Chuck Martin and the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks had such a good time at last year’s Arizona Bowl that they wanted to do it again.
“I said when we left there, and I meant it, ‘If we can ever come back here, we'd love to come back here,’” Martin said.
They got their wish. Miami will face Fresno State in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop on Dec. 27 at Casino Del Sol Stadium.
The RedHawks won last year’s game, 43-17 over Colorado State, and that certainly enhanced their experience. But it was more about the hospitality they were shown.
One example: the players’ lounge at The Westin La Paloma, where the team will stay again this year.
“Everybody has a players’ lounge. Theirs was better because of the people,” Martin said during a news conference this week. “There was more stuff in there than most places. More often, there was food in there. But mostly it was just the people. Every time you walked in there, they made you feel special.
Miami (Ohio) head coach Chuck Martin gets his second cooler bath of the night from his players as the clock ticks down on the RedHawks’ win over Colorado State in the Arizona Bowl, Dec. 28, 2024 in Tucson.
“Our players loved it. Our families loved it. They made us (feel) so welcome.”
This year marks the 10th time the Arizona Bowl will be played. It’s the second year it’s been associated with Snoop Dogg. That creates some unique opportunities for the participants.
The day before last year’s game, Miami and Colorado State players coached in a youth clinic featuring teams from the Snoop Youth Football League.
“Our kids still talk about that,” Martin said, “how much fun it was.”
On the day of the game, Snoop Dogg himself left an indelible impression. Well before kickoff, with hardly anyone in the stadium, one of Miami’s equipment managers asked Snoop if he’d be willing to catch a pass. Snoop ran a slant route into the end zone.
Sponsor Snoop Dogg leads the Miami (Ohio) and Colorado State marching bands in a combined performance during halftime of the Arizona Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, at Arizona Stadium.
“I was amazed at how much of his time he gave to everybody,” Martin said. “That was the highlight. If he would have just come there at midfield and waved, it would have been a thrill for everybody. That's what I was expecting.
“We just thought, ‘The guy's a superstar. He's going to come in and wave, and he's going to hightail (it) out of there and put in his appearance.’
“(Celebrities are) getting pulled 365 days a year. So it's gotta be just beyond exhausting. But you can tell he's just genuine. He loved it, he loved the kids and he loved the game. He loves football.”
Martin has participated in nine bowl games as an assistant or head coach. He dubbed the Arizona Bowl as the best of the bunch — and insisted he wasn’t just saying that because his team is playing in it again.
“I don't say anything I don't mean,” Martin said. “I'm not a politician. ‘Hey, I gotta say something about the Arizona Bowl.’ I'm not gonna say anything bad; I'm smart enough to not do that. But just genuinely an amazing experience, and not just for me and my family but ... everyone in our organization.”
Martin recalled sitting with Miami athletic director David Sayler during pregame warmups at what was then known as Arizona Stadium.
“This just feels so different,” Sayler told Martin.
“I'm with you,” he replied.
Entz returns
Martin’s counterpart at Fresno State, Matt Entz, has coached here before, too.
Entz, who’s in his first season at Fresno State, was the head coach at North Dakota State from 2019-23. The Bison faced Arizona in Tucson on Sept. 17, 2022.
The Wildcats won 31-28 in a game that featured four lead changes in the second half. Arizona scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 22-yard pass from Jayden de Laura to Jacob Cowing with 4:53 to play. The Wildcats stopped the Bison on the next possession and were able to run out the clock.
“I remember how hot it was before the game started,” Entz said during a video news conference this week. “I remember walking out pregame, and the sprinklers were on in the stadium. I was like, ‘Well, it's the first time I've ever seen turf getting watered down beforehand.’ I don't think we'll quite have that situation here playing in December.”
Fresno State head coach Matt Entz watches the first half against Kansas, Aug. 23, in Lawrence, Kan.
The temperature for the 8:10 p.m. kickoff between Arizona and NDSU was 86 degrees. The long-term forecast for Tucson on Dec. 27 calls for temps in the upper 50s.
Entz began his personal prep for the Arizona Bowl by listening to “The Chronic” on his way to work Monday. The 1992 album marked Dr. Dre’s solo debut and featured several appearances by Snoop Dogg.
“Already started to get my ears ready for some Snoop Dogg for the next 2½ weeks,” Entz said.
QB update
Both teams have some uncertainty at the quarterback position as bowl prep begins.
Miami lost redshirt freshman Thomas Gotkowski to injury for the second half of the MAC Championship Game last Friday. The RedHawks lost to Western Michigan 23-13.
Martin expects Gotkowski to be available for the Arizona Bowl.
“He's got plenty of time to heal up and be healthy and be ready to go,” Martin said.
Fresno State quarterback E.J. Warner (13) passes while under pressure from Kansas defensive end Justice Finkley, left, during the second half, Aug. 23, in Lawrence, Kan.
Miami has used three quarterbacks this season. DeQuan Finn recently left the program. Redshirt senior Henry Hesson has made eight appearances this year. Gotkowski came off the bench to help Miami defeat Buffalo 37-20 on Nov. 19. He made his first start against Ball State on Nov. 29. The RedHawks won 45-24.
E.J. Warner, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, started nine of Fresno State’s 12 games during the regular season. He was benched in midseason and finished the campaign with only one more touchdown pass (12) than interceptions (11).
Asked about Fresno’s quarterback situation this week, Entz said: “At this time, we haven't made any decisions on that.”
Warner, who attended Brophy College Prep in Phoenix, previously played for Temple and Rice.
Pregame performance
The Arizona Bowl will feature a pregame performance by Tonio Armani, an Army veteran-turned-singer/songwriter who’s part of the Death Row Records label.
Armani’s music has been described as “southern soul with a modern twist.” His best-known singles include “Country Girl” and “Help Me Find My Drawls.”
