SEATTLE — We are just five days away from seeing the Huskies in the National Championship Game against Michigan.
Fans and local businesses are gearing up for a busy night.
"Bread and butter have been the UW tradition, of this being a Husky bar," said Nathan Clark a bartender at Big Mario's Northlake Tavern, a husky bar that was closed for most of last year and re-opened in August just in time for kick-off.
Big Mario's Northlake Tavern is located less than a mile away from the University of Washington campus. You may know this longtime business as "Northlake Tavern and Pizza House."
"It's been an adventure," Clark said. "We literally opened the door at the start of the season and sort of the baptism by fire just jump in that hot pan in the kitchen."
But after 70 years the original owners shut it down last year and Big Mario's took over. The beloved pizza shop was renovated, and UW decor and memorabilia are scattered throughout the business.
"We crank out pies and we crank out tables,” Clark said. “It's great to have such a supportive group of people to come to the Tavern and show their love for the Dawgs."
The love for this team is felt throughout the University of Washington campus.
"If we don't win this game, I don't know what we're going to do with our lives," said Evan Mao.
Mao is a freshman at UW. You might've seen him at some of the Husky games this year. He plays the trombone for the UW Marching Band. He's been to every game of the Huskies’ historic run, except for the Sugar Bowl.
But he's thrilled to say he'll be in Houston on Monday. With UW footing the bill to this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"Every person in the marching band is going,” Mao said. “We go to wherever the football team goes. I will be there in person, seeing the bowl, seeing everything, it'll be awesome."
It's an experience Mao does not take for granted. He said he will do everything he can to help the Dawgs win.
"I'll be playing as loud as I can to really show my support for the Huskies and really ramp up that atmosphere, get the hype up," Mao said.