Arizona Wildcats football: On huh?-dle, Dawkins' collision with Miss Arizona, playing for Hemmila
- Updated
Seen and heard at Arizona Stadium during the Territorial Cup.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Rich Rodriguez vowed to play fast when he was hired at the UA five years ago.
“I told the guys we’re not going to hold hands and sing ‘Kumbaya,’” he told the Star then.
Friday was the Territorial Cup, though, so of course things got weird. Nothing weirder than this: Arizona huddled on offense.
Rodriguez had his reasons. Arizona State has a reputation for stealing signs during games. Oregon and Washington State have voiced concerns with the Devils in the past.
The Ducks used large cloth sails to block ASU from seeing the signals coming in from the sideline. Arizona chose to huddle on Friday, even sending in players as “subs” only to immediately send them back to the sideline. Those players were presumably running in play calls.
Nobody, as far as we know, called anybody names. Washington State coach Mike Leach famously called out ASU coach Todd Graham earlier this season during a press conference. The Cougars then beat the Sun Devils, and Graham responded by calling Leach “chicken(bleep)” at midfield.
Rodriguez has been aware of ASU’s reputation for years, even if he’s been quiet about it. Asked a few weeks ago what he’d do to thwart a team stealing signs, Rodriguez clammed up.
“Why,” he said, “would I tell you?”
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
45: Straight games with a reception for UA senior receiver Nate Phillips.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
@Tarynitup_3: “Can’t believe it’s your last college game! You’ve always been the one to push me to my best ability! I love you bubs” — Taryn Griffey about her brother, UA receiver Trey Griffey
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
UA quarterback Brandon Dawkins was forced out of bounds during a second-quarter run. His momentum carried him to the sideline, where he knocked a woman on her back.
That woman was Tommy Lynn Calhoun, Miss Arizona 2017 and girlfriend of former Arizona linebacker Jake Fischer.
Dawkins shared a few words with Calhoun. Fischer ran over, gave Dawkins a pat on the helmet and sent the QB back into the game. Calhoun, who did not appear to be injured, trended briefly on social media and was the talk of ESPN’s broadcast. Sideline reporter Quint Kessenich managed to interview Calhoun a few minutes later. As they talked, Dawkins poked his head on camera and apologized.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Arizona’s Senior Night ceremony typically includes a walk to midfield involving players and their families.
The Wildcats didn’t do that this year, instead having the family members stand on the 50-yard line. Each player was announced, came out of the tunnel, hugged Rodriguez and ran to their family members.
The most notable participants on that 50-yard line — Ken Griffey Jr., the baseball legend, awaited his son, Trey, a UA receiver. Taryn Griffey, Trey’s sister and a point guard on the Arizona women’s basketball team, was also there.
Tight end Josh Kern brought a special guest: Art Valdez. He is the father of Andrew Valdez, an Arizona superfan who died last year following complications from cystic fibrosis. Kern became close with the Valdez family, and was a pallbearer at Andrew’s funeral. When Kern asked Art to join him for Senior Night, the superfan’s father cried.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
“We knew he couldn’t stand ASU. He hated them … we have to do this for Zach.” — Trey Griffey on Zach Hemmila, the Arizona offensive lineman who passed away in August and would have been a part of Senior Night. Hemmila’s father and girlfriend were in the stands on Friday night.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
@FootballASU: “Regardless of the outcome today, some things go beyond the rivalry. We want to pay our respects to the family and friends of Zach Hemmila.” — ASU’s official football account paying its respects to Hemmila.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Rich Rodriguez vowed to play fast when he was hired at the UA five years ago.
“I told the guys we’re not going to hold hands and sing ‘Kumbaya,’” he told the Star then.
Friday was the Territorial Cup, though, so of course things got weird. Nothing weirder than this: Arizona huddled on offense.
Rodriguez had his reasons. Arizona State has a reputation for stealing signs during games. Oregon and Washington State have voiced concerns with the Devils in the past.
The Ducks used large cloth sails to block ASU from seeing the signals coming in from the sideline. Arizona chose to huddle on Friday, even sending in players as “subs” only to immediately send them back to the sideline. Those players were presumably running in play calls.
Nobody, as far as we know, called anybody names. Washington State coach Mike Leach famously called out ASU coach Todd Graham earlier this season during a press conference. The Cougars then beat the Sun Devils, and Graham responded by calling Leach “chicken(bleep)” at midfield.
Rodriguez has been aware of ASU’s reputation for years, even if he’s been quiet about it. Asked a few weeks ago what he’d do to thwart a team stealing signs, Rodriguez clammed up.
“Why,” he said, “would I tell you?”
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
UA quarterback Brandon Dawkins was forced out of bounds during a second-quarter run. His momentum carried him to the sideline, where he knocked a woman on her back.
That woman was Tommy Lynn Calhoun, Miss Arizona 2017 and girlfriend of former Arizona linebacker Jake Fischer.
Dawkins shared a few words with Calhoun. Fischer ran over, gave Dawkins a pat on the helmet and sent the QB back into the game. Calhoun, who did not appear to be injured, trended briefly on social media and was the talk of ESPN’s broadcast. Sideline reporter Quint Kessenich managed to interview Calhoun a few minutes later. As they talked, Dawkins poked his head on camera and apologized.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Arizona’s Senior Night ceremony typically includes a walk to midfield involving players and their families.
The Wildcats didn’t do that this year, instead having the family members stand on the 50-yard line. Each player was announced, came out of the tunnel, hugged Rodriguez and ran to their family members.
The most notable participants on that 50-yard line — Ken Griffey Jr., the baseball legend, awaited his son, Trey, a UA receiver. Taryn Griffey, Trey’s sister and a point guard on the Arizona women’s basketball team, was also there.
Tight end Josh Kern brought a special guest: Art Valdez. He is the father of Andrew Valdez, an Arizona superfan who died last year following complications from cystic fibrosis. Kern became close with the Valdez family, and was a pallbearer at Andrew’s funeral. When Kern asked Art to join him for Senior Night, the superfan’s father cried.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
“We knew he couldn’t stand ASU. He hated them … we have to do this for Zach.” — Trey Griffey on Zach Hemmila, the Arizona offensive lineman who passed away in August and would have been a part of Senior Night. Hemmila’s father and girlfriend were in the stands on Friday night.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
@FootballASU: “Regardless of the outcome today, some things go beyond the rivalry. We want to pay our respects to the family and friends of Zach Hemmila.” — ASU’s official football account paying its respects to Hemmila.
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