Throughout the week leading up to the Culligan Holiday Bowl, Washington senior tailback Willie Hurst will be keeping a diary about his bowl experience.

So after practice on the 24th, I drove home to L.A. with my teammate Jafar Williams. It was nice being able to go home for Christmas. I mostly sat around and hung out with my family. I don't get to do that much going to school so far away. By the time I got home on Christmas Day, my little sister was already in bed asleep. I still haven?t gotten my shopping done though. I?m going to hit some after-Christmas sales and hope for the best!

Wednesday was our last preparation for the game. Not a walk-through but no shoulder pads or equipment, just our helmets. We just got the kinks out of some of the plays we?ve been working on. We ended practice with the Senior?s Last Hit. It?s kind of our tribute or farewell to the seniors. Everybody lines up on two sides and there is a tackling dummy and a cushion at the end of the line. The seniors run down the middle and give a hit, doing anything they want. I?ve seen it for four years and it was finally my turn so it was exciting.

We've been working really hard this week. I really want to win this game! I think it will be a very fast-paced game. The Texas Longhorns are so athletic and strong so we will have our hands full. The game will be fast and furious and whoever can weather the storm at first will come out with the victory.

After the season, I'm going to get to be a part of a video game! I don?t know how I got picked for it but for the next football game they are going to have me in the suit with all the little balls on it so they can capture my movements. I get to do all the skill position stuff. Trying to get off the bump, touchdown dives, quarterback, running back. It'll be fun because I love video games, I play them all the time. I even brought my PlayStation2 with me. I love Madden but my new favorite game is Grand Theft Auto III. I?ve been getting a little grief about it from my teammates though. As soon as they heard about it, they?re like ?You?re doing it? That?s going to be a slow game!? I also get some grief about my goatee but I?m keeping it. I want to see how long it grows. It hasn?t grown much lately. Usually I have a goatee but not this long. It?s just a little something different so I?m not going to change it just yet!

Tonight won't be very exciting. We're out of practice around 7 p.m. and we have a snack at the hotel around 8. Curfew is at midnight so I probably won't be going out. Things are starting to tighten up since it?s getting so close to gametime. We have to tighten things down and get ready.

After this is all over, I will go back home to L.A. for awhile. I'll have some down time to let my body rest. But then I have to start working out for some All-Star games and the next level, the NFL. I?ve been hearing some pretty good things so hopefully the opportunity will present itself. I just want to play.

But for now, I want this game!

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