CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: WASHINGTON VS MICHIGAN

January 6, 2024

Bralen Trice

NRG Stadium

Washington Huskies

Press Conference

Q. Curious what this is like, you guys playing the last game for Pac-12. What does it feel like as Washington Huskies right now. Who are you repping?

BRALEN TRICE: Yeah, obviously we are repping the Pac-12 and our hometown. You know, it's awesome that we get to be the last Pac-12 team. To be able to get this opportunity, you know, and we made it this far. We earned it. It's pretty cool that our guys are going to be going to the Big 10, obviously, and they're getting the chance to play dudes from there. So I think it's a great opportunity for us as a team to obviously be in the Natty and to get a feel for a Big 10 team for the next year.

Q. Have you talked about take the Pac-12s out as national champs?

BRALEN TRICE: Yeah, definitely something we talked about, but really we're just focused on going 1-0 this week and winning the game.

Q. First off, Bralen, we were down here in Houston didn't see the send off, but from the video it looked amazing. What was that like?

BRALEN TRICE: Yeah, that was crazy, walking out, seeing all of our fans. I wasn't expecting that many people because it was raining and it was cloudy and dark out, but you know they showed up and showed out, and that's Husky nation for you.

Q. Week ago we were hearing how physical Texas, is and aware about Michigan. Your thoughts, I mean, obviously, they're here for a reason, they're good but yeah thoughts on what you guys need to do.

BRALEN TRICE: I mean, obviously we got to be tough, physical out there on the field, right? We say that every week. People doubt us and say we're not physical and not tough, but we prove them wrong every week.

But Michigan's a great team, they're a tough team, but we'll go out there and do our best, obviously, to get that dub and be physical and tough, just like anybody else would. And if not, do better.

Q. So looking at Michigan, good running back as well. And you want to shut them down pretty good. What is key to stopping a good run team?

BRALEN TRICE: I think the key to stopping a good run team s really just everybody just being sound in this their assignments, knowing their job and playing as a unit, because you know, all it takes is one guy to mess up and the whole thing can crumble, right? So that's really why we pride ourselves on preparation and getting ready for the game, especially when we're facing a team like this.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: That was pretty awesome, getting all the gear from Adidas. Shout out to Adidas. Shout out Dame for pulling up and taking photos with us, but yeah, that's pretty awesome.

Q. Bralen, so obviously from the last time you played Michigan, not just two different teams, but you alluded to the other day it's like a totally different culture for you guys. Can you explain thy that is and the biggest difference from then to now?

BRALEN TRICE: In terms of culture, obviously, a completely different team, a completely different coaching staff. We still have a few guys here, and that was a while back, you know, and everything's changed and evolved, becoming a completely different setting for us. We have a better mindset as a team, and we're more prepared, both physically and mentally, for a game like this. I just think we made it this far because of how we prep for games and how we have been taught to be athletes by our coaches, obviously. It's a completely different feeling going into this game, knowing that we have that confidence to take the win. In the past, I didn't really feel that, but now, obviously, we have a great team, and we carry around that confidence and swag into games, and it got us this far, and got us all the way here.

Q. I think on the teleconference, the way you described it, you guys are "winners." What has turned you guys into being winners?

BRALEN TRICE: Obviously, I would say our coaching staff, I think. I think in the past, I wouldn't speak badly about any coaching staff; obviously, I'm grateful and blessed to have had coaches in the past. I think now we have the culture of winning and being a player-led team, and in the past, I felt like there were mindsets, people not fully bought into the culture. And now it's completely different, the entire team, all 120 guys, are now completely bought into the culture, program, and coaches, and everything. That's what I mean when I say we're winners now; everybody has the mindset we need to get to this level.

Q. What does this week look like for you, and the send-off from Husky Stadium yesterday?

BRALEN TRICE: The send-off was great, and everybody showed up, and shoutout. Everybody was there and brought that energy. You know, that Husky energy that we have in the stadium. They brought it out front for us when we're getting on the buses, and it was awesome to see that we had that many people show up for us, especially for something like a send-off; you wouldn't think that many people would show up in the rain, but they did. So it really just shows the love that Husky nation, our alumni, and all of our fans have for us.

