with my guys, playing games, just having fun. I heard at the next level you don’t really get to do that.”

What does he have planned after the Rose Bowl? “ I’m playing in the Senior Bowl, but right now my mind is on the Rose Bowl, then we go from there.”

Chauncey Washington looks to have a victory in the Rose Bowl

Finally, Washington left a word for his Trojan fans, “I love the support out there (from the fans), they’ve been with me for five years, they gave me a lot of support when I was out there with academic issues, when I came back, everybody gave me (support), for having the fight to come back.”

Here’s wishing Chauncey Washington a great Rose Bowl game, and that the future will hold for him fun and pleasure.