Husky Trails | Husky Legends: Mario Bailey

The 1991 National Championship that the Huskies won was highlighted by their excellent defensive play. Don James' strategy was always defense first, special teams second, and offense third.

No wonder us Washington fans love our defense's to be hard hitting.

However, the defense wasn't the only star in 1991. Wide receiver Mario Bailey helped to clinch the championship with outstanding wide-receiver play.

Up until Reggie Williams was on campus, Bailey held the record for the most career yards receiving. To this day he still holds the record for most touchdown catches in a career with 30 and in one season with 18 in 1991.

He is only listed as 5'9" but went on to be a great playmaker for the Huskies. He's a product of Franklin High School here in Seattle, making him one of the best local prospects Don James groomed during his tenure as the Huskies head coach.

He was an all-American in 1991 with 1193 yards and as listed before, 18 touchdowns.

The crowning moment of his career was in the Rose Bowl that same year, the Huskies went against undefeated Michigan and Heisman winner Desmond Howard.

Bailey would go on to record six catches for 126 yards, while Howard only was able to reel in one catch. The game clinching touchdown will always endear him to Husky fans; as he got up he struck the Heisman pose as one final parting shot.

Super Mario, as he was sometimes called, was a showboater as well, bowing to the crowd after touchdown receptions. 

He ended up being drafted by the Houston Oilers, but couldn't make it stick with several stints around the league. In the end he ended up with the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe.

In Europe he put together a decent career but was never able to attract legitimate NFL interest. He was, however, picked 52nd in the XFL draft and played a year with the Orlando Rage.

While his career as a professional never panned out, he is fondly remembered on the campus of UW.

Recently, Coach Sarkisian's website put together a little video of highlights that is pretty good, so enjoy.