But this week for us, it's just been, you know, full of preparation as it should be. And you know, same thing we always do, getting ready to go 1-0.

Q. What's that feeling like, when a national championship hasn't been won in Washington in 32 years, and you have entire school, city rally around you?

BRALEN TRICE: It obviously feels like a weight on your shoulder, but a good weight. It's that pressure that gives you the drive to be great. And yeah, that's all I can say, this is a great feeling to know that we have the opportunity to get out here and get a natty, and it has been a while since we got one, and it'll be the last chance for a Pac-12 team to get one. So a great feeling, and blessed, grateful to be in the seat.

Q. The team has won 21 games in a row, and beat a lot of really good teams along the way, what's left to prove?

BRALEN TRICE: Everything. We can sit here and say that we're a great team and want to feed it, but none of that matters right now. Tui brought it up the other day, I think he's on to something -- he's talking about how we were talked to in the beginning of training, and it was we were supposed to go 1-0 every week, not focus on beating every team. We just got to focus on going 1-0 that week. And so we talked about that all the time, and that's really all we're focused on right now.

Q. What's the number one key for you, when you look up at NRG stadium after the game, and you're a national champion. What happened in that game for that to happen?

BRALEN TRICE: Everyone playing at a high level, and playing as a unit, and no individuals, all team players, because that's what it takes to win a game like this.

Q. When you look at Washington, strong in the trenches, and really compact running game, and when you scout, and when you look at the tape of the Michigan offense, what do they do well, and what is the biggest point of emphasis for your defense --

BRALEN TRICE: Watching them, I think something they do really well is playing as a team, as a unit, especially up front, their O-line. They're good at communicating, they know their role, they know their job, and can trust the guy next to them to do what they need to do. Going against an O-line like that, we need to be really prepared, and we need to be good in our communication and our calls. They're not an O-line you can pick apart by isolating a single guy up front; they're just one solid unit, so you have to really work together well on the D-line to get that done.

Q. -- what does this mean to you guys in terms of getting here?

BRALEN TRICE: In my eyes, I'm just really proud to be in this position, especially with my team out here, and proud of the guys, and the work they put in and everything it has taken to get to this point. It's an awesome feeling to know we've got Husky nation, alumni, and all the fans on our back, and you can feel the love from them back home, and obviously out here, and everything over social media and everything like that. But it's an awesome feeling to know we can go out with a bang in the Pac-12.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: I think defense made the most improvement in terms of leadership and I would say communication. I think that our communication on defense is at another level now than it was in the past, and that plays a huge role across the defense. You can't play defense if no one is talking, if everybody is quiet, it means nobody's confident with their calls and plays. When you are out there during practice, and during games, everybody is screaming and talking, and I noticed this past year, that's where we've taken the next step in.

Q. I wonder if you can think back to being a senior in high school, and all the changes that have taken place in college sports, and 4 years from now, what do you think college football is going to look like.

BRALEN TRICE: As a senior in high school, I was focused on high school football, first, obviously. I was thinking about college football, but I wasn't thinking about it too much. But watching it was a spectacle for me, you know, it was better than watching the NFL, right?

But I'd say four years from now, looking back at college football or looking at what it might be. I honestly couldn't give you an answer; it's going to change a lot this next year. And I mean the Pac-12 is going to be gone, and it'll move to the 12-team whatever you call it. I think it's going to be awesome to watch, actually, because it's going to be a good change, but definitely be really different from the past, obviously.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: I haven't heard too much about that, and haven't really spoken about it. If something like that were to happen, I don't think it would be a terrible thing. Because I see I got 115 dudes around me every day. I see what dudes go through every day, and I know the struggles guys have with finance, right?

I mean, we're grateful to be able to get stipends and NIL, but sometimes it's just not enough, you've got to take care of your guys just as much as you take care of your coaches, right? I think it's important, yeah.

Q. (Question off Microphone).

BRALEN TRICE: Definitely see the money generated, right, and all that stems from our players. I mean, there wouldn't be football if it weren't for the players out here. And definitely an important thing we need to focus on players more in the future.

