The gridiron in San Diego beats Shoreline in December

Congratulations to the University of Washington (UW) football team, which was selected to play in the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl in San Diego on December 30.

After enduring a God-awful spell of losing seasons from 2004 to 2009 (17-54, 24 percent winning percentage) -- including a winless 2008 campaign -- the Huskies became "bowl eligible" with a 6-6 record in an inconsistent season that three weeks ago seemed bleak. But the Huskies won three-straight contests and will spend December in Southern California -- albeit, San Diego. Credit UW Coach Steve "Sark" Sarkisian for keeping his eye on the prize -- the first Husky bowl game since the 2002 Sun Bowl.

While Former Heisman Trophy Candidate (FHC) Jake Locker saw his campaign for college football's top honor sink like a brick after a beat down by the University of Nebraska -- ironically, the same team that the Huskies will face in three weeks -- the Husky quarterback will enjoy a perk that predecessors Carl Bonnell, Johnny Durocher, Ronnie Fouch, Casey Paus, Isiah Stanback never experienced: the privilege of playing college football after Pearl Harbor Day. Seriously, it's nice to see Locker enjoy playing in a bowl game during his collegiate career.

What better way to celebrate a much-needed bright spot in the UW football program than with an appropriate cocktail? How about the Dog Sled, a crazy concoction of whiskey and citrus?

Dog Sled

• 1½ oz. Canadian whiskey
• 1½ oz. orange juice
• t tsp. Grenadine
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice

Mix all ingredients in a shaker. Pour into an old fashioned glass.

Chuck-a-wow, chuck-a-bow.

Here's one interesting note about Bridgepoint Education. A self-described "innovator in higher education," Bridgepoint is "dedicated to those seeking flexible, high-quality choices in higher education" by tackling issues of "affordability, transferability of credits and online convenience" by providing associate, bachelor, master and doctoral degrees at Ashford University and University of the Rockies. Yeah, we hadn't heard of them either until now.