This South Bend native is part of the college football national championship Monday

Shaq Vann slept 50 minutes Wednesday night, which barely qualifies as a nap for most people.

“It’s all going to be worth it,” Vann said.

It will be if Washington wins Monday night.

The South Bend Adams alum is an offensive assistant coach for the Huskies, who are facing Michigan in the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday in Houston. A victory would give Washington its first title since 1991, five years before Vann was born.

“It’s honestly unbelievable,” Vann said. “Words can’t explain it. A kid from South Bend, Indiana, coming all the way over here to Washington and now helping his team get to this stage. I couldn’t be more blessed.”

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Washington advanced to the title game with a 37-31 win over Texas in the Sugar Bowl semifinal last Monday. Even with the game not ending until around 1 a.m. Eastern, Vann’s phone was flooded with messages afterward.

“All my friends and family hit me up, just congratulating me,” Vann said. “There’s not a lot of times where you get to play for the national championship and win the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, so yeah, my phone was going crazy after that.”

South Bend Adams alum Shaq Vann, left, takes a photo with friends and family following the Sugar Bowl. Vann is an assistant coach for Washington, which won the game to advance to the national championship Monday against Michigan.

One of the people reaching out was his former high school coach, Craig Redman. Even with a crazy schedule, Vann still answered the phone as soon as Redman called.

“The first word out of his mouth is, ‘Coach,'” Redman said. “He was like, ‘Coach, how’s it going? How’s the family?’ And that’s him: it’s not…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/south-bend-native-part-college-094433656.html

Author : South Bend Tribune

Publish date : 2024-01-06 09:44:33

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