A Suite Win by the Wildcats

Sam Boyd Stadium played home to the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl.  Before the game, a one-hundred yard long flag was displayed by veterans and the national anthem was performed by none other than The Hoff - David Hasselhoff.  (His daughter is a student at Arizona.)  Click the picture to make it big and save it if you want a desktop wallpaper.

In stunning fashion, your University of Arizona Wildcats shocked #16 ranked BYU 31-21 to win the Las Vegas Bowl!  It was an incredible experience, a well played game, and another "life experience" to add to my ever increasing list.

With good friends and former Wildcats before the game...

... and my wife, who was attending her first Bowl game ever!

Sean Johnson - the world is yours, my friend!

We arrived at the stadium two hours early, and headed up to the club level to enjoy some of the complimentary food and beverages.  As we walked around, there was a dead give-away to know whether or not a table was being held for Wildcat fans or Cougar fans.  The BYU tables were lined with Caffeine Free Diet Coke (as the mostly Mormon fan base does not drink caffeine), the Wildcats with rum & coke... which may have played a factor at overall crowd volume during the second half.    

Mandatory Fisheye Photo #192.  The stadium filling with red as the Wildcats get "crunk" before the game at midfield.

We were lucky enough to be in a suite for the game, courtesy of our good friend Sean Johnson and his brother Chris, who works for Wells-Fargo.  It was very comforting knowing that in such troubled economic times, banks are still managing to fill their luxury boxes.  The AIG box was noticeably vacant...  

The Arizona Fans in the Wells Fargo Suite.

KICKOFF IN THE PIONEER LAS VEGAS BOWL.

When the game got underway, Arizona struck first on a 71 yard post pattern from senior quarterback Willie Tuitama to Terrill Turner down to the BYU one yard line.  The Wildcats controlled most of the first half, although there were many fumbles by both teams.  Willie has started the last four years, and managed to break just about every record I set.  He is a great guy, and it was awesome seeing him go out on top!  Speaking of quarterbacks, halfway through the first quarter the door opened and it was...

THE CULLIGAN MAN, KEITH SMITH!!!

Keith Smith played quarterback with me at U of A, and really was the one who taught me how to play the game at the college level.  He led our team to its last bowl victory - the 1998 Culligan Holiday Bowl - and was named MVP of the game.  Afterwards, the stadium announcer declared that from now on, Keith was to be known as "THE CULLIGAN MAN."  We never let him forget it.  He is now the offensive coordinator of Newberry Park High School in Southern California (just down the road from George.)  

Pistol Pete!

Pete Hansen is a man of many talents.  He was the one who found the opportunity in Catania and told me to pursue it.  He is also one of the funniest 6'10 guys you will ever meet.  In an excerpt from the upcoming REALLY PLAYING FOR PIZZA book, I describe Peter and his call about Catania:

I received a call in late September from an old college football teammate of mine, Peter Hansen.  “Pistol” Pete, as he was affectionately known, was somewhat of an enigma – a modern day Lincoln look-alike with a heart of gold.  He came to the University of Arizona as a 6’10 quarterback and left as one of the most beloved athletes on campus, lettering in both football (as a jump-like-Shaq-field-goal-blocking-specialist) and in basketball (after coaches noticed him playing pick-up ball in the gym during the summer.)  Since graduation the “Pistol” had bounced from country to country in Europe, playing both basketball and football for a handful of teams while earning little more than room and board yet having the time of his life.  I would get a random email from him every six months or so, describing his wild times in exotic sounding places like Cannes, Barcelona, or Copenhagen.  Then he would vanish without a trace like the Red October.  My type of guy… living the dream.  Although his latest call came with an idea.

Sean was liking what he was seeing in the first half...

Arizona lining up in a Trio Left formation (if they shared my terminology.)

In the second half, BYU struck first to take the lead 14-10, but Arizona answered back with 21 consecutive points to pull away.  In that span Willie Tuitama threw a pair of TD passes, and sealed the game with a 6 yard TD run.  He finished the game 24-35 for 325 yards and  2 TDs.  Attaway Willie! 

The Arizona D played tough all night, and put constant pressure on BYU QB Max Hall.

Arizona may not have the most famous marching band in the world, but we do have one really happy male flag bearer...

... and the crowd's reaction.  Chris was loving it!

On an important tangent, Chris was sporting MY FAVORITE SHOE OF ALL-TIME, the Michael Jordan Eleven.  Inspired by a tuxedo shoe, they are the lightest Jordans ever made and also the most popular.  They came out in 1996, and were probably the reason the Bulls won 72 games and Jordan's 4th title that year.  I was a sophomore in high school at the time, and never did own a pair myself.  (For those of you still Christmas shopping for me - here's a perfect idea...)

Keith went NUTS when he spotted a fan wearing his old, blue #12 jersey.  It was another incarnation of "The Legend of Seven."  (A highlight film made of Keith in high school.)

In keeping with the tradition started way back with Harry Carson in 1985, the game ended with the proverbial "Gatorade Dump" on Coach Stoops (to read a brief history of the Gatorade Dump, click HERE)...

...and the proverbial rushing of the field by the U of A student section.  Arizona actually leads the nation in "fields rushed" - having done it 4 times in the last 3 years - and my dream for the program is that one day others will be rushing the field if they get lucky enough to beat us.  It's just is a little cliche when you beat Middle Tennessee State and the fans want to tear the goalposts down. 

Confetti rained down over the crowd, which made me think about my own post-game confetti celebration...

... in the 2005 Grey Cup!  I still remember the feeling being up on that stage with my teammates, celebrating a triple overtime victory at BC Place in Vancouver.

The post-game revelry continued for over a half hour.

JOHNSON BOYS!  Of no relation to me, but they are now all officially my 'brothas from anotha motha' - from left to right Chris, Brian, Nathan, and Sean.

Christie flashing the peace / victory smile... the Wildcats are now a perfect 1-0 in Bowl Games Attended by Christie Chorley - a stat we'll look to add to next season!

A great end to a great weekend!

~ J. Twice

To read the espn.com article or watch highlights, click HERE.