By Nick Reeves

Dean Kirkland exemplified grittiness and possessed a tough-minded mentality that it takes to be an elite offensive lineman. An offensive lineman's job can often go unnoticed to the casual observer but Kirkland made a statement with his play in the trenches.

A three-year starter at right guard, Kirkland was known as one of the toughest men not only on the team but in the conference. In his time as a Husky, Kirkland helped to bring UW Football to national prominence with the team improving in all three of his seasons. Kirkland capped off his career in the 1990 season by defeating Iowa 46-34 in the Rose Bowl. The Huskies would finish the season ranked fifth in final Associated Press poll.

Kirkland, who was born and raised Vancouver, Wash., choose to stay in-state to play for the Huskies, and legendary head coach Don James was a major part of his decision.

"I was raised with structure and discipline, Don James exuded those qualities through his character," said Kirkland. "That's what molded my whole life and I thought that I fit well with him and his coaching style. I like winners and he was a winner. The opportunity to be in my home state is something to be very proud of."

Kirkland relished in the opportunity presented to offensive linemen, being able to control the line of scrimmage and to dictate the outcome of the game with his physicality. He did so not for individual gain, but for the betterment of the unit and the team.

"There is nothing more awesome than when you get to the line of scrimmage and you know you can move someone from Point A to Point B against their own free will," he said.

Kirkland's fellow 1990 co-captain Greg Lewis was able to run through those holes created by the Washington offensive line. That season Lewis rushed for 1,407 yards as well as notching 100 yards in nine consecutive games en route to winning the Doak Walker award for the premier running back in college football.

"He was an amazing athlete and so tough," Kirkland said of Lewis. "He always had the ability to take it down the field, and he had the elusive ability to make people miss."

Kirkland helped to propel the offense of the 1990 team to average 36.7 points per game as well as rushing for 2,715 yards, third most in school history. Kirkland credits offensive line coach Keith Gilbertson with a big part of the team's transformation.

"A big part of the rise of the program was with the new offense," said Kirkland. "Don James brought in Coach Keith Gilbertson and he changed that offense and it made a big difference."

As co-captain on the 1990 team that won the conference going 10-2, Kirkland takes a great amount of pride in being voted captain by his fellow teammates.

"Being a leader for the University of Washington," said Kirkland, "and being able to lead the team to a Rose Bowl victory is something that a lot of people don't get to experience. I cherish that."

After leading his team to the Pac-10 Championship and a Rose Bowl victory, Kirkland was named a 1990 All-Pac-10 member as well as an honorable mention All-American. Kirkland went on to be drafted in the 11th round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.

Kirkland received an AFC Championship ring after the 1991 season with Buffalo as they reached the Super Bowl. Kirkland then went on to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Denver Broncos in the final two years of his playing career.

While Kirkland has always felt a strong connection to the Husky Football program, he now watches Husky games through a different lens as both a fan and now a parent. Kirkland's son, Jaxson, is Washington's starting right guard as a redshirt freshman.

"Here I am again, 30 years later as a dad and a father, a life coach to my son," said Kirkland. "Here he is as a redshirt freshman starting, and that's amazing. He has a long career ahead of him. I'm very proud of Jaxson Kirkland."

Over the offseason Jaxson honored his father by changing his uniform number to 51, just as Dean wore when he played for Washington, and that moment had a profound impact on the elder Kirkland. First with Dean and now Jaxson, the Kirkland legacy on the Husky offensive line continues to build.

"It was really pretty cool watching my son line up as a starter against Auburn," said Dean. "It felt like I was just right inside of him with my number and my position. It was one of the most surreal experiences I've had in my life."

Kirkland believes that his son has a similar mental mindset that he did as a player, but with a greater physical ability.

"Physically he's very talented, he's built different than me, taller and bigger," said Kirkland. "I also take great pride in the fact that Jaxson has the work ethic, he gets it. In our family we have a saying called 'I can, I will'. He's a natural born leader."

Kirkland is also proud of the culture in which Coach Chris Peterson has built in his time as UW head coach, and the way in which he teaches equally hard on and off the football field.

"We're very blessed to have Coach Pete bring back discipline and character," said Kirkland. "Those things show because he's raising young men. Winning is important, we love winners. But he's also winning with academics, the program, and the structure."

Dean Kirkland will hear his name echoed through Husky Stadium once again when he is recognized as a Husky Legend today against Arizona State. With Jaxson on the field, the Kirkland family will continue to represent the past, present and future of Husky Football.