Gaskin rushed for 135 yards on 18 carries against Oregon State. He added four catches for 24 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Huskies’ 42-23 victory. As the game ended, his teammates and coaches took the usual route toward the middle of the field to shake hands with opposing players and coaches. Before Gaskin joined teammates, and before he stopped for a live TV interview at midfield, the senior running back sought out the sideline crew.
That kind of gesture, Schwendeman said, is pretty typical of Gaskin, who before games will greet crew members with a handshake or hello. Schwendeman, 49, grew up in Seattle going to Husky games with his grandfather.
He loves the Dawgs, and he loves the small part he plays in the game-day operations at Husky Stadium. On occasion, he is asked to assist the Huskies at road games. He was in Pullman two years ago when the Huskies clinched the Pac-12 North title.
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And he’ll be back on the visitors’ sideline at Martin Stadium on Friday evening for the 111 th Apple Cup, when the No. 16 Huskies try to reclaim the North against the No. Before leaving the field for good Saturday evening, Gaskin gave Schwendeman the white hand towel Gaskin had tucked into the back of his waist during the game. Schwendeman later gave it to the son of his good friend, Lance Phillips. Twelve-year-old Jack Phillips is a big Husky fan too, and he has been having a hard time in a new school, his father said.
Schwendeman thought the memento might cheer him up a bit. “He lit up,” Schwendeman said.
It was a small gesture, but as Schwendeman has learned, no kind gesture is too small.