Top 10 questions Washington Football team answers in opener

(5) Can Washington earn a decisive victory in the eastern time zone?

Seldom discussed but a huge factor in any pro sports athlete’s ability to prepare is the random effect of time zones.  Why? Simply stated, it throws off the peak performance honed to precision by countless hours of training and practice.

It affects sports teams in either direction. East coast teams playing on the west coast find themselves at a huge disadvantage by playing contests three hours later than they are accustomed to. Similarly, the west coast teams playing on the east coast find themselves stymied by being force to play in contests three hours earlier than they are accustomed to.

In this game, the contest has attempted to neutralize the time zone effect by beginning the game at 3:30 pm ET.  That translates into a virtual 12:30 pm PT start for Washington, and should allow the team to show up awake and ready.  But there is still the matter of the daily routine.  A player who normally wakes up at 7:00 am PT now wakes up at 10:00 ET for the same effect.  Timing meals, workouts, down time, all things in an athletes schedule must now shift somewhat.

That type of shifting is the behind the scenes minor matters which can play huge impacts in football games. Even down to how much water to drink and when can play a difference in whether a player performs to the best or falls to injury.

Last season, Washington seemed to go toe to toe against a lesser opponent in Rutgers University. Since that opener, look for Washington to be more fully prepared in this season’s east coast opener.