In honor of our friendly Odyssey rivalry this week and in honor of my sister attending the University of Washington (Seattle) in the fall I have compiled a list of the top five reasons Gonzaga is better than UW. Now I know what you're all thinking, there's more than five reasons, and you're right-- there is. However I think five is a suitable number to make a point and provide sufficient enough reason for my sister to pull her $200 deposit from UW and commit to Gonzaga. (It's not too late!!)
*Disclaimer: for all you Huskies out there, this is my extremely biased opinion. I obviously have an undying loyalty for my school. I do not mean any offense, just some friendly competition, but Go Zags!!
1. Basketball. Duh.
Gonzaga University is home to legendary basketball players and the winningest arena in the nation (yes winningest is a word). We're so great that a former player for UW transferred to our school to play for us. Nigel Williams Goss set the UW freshman single-season assists record with 140 , has scored 30 or more points in a game during his career, and led UW with careers highs in assists and field goals. Basically Nigel Williams Goss is a badass, how do you like them apples UW?
Not only do we have a killer team we have a killer crowd. We're in the top 25 in the nation for student section and Tent City is nationally known. What do you have UW?
2. We're small.
Our class sizes our small, our campus is small and we're a family. Everyone at Gonzaga loves each other and knows each other. Nothing beats walking to class and seeing the smiling faces of your fellow Zags. Gonzaga is an eyes up campus. Meaning we encourage every Zag to keep their eyes up and greet their peers, professors, etc. What other school has Friendship Friday? Zags literally stand in front of the Hemmingson Center singing, dancing, taking photos together, loving on each other. Nothing says Gonzaga like your professor inviting you to their farm for breakfast (true story). In my humble opinion UW is too big. Too many libraries and too disconnected. I like small.
3. Our campus is gorgeous.
Like holy cow. Our campus is beautiful.
Not saying UW isn't nice but HAVE YOU SEEN GONZAGA?! Unfortunately because Gonzaga is a private college and University of Washington is public it's hard to find a definitive ranking of both GU and UW on the same list, but i'll just settle it now and say Gonzaga is beautiful-er (I had to make up a word because it's THAT beautiful)4. Our colors.
There is no doubt that we are America's favorite school and team. How can this be true you ask? Because our colors are literally red, white and blue. There's no need to keep going because my point has been made. So I ask you, do you love America? Then you must love the Zags! Also purple and gold is just tacky ;)
5. Basketball again...
Okay I have a different point this time. Gonzaga and University of Washington will renew a rivalry that we haven't seen since 2006. Tim Booth sat down with the head coach of University of Washington who said "If you've been around the last few years you've heard me say a hundred times, 'We will play Gonzaga again, and now we will."
Well there you have it, GU and UW will begin the new series for the 2016-2017 season and Booth says it's going to be a good one. There said lingering animosity between Romar and Few over player recruitment and if that doesn't spell excitement then the fact that this rivalry is going to last four whole years should get you fired up. UW... BRING IT ON!