Enrollment:Approximately 40,000 with an undergraduate enrollment of 29,397.History:Founded Nov. 4, 1861 as the Territorial University of Washington. It was named so because the school was chartered before Washington achieved statehood, which came in 1889. The original school was a single building located on a 10-acre site in what would become downtown Seattle. The current campus is located north of downtown on a 600-acre plot of land.
Athletics:Washington football began in 1889 with a 20-0 loss to alumni of eastern Ivy League schools. Things got better fast, however, as the Huskies went unbeaten in 63 games from 1907-1917.The program has been one of the nation’s most successful in the modern era, winning the Pacific-10 Conference 15 times — third behind USC and UCLA — and seven Rose Bowls.The Huskies last ruled the college football world in 1991, when All-American defensive tackle Steve Emtman and quarterback Billy Joe Hobert led the team to the national championship.Sights to See:“Washington is one of the few schools where you can take a boat to the game,” according to Linda Hanlon, program coordinator of the UW Visitors Information Center.Husky Stadium is located on a spit of land between Lake Washington and Portage Bay, offerring waterfront views to stadium-goers. Fans can charter ferries to the stadium from restaraunts such as Chinook’s in Seattle, or they can take private boats and moor outside the stadium.The campus also offers Rainier Vista, just northwest of Husky Stadium. Running from Red Square in the heart of campus, visitors can walk through the campus area past Drumheller Fountain to the stadium. On a clear day, the walkway offers a great photo opportunity as one can see Mount Rainier from 80 miles away.Tailgating and Food:Tailgating sites to visit are mostly located near the stadium. Washington fans tend to congregate in the E-1, or RV, parking lot. It’s located just north of Husky Stadium and provides shuttles to the stadium area.Debuting this year is “The Zone,” sponsored by UW. It’s a designated Husky tailgate located on the waterfront just east of the stadium. It’s open before and after the game and offers food and drinks.Fans who want to check out the local scene can visit University Way or “The Ave.”Located about 15 minutes’ walk to the north of campus, one could describe The Ave as UW’s equivalent of LSU’s Northgate area. It offers a variety of bars and cultural restaraunts, ranging from noodle houses to thai cuisine to pizza.Alcohol on Campus:“Alcohol on campus is a lot like international waters,” said Christian Caple, sports editor of the Daily of the University of Washington. “It’s not a dry campus so you’re not going to get busted for walking around with a beer can.”Caple said University police are out and about on game days but that “they aren’t trying to ruin anybody’s day unless you’re just really belligerent.”Alcohol is prohibited in Husky Stadium and throughout the Pacific-10 Conference.