Q. What is it about the roster's mentality.

BRALEN TRICE: Willing to wait in terms of trusting the process.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: Yeah, it always stems back to the brotherhood we have in the team and locker room, and on the field and everything. It's different from a lot of teams, you know, we have a bond that goes past the transfer portal and NIL and stuff like that. I don't think it can be broken in terms of money and all that stuff. That's why you saw in the past year, a lot of guys stayed, because a lot of guys wanted to win a championship together, right? That was our goal last year, and we didn't get there. And we got there this year.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: I think it's huge. Experience gives you the upper hand in a lot of senses, and I think it plays a big role where we're at. And it takes me back to the reason everybody stayed together, right. We knew we had the opportunity, and if guys stayed around and stuck it out together, and not just stuck it out but really just, you know, stayed together and owned up to that brotherhood and that promise to each other.

Q. Repping the Pac-12 for the last hurrah, how big is that for you right now?

BRALEN TRICE: Huge, coming from where I came in the past, obviously. I think repping the last hurrah, as you said, for the Pac-12 is awesome. Especially the level of disrespect the Pac-12 gets across the nation, so to be the Pac-12 team that made it this far, and getting the opportunity to take home the natty is huge in the last year of the Pac-12.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: I won't go into too much detail about it. But I mean, people just, I think people have this mindset that the Pac-12 and the west side of the nation is just weaker in football, but that's not true. We played against tough teams every week, right, and see how far we got, and I don't think that argument is really valid for people anymore.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: I'll go back to always saying do my job, right, regardless if they are chipping or double-teaming or heavy personnel, right? It just comes down to doing your job, because if I'm getting chipped, that means that there's one less guy to block somebody behind me or to my right, or my left, right. So that's the most important thing is we do our job across the board and play as a unit.

Q. They had some games a lot where they ran between the tackle, and Alabama more perimeter runs, what is the most difficult about setting effective edge perimeter runs?

BRALEN TRICE: The most difficult part, I have to say obviously, is the physicality part of it. It takes a toll on your body, right, but if you're stout in your assignments and you're really prepared throughout the week and your body's feeling good, and you can set that edge pretty well, as long as you get a low base, and do your job, right?

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: I don't go into the games freestyling it. I watch the film and I prepare, and I know what kind of tackle they are. Their play style, how they work in the pass game, how they work in the run game. I definitely go into the game with a preset mindset on how I'm going to play against them, but obviously, it can change when I get into the game, they can start playing differently, with different pass sets and different run sets; it's all different.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: Yeah, I mean, that's obviously a big part of the game, but we're not really focused on that. We're focused on winning. Thank you.

Q. On a lighter note, what has been your favorite kind of swag you got?

BRALEN TRICE: In terms of Adidas?

Q. Just whatever, of what you got.

BRALEN TRICE: I like the sweatsuit, pretty nice. One of the nicer sweat suits Adidas has given us, the past 2 years I'd say, and we got it today, looks good, right? Thank you.

Q. This matchup of our defense... seems like you are more run-oriented. When you see the Michigan offensive line, is it similar to what you see in practice?

BRALEN TRICE: Michigan's offensive line is good; you can't take it away from them. I think it's similar to what we see every day in practice, especially in fall camp when we go against the ones every day, good on good. We have Joe Moore award winners on our team, and getting reps against them every day is more than I could ask for, right? It sets me up for success and gets me right in terms of preparation, so I think, yeah, going against my guys every day definitely set me up for them.

Q. What do you think about their running game?

In some ways seems straightforward. But anything they do that mixes things up, that need to be ready for

BRALEN TRICE: Yeah, there is a few things, but we're prepared for that.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: It's an amazing feeling. As a little kid, I didn't play football; I didn't start until 7th grade, late 6th grade. As a little kid, I didn't think about it much, but high school obviously something I saw and dreamed about, and had aspirations to get there. And finally being here is a great feeling. The hard work and preparation, and the hours and the days and weeks that we put into this is huge. It took a long time to get here, and finally being here feels good.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: Yeah, finally set in. And I'm just focused on winning this game, right, so we can go home and celebrate it.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: To me it's pretty cool, the last time going to be doing this and be part of it right. Haven't really thought about it too much. But cool to see. Interesting to see how it changes in the future.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: For me, I really knew I was coming back, and just because I really wanted to win a championship with the guys I had on the team, and needed to graduate. So there was that. I promised my mom I would graduate. So this time last year, you know, it didn't really -- I wasn't really thinking about going pro at all. I had my mindset.

