Washed Weekly: In The Trenches
Dave's a steal pan guy now.
Welcome to Washed Weekly — a weekly newsletter that will feature original columns, quick reads, exclusive product drops, and an offering of some of the best content we’ve created throughout the week that was. Read it, enjoy it, and pass it on to anyone you think will enjoy it, too. You can also check out the Washed network of podcasts.
My Football Team is Getting Too Much Preseason Hype
by
And it’s making me uncomfortable.
A few seasons ago I’d call what’s going on in my head “battered fan syndrome,”where you refuse to buy into the possibility that your team is going to be successful based on an ugly recent history of losing, but that’s not what this is. Going into the 2025 college football season, it can’t be battered fan syndrom considering my Texas Longhorns have been pretty damn good these last two years. Back-to-back semi final appearances in the College Football Playoffs is something to be excited about.
It’s been 20 years since Texas has gone all the way, and since then it’s been a mixed bag of success and failure. Before the 2023 season, Texas had been really below average for several seasons, then the winning began.
Texas reached a number one ranking last season for a few weeks in a row before running into the absolute buzzsaw that was the Georgia Bulldogs in Austin. I was there. That game stunk. And while it was really fun seeing a “1” in front of Texas for that short stint, it felt a little surreal. It felt like they hadn’t earned it yet. It felt like it was only a matter of time before they lost it. And they did, decidedly.
The 2024 season was a really good one for Texas. They never felt like a championship team to me, but one that was on its way. One that was a better player here or there from reaching the ultimate. The offensive line struggled against teams like Georgia, Ohio State, and Arizona State. The quarterback play from Quinn Ewers looked unstoppable in moments and inept in others. Texas relied on a third string running back all season due to injuries.
Now I’m seeing preseason polls being released that show Texas at or near number 1.
Like this one. And these:
Honestly, a lot of it has to do with this guy:
The last name. The pedigree. The aura. The cookout invite. The big right arm. The sneaky wheels that skipped a generation in the Manning family.
It’s all culminated in a hype train that can’t be stopped and I have no choice but to hang on while it’s still on the tracks, for better or worse.
It’s a fun place to be, but it’s an emotionally vulnerable one at the same time and I’m not sure I’m equipped to endure it all. I believe 2026 is the year for Texas. It’s the year they’ll have the best chance at a natty since 2005, in my opinion. The media is telling me it could be this year, though, and I don’t think I’m ready for it. Afraid to believe it.
Texas has an inexperienced offensive line and questions at running back and wide receiver. A lot is riding on Arch. The defense should be good enough to keep them in every game, but is it enough?
Fuck if I know. Nevertheless, we ride. Just don’t hurt me.
What I’m Cooking, Drinking, And Watching This Weekend
by Dave
What I’m Cooking
I have officially entered the world of steel pan cooking. All it took was one IG video, shoutout Steel Pan Guy, and I’ve officially kicked off the transition from non-stick to high quality American steel. I think it’s American. Sadly, there’s no way of looking that up. Either way, I’ve got one meal under my belt: spaghetti all’Assassina. A bit controversial in the old country, this dish is a unique twist on an old favorite. The spaghetti is cooked in the pan. Not boiled. It’s a nice change of pace when cooked correctly, but I did not cook it correctly. Yeah, I kind of scorched it. There’s a learning curve when it comes to steel pan cooking and temperature control. It was still very much edible, but I had a pretty severe fail-smile when it came time to dish it up. “Here you go, buddy. I hope you like crap!”
Next up, I think I have to see what a little prime American beef looks like as it sizzles in that steel. Baptism by fire. If it burns, it burns. It’s a very me thing to pivot to steel after finally mastering the cast iron skillet, but that’s just the way it is. I have a new toy, and I want to use it. I’m going to be so obnoxious once I figure this thing out.
What I’m Drinking
Not red wine. I can’t handle it. I’ve gone months without any sinus issues, and as soon as I drink 5 glasses in one evening, boom- I’m congested. A guy can’t even have a few Louisville Gluggers anymore. I used to be good for a few glasses here and there during the week, but then 40 happened, and the fun ceased. I might just by a sixer of Jolt and stay up all night watching Wild On! for old time’s sake.
What I’m Watching
In case you missed it, I am officially dialed on Love Island USA. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a show that made me feel worse about the world in the rotation. Through one very long episode, we’re looking good. The stage is set for some true scuzz bucket behavior from the boys and some highly questionable decision making from the ladies. Early on, the hot commodity appears to be a well-manicured guy who stands about 5’10 and is rocking one of the least appealing tattoos (his nickname??) across the top half of his back. I have high hopes for Ace becoming a big problem.
Friday night is bunko night for my wife, so I’ve got the place to myself once I get the boys in bed. I feel like I’m due for a movie. The Accountant 2? I don’t remember the first one, but I know it had plenty of bad guys getting body bagged. That’s what I’m looking for. I’m assuming we get much more Jon Bernthal this time around too. I’m good with that. Will there be any follow through on my part, or will this end up with me watching that Sopranos where Tony and Chris rob “The Vipers” and laugh about it at dinner? Tell me you don’t think about that one at least once a month.
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Love Island US has been peak.
Highly recommend The Accountant 2. Not as intriguing of a story as the first, but with more screen time for Jon Bernthal, it makes up for it with a lot more laughs. Slight bias because I love Jon Bernthal