BYU football: Locker’s looking for a little redemption in rematch

BYU quarterback Riley Nelson was serving an LDS mission when that game was played, but he's watched a replay of it.

"That was an exciting game. It was a battle until the end," he said. "It took a judgment call by the official. It took a miraculous play by us to block the extra point. So I expect much of the same on Sept. 4. It's going to be a battle. They're a good football team. And we expect the same kind of game."

Not long after the conclusion of the 2008 season, Washington hired former BYU All-American quarterback Steve Sarkisian as its head coach.

Two years ago, Washington's program was in a downward spiral. For the Huskies, who went 5-7 in Sarkisian's first season, a victory Saturday at BYU might signal that the Huskies are on the cusp of returning to their glory days.

And a Washington win would likely soothe Locker's bad memories from that 2008 game against the Cougars.

"I'm sure Locker hasn't forgotten about that experience," Rich said. "Maybe it's kind of died down a little bit because of the coaching change and the new players and stuff like that. But I'm sure they remember that.

"I'm sure coach Sarkisian will talk to them a little bit about that. I don't think the fact we beat them in 2008 is going to make them want to beat us any more. They're going to want to win the game just like we want to win the game."

e-mail: jeffc@desnews.com