Q. What do you think about the guys wanting to stick around?

BRALEN TRICE: Like I said, obviously we talked in the locker room so we knew who was going to stick around, who was thinking about maybe leaving, but at the end of the day, all we had to do was trust each other that we're gonna stick around and go for that championship and will go for the natty and we're here now.

Q. Anybody you had to convince to stay?

BRALEN TRICE: No, not really, pretty much everybody was had their mindset, they wanted to be here.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: I got draft feedback, it's never what you want to want it to be right? But I'm grateful that I got that feedback and I was able to work on it throughout the season and I'll be able to continue working on it after this.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: It was pretty much stay in school, but I mean I could have left, but I had my mind set on staying anyways, so didn't really matter to me.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: Yeah, I stand on it. I remember talking to Coach DeBoer, and talking about NIL and futures, and I remember telling him, I said, I could care less about that stuff to be honest, not how I am, or how I was raised. I was more focused on winning games with the guys next to me, to be honest, money doesn't really play a factor there to me.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: It's a great feeling that everybody stuck together and got this far together, right. The grind we've been through together, the hours we put in, a lot of work, blood, sweat, tears, like they say, so it's a good feeling we were able to go undefeated and get where we're at. Thank you.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: For me, it's music and prayer. I spend my time praying the night before, reading my Bible, doing my devotions. Come morning time, sitting there praying when I get up, go to breakfast, you know the rest of the day it's music, and right before that game starts, in the locker room I'm praying, and when I get on the field, I just know that the only person I fear is God, so nobody can hurt me.

Q. What does Michael mean to the team?

BRALEN TRICE: Mike has meant a lot, obviously he's the quarterback, runs the offense, and runs the team. He's a leader on this team, and I'm grateful that he stayed with us. I'm grateful he came to UW; he helped change our program and turn it around. And he's a good guy on and off the field. And now he's just gonna be, I know he's going to be great at the next level, and we're all proud of him. And I know he's proud of us as a team, so it's good to have a leader like that.

Q. What would winning a national championship mean to you?

BRALEN TRICE: To me, it's a dream come true. I would be insanely proud to be able to wear that on my back, or my sleeve, to say, actually, and be able to come home to the alumni and the fans and Husky Nation and just be able to show them that we were able to grind it out all season and going into this game, mentally prepared physically prepared, and come home with a win.

Q. How has this team used the underdog role...

(Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: We use it as motivation, because it puts our back against the wall, right? We don't like to think about it too much, but, you know, it gets us ready mentally, because obviously we can be upset that's the way it is, but, I'm grateful that we have that. Grateful that we're underdogs, my guys don't walk around like we're the big shots, it can feel like that sometimes in settings like this. But that's not what we want, we want our guys on our team, myself to be humble, and walking around knowing we should be grateful where we're at, and blessed for where we're at, and just know that it's good that we have our backs against the wall.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: I've seen quarterbacks like him before, obviously, but he's a different caliber in and of himself. He's a great player. He can move around; he can toss the ball; he's slippery; he likes to, you know, keep moving; a great leader on their team, give him props for that. I think we're well prepared and continue preparing for him and his offense. And yeah, all I can really say. Thank you.

Q. For you, thinking back to the journey the program has been on, are you able to take into account maybe while preparing here, how far you have come, and what it means to you guys personally and as a whole?

BRALEN TRICE: Yeah, personally and as a whole, I think the road we've taken to get where we are at has really humbled us. Firsthand, obviously, I know the time we put into it. Hours, and blood, sweat, and tears, and extra reps we take, when coaches are like, we're done, and our players step up, and say we're going to do more reps, and run more, and lift more, get in the weight room, and get extra lifts and get in with Coach Ben and do some boxing for cardio. So I just know firsthand that our guys prepared insanely well for the season, and for the season and to get to this point that we're at.

