By George Devine, Sr.

As the teams prepare for the Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco, the Cougars of Brigham Young University feel confiden in opposing the Huskies from the University of Washington. Both teams finished their regular season schedules with 8-4 records, considerably better than the standard for bowl eligibility. This will be BYU’s ninth consecutive postseason game. “We feel we’re playing a fantastic opponent,” said coach Bronco Mendenhall, “the best postseason opponent in nine years! Washington will play very hard. Washington plays very fast and they are very strong defensively; I expect them to be tough!”|

When asked what effect the game would have on the 2013 experience for his team, Mendenhall said, “I’m already considering the season a success,” pointing to the tough opposition his players faced in their regular schedule opponents. “I’m very proud of my team,” he remarked, singling out senior linebacker Kyle Van Noy. “He kept his word. He graduated in four years and kept his commitment”, acknowledging the fact that the Reno native could have chosen otherwise by entering the draft.

Van Noy himself said, “I just want to make plays and be a difference maker,|” acknowledging that the Huskies have “great receivers and running backs, and a quarterback that can throw!”

Oddsmakers expect the game to be decided by as few as three points. Kickoff will be at 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, December 27.

This will be the twelfth installment of the game, and the last to take place at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Beginning in 2014 the contest will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, the new home of the San Francisco 49ers. From that year through 2019 the game will be played by opponents from the Pac-12 and Big 10.