As a lifelong University of Washington football fan, Hayden Schuh often daydreamed of running out of the tunnel onto the Husky Stadium field.
The last three years, the Skyview High School grad has lived that dream on Saturdays in the fall.
And Schuh’s senior season has seen Washington return to national prominence.
For someone who remembers cheering the Rose Bowl team of 2001, but also the 0-12 team of 2008, Schuh’s football journey has been both sweet and surreal.
“It gets me a little choked up when I think about it,” Schuh said in a phone interview last week. “To think that one day I could wear the Purple and Gold and run out of that tunnel in front of 70,000 screaming people.”
The path that led Schuh to that Husky Stadium tunnel wasn’t easy to travel. After not making the team as a freshman, it would have been easy not to see the light at its end.
But his story is one of persistence in pursuit of a goal. He has embraced his unglamorous but important role as senior leader of the defensive scout team.
“I think a lot about that Muhammad Ali poster that says ‘Impossible is nothing,’ ” Schuh said. “Nobody can tell you that you can’t achieve your childhood dreams.”
Rocky beginning
For Schuh, there was only one choice for college.
He is the fourth generation of his family to attend UW. His grandparents are longtime football season ticket holders.
Schuh attended his first UW game as an infant. Several subsequent Saturdays were spent in Seattle watching the likes of Marquis Tuiasosopo, Jake Locker and Reggie Williams.
At Skyview, Schuh excelled at both football and soccer. He helped the Storm win the 2012 state title in soccer, earning all-state honorable-mention honors as a senior.
On the football field, he excelled as a defensive back and placekicker on the 2011 team that reached the state title game.
At Washington, Schuh hoped to make the football team as a walk-on placekicker. He didn’t make the cut.
But that didn’t mean his football career was finished.
“I just had a love and desire to keep playing football,” he said.
New coach, new chance
Schuh’s freshman year was one of major upheaval for the Washington football program. Head coach Steve Sarkisian left after the 2013 season to take the job at USC.
When Chris Peterson was hired from Boise State, Schuh saw an opportunity.
“I knew from his time at Boise State how much he leaned on walk-ons,” Schuh said.
Schuh didn’t want to kick anymore, so he tried out as a defensive back. He made the team during spring ball in 2014.
Schuh’s role was limited to special teams and the scout team. But still, he was sharing the sideline with future NFL players Danny Shelton, Shaq Thompson and Hauoli Kikaha.
“I was a little star-struck at first,” Schuh said. “But then you realize that these are my brothers now.”
Senior sparkplug
Schuh embraced his unglamourous role so much that he was named MVP of the special teams scout squad. In the season’s fourth game, against Georgia Southern, he saw his first game action.
Playing on the kickoff team, he made a tackle on his very first play.
From there, Schuh continued to see action on the kickoff team and occasionally as a defensive back. He finished his sophomore season having played in eight games, making five tackles and forcing one fumble.
His junior year, Schuh played in 11 of 13 games, accounting for four tackles. This season, he has played in all but two games.
But Schuh’s contribution can’t be characterized by stats or playing time. He’s the senior leader of the scout team, especially the defensive backs. His unit’s job is to mimic the opponent the UW offense will face in the next game.
Quarterback Jake Browning has entered his games very well prepared. Through Saturday’s game at Utah, he has thrown 28 touchdowns and three interceptions. In leading the No. 4 ranked Huskies to an 8-0 record, Browning has put himself in the Heisman Trophy conversation.
Schuh’s role extends beyond the practice field.
“I see myself as a leader from a cultural aspect,” he said. “I like being a spark plug. In the morning, after I’ve had a cup of coffee, I like to get everyone going. Before practice I’ll be yelling ‘Let’s go. Have a great day.’ ”
Schuh hopes to enter coaching, perhaps as a graduate assistant at UW.
But whatever path his post-football journey takes, he’ll always remember running out of that Husky Stadium tunnel and into his lifelong dream.