Q. Did you learn anything about the mental fortitude in the Sugar Bowl, and stage, anything that feels different about this for you guys, or feel pretty locked in?

BRALEN TRICE: I feel we're pretty locked in, and just another day in the office, and business is business as usual, and focused going 1-0 this week, and the rest will take care of itself.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: Playing in games like that, and being in situations like that, gives us a sense of unity, I guess. When we get in situations like that again, we can just fall back on that knowledge we had from the past games, oh we got this, don't have to put our heads down, ah dang, they came back. Am just really proud of my team, to not choke in those situations and keep their heads up, and keep playing.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: No, I don't to be honest.

Q. Any significance of you being the last 2 teams in the 4-team?

BRALEN TRICE: Yeah, you know, we're the last Pac-12 team to be able to get an opportunity like this. Being the last of anything at a level like this is huge, and So just gives us a sense of pride for the Pac-12 also. And for our hometown to go out there and do what needs to be done and get business done right?

Q. Do you guys feel that... you know, there's enough reason to be excited about the national championship, but the West Coast being behind you, is unusual?

BRALEN TRICE: Not really unusual, weird at first. Looking at social media and seeing the comments, seeing the love from other Pac-12 teams and their fans, right? And some coaches too made comments. I think it's awesome we have the Pac-12 backing us, especially in the last year of Pac-12 teams being involved. It's awesome to know that our conference has that pride in us, you know, that confidence in us, right?

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: I think it's pretty important, right? We can set a legacy for Pac-12 and UW. And for me, I'm really excited about the legacy and history that we're going to put in place for our school, right? And for our fans, to be able to bring home a Natty after a long time of not having one, is a great feeling, and I'm very proud of my guys for getting us this far. And I'll say it, once, twice, three times over and over again, I'm just proud of everybody that's involved in this.

Q. (Question Off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: We have guys from that team talk to us all the time, and give us good notes on how to act on and off the field, and how to be part of a team that's going to get this far. From the very beginning, from the very first game, we had guys come in and talk to us, and go over the history of the '91 team, and know everything about them. It's awesome to be surrounded by the support from them, and to be able to go into a game versus Michigan, and a Natty game too, which is pretty awesome.

Q. Is there one of those guys that stands out, can you drop a name...

BRALEN TRICE: I have to say, I really like Hoffman. That guy is like a hammer, seeing clips from him in the past. And just knowing how hard that team played and worked together is pretty insane.

Q. So Michigan guys were pretty up front about the fact that so many of them came back, and came back to be in this game. How much... obviously you had this one last ride. Talk about how much you talked about coming back to be here.

BRALEN TRICE: The entire time, right. You know, it started with, you know, when going 1-0 every week. Win the Pac-12 Championship, class and integrity. And at the very end you know when our win our bowl game and then get out to the natty, right. There's our standard, and what we have been talking about since the very beginning. And we followed the blueprint and now we're here.

Q. Do the coaches allow this group because it is so experienced to maybe... did they trust in guys to look beyond, to point to bigger goals.

BRALEN TRICE: Yeah, I think they trust us to point to bigger goals, and you know, look beyond, but Coach DeBoer is always talking about going 1-0 each week. You've got to be here, and can't think about the future too much. You're gonna forget about the present. So I think that's what we really like. We stand on every week just going 1-0, right, you know, don't focus on the future, don't focus on the past, focus on what's happening right now in this moment, and that's what our coaches pride ourselves on.

Q. Looking at that team, so many have been here, 3, 4, maybe 6 years, and how critical was the fact that guys have been here together for a long time?

BRALEN TRICE: It's important; it developed that unity and cohesion between the team and our teammates, and brought that maturity and that understanding of what our culture should be, and where it should be at. And I think it played a big role in where we're at right now.

