It was, in many ways, the forgotten era of Arizona football.
The Wildcats posted seven consecutive losing seasons between 2000 and 2006. During that stretch, the team employed four head coaches — Dick Tomey, John Mackovic, interim coach Mike Hankwitz and Mike Stoops.
It’s easy to forget — OK, block out — those years and those players.
Lance Briggs survived that era, and thrived. He played 12 years with the NFL’s Chicago Bears and was a seven-time all-pro.
Briggs was the keynote speaker at Saturday’s Coaches for Charity High School Football Kickoff Classic luncheon at the DoubleTree Hotel in Tucson. He’s been active here for years, hosting a football camp through his Briggs4Kidz foundation and outreach program.
From 1999-2002, Briggs’ teams went 6-6, 5-6 (twice) and 4-8.
Still, Briggs loves his old school. How much? He was one of a handful of former UA athletes to contribute money for the $72 million Lowell-Stevens Football Facility.
“I played here four years, started off at running back,” Briggs said. “I had as good of an experience as you can have for not going to a bowl game. I have great memories, I have great friendships from my teammates through the coaches. Most of us, if not all of us, still keep in touch with each other in some shape, way or form.”
Saturday, he spoke to the area’s high school players, and they listened.
“Not only is he an NFL guy, but he’s a U of A guy,” said Sabino coach Jay Campos. “Around here, that carries a lot of weight.”
Added Pueblo coach Brandon Sanders, a former Wildcat and NFL player himself: “You don’t get too many opportunities to hear NFL legends come and speak to you.”
Drew Dixon is Tucson’s top senior prospect, a do-it-all athlete who has verbally committed to Arizona’s much-ballyhooed 2017 class. He was all eyes and ears on Saturday as Briggs spoke about his life beyond football.
“He’s a former NFL player,” Dixon said, “and he’s been through what we’ve been through.”
Briggs’ overall message — it’s OK to have dreams about playing in the NFL. But it’s better to have more than one dream.
“You know, if your dream is to play football, it’s important to not just have football as a dream. Football lives are short, you retire at an early age,” said Briggs, who retired in 2015.
“If your only dream is to play football and you retire 26, 30, 32, you’re not gonna know what to do. So open up your dreams to more than just one dream. You can have as many dreams as you want. You can pursue anything you want to pursue.
“Combine that with perseverance and education, put those things together and you’re going to put together a great life.”
The Star spoke with Briggs on Saturday. Here’s what he had to say:
On the direction of Arizona’s program: “You know, the thing about the program is they’re doing things that we weren’t able to do when I was here. They’re going to bowl games. That’s a sweet deal. I just love that they continue to strengthen the pride of Arizona and I’m looking forward to the day that we finish off in that college playoff.”
On Rich Rodriguez reaching out to alumni: “One of my favorite things about the RichRod regime is his ability to reach out to guys that he didn’t coach. Guys that were a part of the program four, five coaches ago. It’s important for the guys, once you’re out there in the world — you’re always a Wildcat — to know that this is still home.
“When we’re away we pull for our Cats, and when we get the chance, we let the university know that we’re still here.”
On the new facilities: “I’ve seen the new facilities, I had a nice walkthrough. Oh man, there’s no comparison (to when he played at Arizona). Even McKale, shoot, I wouldn’t mind having some of the girls basketball locker rooms right now. All around it looks good, it looks very good. I like the direction U of A is going, and it’s only going to keep getting better.”
On life after football: “Well, when I retired I wanted to relax my body for, you know, some months. I still wasn’t quite sure if I was done or not yet, so I was still training. And I wasn’t sure if I was done yet. It wasn’t until the football season that next season that I actually knew I was going to retire.
“Now, it’s busier than when I was playing.”
On Ka’Deem Carey, who Briggs played with in 2014: “I talk to Ka’Deem periodically, but I got a chance to speak with him when we played together. We have the U of A thing, but for him he always knows that I’m a huge fan, that I’m always rooting for him.”
