Former Sun Devil Vince Amey is all about the Arizona Wildcats now

The transition from Sun Devil to Wildcat can be awkward at first. Just ask someone who has done it: Arizona defensive line coach Vince Amey.

Amey played at Arizona State from 1994 to 1997. Fifteen years later, Amey became a strength coach at Arizona. He remembers the first time he put on a UA shirt.

“Who would have ever thought I’d be wearing these colors?” Amey said Tuesday. “They’re like, ‘Here you go.’ I’m like, ‘Oh boy.’

“I got over it quickly. I love what I do. I thank the guys for the opportunity they’ve given me. It’s a true blessing. I’ve enjoyed every minute that I’ve been here.”

Amey ascended from assistant strength and conditioning coach to football analyst to D-line coach. He’s in his first year in that role, so Friday night’s game will mark his first Territorial Cup as a full-time, on-field coach for one of the participants.

Facing his alma mater used to feel strange. Amey is used to it by now. As he noted, he spent four years at ASU. He’s about to conclude his fifth year at Arizona.

“As a player, I had some of the best times of my life at ASU,” said Amey, who played for the 1996 Sun Devils team that went 11-1 and played in the Rose Bowl. “But where I’m at right now in my life as a coach, this is where my heart is. This is where I’m dedicated to. As I tell the boys, ‘Bear down.’ ”

Amey is the only member of Arizona’s 10-man football coaching staff who has played in a Territorial Cup. He remembers the results of each game: Three victories for Arizona and one for ASU, in ’96.

The Sun Devils had a chance to go to the Fiesta Bowl in ’97, Amey recalled. The Wildcats beat them 28-16. ASU ended up in the Sun Bowl instead.

If anyone on Arizona’s staff understands what the Territorial Cup means — and how it can impact the season for one side or another — it’s Amey.

“It’s bragging rights,” he said. “There’s something special about that game. It brings out the inner beast in these kids. We want to be the best team in the state of Arizona.”

Trash talk — or “mess talk,” as Amey calls it — comes along with the rivalry. He’s still in touch with ex-teammates such as Jake Plummer and Hamilton Mee.

“The mess-talking,” Amey said, “is year-round.”

It intensifies this week. But it comes from a good place.

“The time we spent together, it’s a brotherhood that we formed,” Amey said. “We love each other to this day. They talk mess with me. At the same time, they’re happy for me. They’re proud of me. And they want me to keep plugging along.”

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Amey was drafted by the Raiders in 1998 and played professional football for 11 years in the NFL, NFL Europe and the Arena League. While coaching at Scottsdale Chaparral, Amey got to know some of the UA coaches who were recruiting former Firebird standout Dylan Cozens, who ended up playing pro baseball.

Arizona had an opening in its weight room. The job could serve as a steppingstone to the college coaching career Amey sought.

He hit it off with Rich Rodriguez and others — despite bringing an ASU keychain and binder to the interview. Amey’s ASU roots didn’t deter Rodriguez.

“No,” the head coach said. “Didn’t Greg go there?”

Greg would be UA athletic director Greg Byrne. ASU class of ’94.

“Greg’s pretty special,” Rodriguez said. “I didn’t even think about that.”

Amey’s players don’t think of him as a Sun Devil — but he doesn’t hide his maroon-and-gold roots from them either. When Amey has players over to his house, he shows them the memorabilia in his “man cave.” It includes some of his old ASU gear.

“It’s pretty cool,” senior defensive lineman Aiulua Fanene said. “He had a good career there. All the stuff that he did, it really motivates us.”

Amey said: “I want them to see success. Yeah, it’s ASU. But at the same time, we won there. We were good. I want them to see that. I have nothing to hide.”

Amey views the ASU jerseys displayed in his house as symbols of how hard work can pay off. He has UA stuff too.

The Wildcats and Sun Devils share space in Amey’s man cave. His loyalty is undivided.

“This is home,” Amey said. “I want to beat them.”

Extra points

• The Wildcats on Tuesday held their first full practice during this abbreviated week. Arizona’s final on-campus practice will be Wednesday. The senior class will be honored upon its conclusion. The Cats will have a team holiday dinner Wednesday evening at Bear Down Kitchen. They will spend Thursday night at the Westin La Paloma, adhering to their normal pre-home-game routine.
• One of Arizona’s biggest defensive keys, Rodriguez said, will be gang-tackling. The Wildcats had a difficult time stopping Oregon State’s big running back, Ryan Nall, who rushed for 124 yards last week. ASU has two 200-plus-pound backs in Kalen Ballage and Demario Richard. “When they’ve got big guys running, you better get more than one person there to get him down,” Rodriguez said. “We failed to do that in the last game.”
• The biggest key on offense, Rodriguez said, will be blitz recognition, an area in which Arizona has struggled. “They will outnumber you,” he said. “They’ll bring it anytime and anywhere. Extremely aggressive. The most aggressive team we play. Whether it’s in the run game or in pass protection, you’ve got to be able to put a hat on a hat and recognize where they’re coming from. That’s easier said than done. We’re working all week on it.”
• Several former Wildcats attended practice Tuesday. They included Jay Dobyns, Paul Vassallo, Brandon Sanders and Glenn Parker.