Q. (Question Off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: I like to think about the more older guys stay around, the more mature guys stick around, that culture can be carried on to the next group of guys, right. So, coach came in and taught us how the culture should be, and changed it up for us, and got us right. It was obviously a struggle to change that culture from what it was in the past, but we got it down. From then on, you know, we just taught the younger guys, and taught ourselves more and more how our culture should be. And I think it's great where we're at right now, because it's gotten us places.

Q. How important is that familiarity?

BRALEN TRICE: It's really important, especially on defense, knowing what the guys are going to do, and setting you up for success or covering for a guy if something happens, you know. Just playing as a unit is what we pride ourselves on in defense, right? And knowing our job and assignment like the back of our hand.

Q. When Coach DeBoer got here and established what were the first impression of things that stood out in this team?

BRALEN TRICE: What stood out to me about the coaching staff when they first got here, they were all for us, right away. What took some guys some time to buy in, because they weren't used to coaches being like, "We're here for you, and this is us, and we're going to change it up, and get you right." But me, myself, I've seen that. I've seen that energy that they had and that they brought to the table, and I bought in right away. I was like, "I'm all in, let's ride, you know." So, I think it's important that people know that when a new staff comes in like this, especially with the guys that we have... you just got to trust, you know, trust that they care, and that they want us to have big aspirations, and they did.

Q. Did that approach, become important keeping some of the guys that decided to stay?

BRALEN TRICE: For sure, definitely.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: No, I didn't really do much football or watch watch football growing up, I said that before, but you know me I played every other sport besides football until I got to middle school, I did soccer, baseball, basketball, karate, kayaking, everything, golf.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: No, I wasn't a fan of nobody, really.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: No.

Q. (Question Off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: It's a weird feeling. Like I hear the jokes on the team, I'm an old man, right, and I don't feel like that. Feels like just yesterday, I came in 2019. And you know, got that feeling, wow, really made it here. And just excited where we're at and how far we gotten, and looking back on it, man it's been a jouney, and I'm blessed for it. Thank you.

Q. Softball answers for social media. What's your favorite sports movie?

BRALEN TRICE: Favoirte sports movie? That's tough. Rudy.

Q. If Coach DeBoer had an NIL deal what would if be?

BRALEN TRICE: I don't know the answer to that to be honest.

Q. Who is the most underated dude on this team?

BRALEN TRICE: Who's the most underrated dude on this team? From my position I would say Durf and Sekai.

Q. (Question Off Microphone).

BRALEN TRICE: Yeah, for sure. Looking back, tennis, you know, lateral movement, cardio, obviously. Basketball, lateral movement, tracking, hand-eye coordination. Everything, really. Baseball, hand-eye coordination. Baseball is a team sport too, right. So I mean, most of the time you're just standing around. So you've got to really become, you know, a good unit with your team.

BRALEN TRICE: So that really taught me team work.

Q. Did you play baseball growing up?

BRALEN TRICE: Yeah, I did a lot of things.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: I wouldn't say anything really similar besides hand-eye coordination, and hitting and throwing and catching. I was a catcher and pitcher and played outfield too.

Q. (Question off Microphone).

BRALEN TRICE: Yeah, I did basketball in high school, and track and football. Yeah, 3 sports.

Q. (Question off Microphone).

BRALEN TRICE: It was hard at first as a freshman, and then you get the hang of it. At my high school, all the sports were in one specific area. I pretty much just lived in that area the whole time. So it wasn't too hard. I'd go 20 yards outside and I'm over at the football area, and go in the other direction and I'm at baseball, and the other direction I'm at the track, so it's pretty easy.

Q. We talked a little bit at the game about your journey up to this point in Washington and ups and downs, and the chance to go 15-0. Talk to me a little bit about the culture and buy-in in the program, and saw guys like Mike come back for a 6th year. Talk to me about the culture and buy-in that exists in and around the program.

BRALEN TRICE: I was saying it earlier, the coaches showed up, and proved they wanted to change the culture and turn things around, and give us a new brand, a new name for UW football. It was easy for a lot of us to buy-in because they were trustworthy. And for me, it was right off the rip, I was able to buy in. I knew I could trust them. For some guys, it was a little harder, but, you know, over time, you started to see more and more and more as we trained, as we practiced. I think it's a huge part of why guys stayed around, especially, besides the buy-in for the culture, the culture that involves the locker room, the team culture, and brotherhood, and that's a huge aspect of why dudes stayed around.

