Former Wildcat Fina has interesting ties to Super Bowl

One fascinating link to today’s Super Bowl is ex-Salpointe and UA offensive lineman John Fina. After his senior season at Arizona in 1991, Fina was working out for pro coaches at Arizona Stadium. Among them was Cleveland Browns first-year head coach Bill Belichick, who liked what he saw in Fina and also in UA offensive line coach Pat Hill. After meeting with the two, Belichick offered Hill a job on the Browns staff, and hoped to draft Fina. The Buffalo Bills beat Belichick to Fina, taking him with the 27th pick in the first round of the 1992 draft. Hill went on to be Fresno State’s head coach, and Fina, a Tucson businessman, played 11 seasons in the NFL.

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