Q. Do you have a message for a lot of the younger players looking to go to the West Coast and play football in a conference that will be a national conference like the Big 10?.

BRALEN TRICE: I would say this: Don't listen to what anybody says about the West Coast. We're just as good as everybody else, and tough as everybody else. And for the young guys out there, keep playing, trust the process, and trust God, and keep working, right?

Q. Bralen, how has travel been this week, probably feels quick. How does the body feel?

BRALEN TRICE: Body feels good right now, it's just a lot of treatment, taking care of myself. It was a weird transition, you know, going straight from New Orleans to home for like two two days and straight back to here, but it's awesome we get the opportunity to do that. We're doing all the right things, and taking care of our bodies and minds in the process.

Q. Obviously a veteran group, a lot of guys that have played a lot of football, and that helps in a situation like this. A group that can handle, and letting the coaches get the game plan together, before coming here today?

BRALEN TRICE: Like I said before, it's important we have all these mature guys, that's a big part of the culture. And it wasn't too hard for us, just going home for 2 days and coming back. And we knew it was right for us, and right for the coaches to get us ready for the next game.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: Hard to do, You know, I've been beat up the whole season my body has been hurting. But towards the end of the season. I don't know, it's weird. I feel good and my body feels good. Mentally I feel good. I feel prepared for anything that goes on the field, and all the guys around me, feel the same way.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: They definitely deserve that respect, and deserve that award. And going against them every day, gives us the next level of preparation. Every single guy on the O-line is probably one of the toughest, mentally sound guys on the field as an O-lineman, I've seen many O-linemen in my career, if I was playing those guys in the game it would be pretty tough.

Q. I want to know what is your dream NIL deal?

BRALEN TRICE: Probably be with a fishing company, and fishing rods, and outdoor equipment. I love doing all that - camping, backpacking, fishing, and all that, so that'd be pretty awesome to get a deal like that.

Q. Any specific brand?

BRALEN TRICE: Any specific brand?

No. Orvis would be pretty dope.

Q. Can I get the player perspective on what the social media channels are like for you as a team, and work they have been doing.

BRALEN TRICE: They really stepped it up. Casey is the best media dude I've seen at this level. He does a great job of putting videos together, pictures, edits. If you go on our social media platforms right, you'll see all of it. All the cool little album edits, the vinyl edits. But, yeah, he cares about our team on another level, not just, "Oh, I'm making videos for these guys" or whatever. He loves the team, his job, and loves what he's doing. Not just him, but everybody else surrounding him has the same mindset. It's great we have them doing our media, and Casey does an amazing job, and Hadley does an amazing job, everybody in that area does that really well.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: Obviously, we watched a lot of film and video, and we're working on it every day, working on tackling every day. It's standard for us, every day. Not contact, but wrapping up, and even if we're not hitting, we're working on our form and footwork.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: Girl dinner? Never heard of it, but love to know what it is though.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: I'll eat Sweet Tarts, spicy, or Hot Cheetos, the lime ones, and you can't get the regular ones. Those aren't right. You ever had the shortbread cookies that come in the blue tin? Yeah, those go crazy. Yeah, those, Vitamin Water, and then that's pretty much it. I don't do that too often because the next morning you wake up and your stomach's on fire.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

BRALEN TRICE: Sadness of the Pac-12 being gone? I love being part of it. I love the Pac-12, I love the people involved, and the fans. It's definitely sad it's breaking apart, I don't want to see it go. I wish I was able to leave my legacy, and come back, and watch Pac-12 games, and obviously see that conference thrive as it should. But, you know, two of its greatest seasons last 2 years, and it's confusing to me that we're going to be dispersing the Pac-12. Maybe one day it'll make a comeback somehow, some way, but I look forward to seeing where everybody goes on, or seeing where everybody goes in the future, with all these teams in the Pac-12. Thank you.