Former Arizona star running back returns as honorary captain for Weber State game

Seen and heard in and around Arizona Stadium before Arizona’s weather-delayed game vs. Weber State on Saturday night:

A true Wildcat

Former UA star running back David Adams was an honorary captain for the pregame coin toss.

Adams joined offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea and kicker Tyler Loop as honorary captains this season.

Adams, as the honorary captain, is fitting considering the Tucson native and former Sunnyside High School star was only recruited by the hometown Wildcats and Weber State (also nicknamed Wildcats).

Former Arizona head coach Larry Smith was the only Arizona coach “who gave me a scholarship opportunity,” Adams said.

“There were 10 people on the staff, and he was the one who said let’s do it,” said Adams.

From 1984-86, Adams rushed for 2,571 yards and scored 16 touchdowns; his career yards ranks 10th in UA history. Adams became the first running back in Arizona history to lead the Pac-10 in rushing. He had 1,175 yards as a senior in 1986 and led the Wildcats to a 9-3 record and a win at the Aloha Bowl in Honolulu.

“I was able to tell a million people to kiss my butt,” Adams said of his feat in 1986. “That was just beautiful. There was actually about seven people who told me you could do it and the rest told me no way.”

Adams had stints in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Raiders and Dallas Cowboys, before finishing his football-playing career in the Canadian Football League.

Adams, who was inducted into the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame in 2014, said his favorite memory at the UA was his teammates.

“It goes to a whole ‘nother level when you’re around each other all the time,” said the 61-year-old Adams. “In high school, you go to school and then you go home. You’re around each other so much, you learn to respect and enjoy the camaraderie and friendship — and the pain and suffering you go through. ... When you’re in the training room, the locker room and the weight room, it’s a family scenario. Now that I’m approaching 100 years, it’s about the people you keep in touch with.”

This is the Way

To the best of Andy Way’s recollection, he hasn’t missed one of his son Will’s practices — let alone one of his games — since he was 8 years old.

Since Will Way graduated from Pusch Ridge Christian to play for Weber State, the game attendance streak has continued, no matter where the Wildcats of Odgen, Utah, play.

Saturday was a layup for the Way clan. Weber State visited Arizona for a nonconference game at Arizona Stadium.

Andy Way wore a white No. 70 Weber State jersey as he and other supporters, including Will’s girlfriend and mom, waited outside Gate 2 to enter the stadium. Andy had 48 purple shirts made with Will’s number on the back. It wasn’t enough. Andy said the Way contingent had swelled to 65, including his third-grade teacher, his flag-football coach, his physical therapist and his club-basketball coach.

“This is a huge deal for my son,” Andy Way said. “He’s psyched.”

Will Way is a redshirt-sophomore center for Weber State. He appeared in four games last season, all WSU wins.

‘Bear’ backstory

Saturday was Arizona’s Native American Land Acknowledgment game.

In a video posted about 5½ hours before the scheduled kickoff, UA defensive tackle Jarra Anderson revealed that he’s a descendant of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, which is located in South Dakota.

Anderson’s nickname is “Bear.” He said his Sioux name translates to “Great Bear” and was given to him by his grandmother.

“Her message to me was to always teach and spread the word of native cultures,” Anderson said. “That was important to her due to the lack of representation we have in today’s society.”

Anderson, who’s from Katy, Texas, transferred to Arizona from Memphis last year. He missed the 2024 season because of injury. He was held out of the ‘25 opener due to injury but was expected to make his UA debut vs. Weber State.

D-M inflation buster

About 2,000 Davis-Monthan personnel and their families took advantage of the best deal on the UA mall before Saturday’s game.

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For just $15 per person, they received a game ticket, specially-designed Block A hat, drinks and a Rudy’s barbecue buffet.

The tailgate deal is an annual tradition going back over two decades from DM50, an organization named after the 50 civic leaders who first came together in 1986 to help stave off a threat to the base’s existence.

The group now totals over 100, hosting the annual football tailgate and other events, while also offering trailing spouses assistance in finding local employment.

“I’d say 90% (of the members) are just civic leaders in Tucson who want to keep the base, make the families feel welcome, and keep the jobs flowing into Tucson,” said Bryan Foulk, a past president of DM50 who was taking tickets and dishing out hats.

Raising funds via a golf tournament and membership donations, DM50 sponsored Saturday’s tailgate while keeping an eye on the big picture: According to another past president, Linda Morales, the base has a local annual economic impact of $2.6 billion.

“We’re really proud as a group that we’re able to advocate and help,” she said.

Normal vibe

Despite temperatures in the low 90s, a threat of thunderstorms and a low-level opponent facing Arizona, the UA mall hummed with the usual tailgate vibe Saturday.

Among the groups setting up shop: A Truly Nolen party and a buffet spread for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Diverted attention

On a website promoting their music and tour stops that included Saturday’s pregame Bear Down Bash, the Twin Diplomacy DJ outfit described how it offers a blend of melodic and tech house elements.

“Audiences are transported on a sonic odyssey through vivid moments of euphoric nostalgia with driving basslines, infectious drum grooves, and tasteful hooks,” their website says. “The duo’s fresh, feel-good energy and entrancing beats make it hard to keep your feet still.”

Well, that much was true. A few fans did groove out to their music on the main stage, but the DJs did have some competition ... from the ASU football team.

About a dozen fans stood near the left end of the stage but stared instead at a big-screen TV featuring the ASU-Mississippi State football game, even as the Sun Devils were trailing 17-0.

Don’t hold your beer

In any case, the Bear Down Bash was called off at 6:12 p.m. with the DJs citing lightning in the area. Fans with alcohol were told they must drink quickly since it wouldn’t be allowed outside the gates (even as a group of young fans chugged Coors right outside the gates before the UA-Hawaii game a week earlier).

The booted fans were promised updates as they became available, but by 6:30, vendors began clearing out, and the event was over.

The sudden closures included even the most popular activity of the Bear Down Bash, the “State Farm Bobbblehead You!” booth, in which fans were given cutouts of their own pictures they could adhere to any number of bobblehead types, including “princess,” “superhero,” “alien,” and “ice cream.”

Drone show for K-State

As part of Arizona’s effort to enhance the game-day experience at Arizona Stadium, the Wildcats announced a drone show for the halftime break of Arizona’s final nonconference game against Kansas State on Friday. Drone shows sync LED-equipped drones to create aerial light displays.

Student Section of the Week

The Big 12 added a “Student Section of the Week” award this season. The award is given weekly to the rowdiest and most impactful student sections from the previous week.

Arizona State’s “The Inferno” won the first-ever Big 12 Student Section of the Week award on Wednesday. Voting is done by the Big 12 Business Advisory Board, Big 12 Alumni Council, media members and select Big 12 executives.

“I think that’s awesome and something that the ZonaZoo can compete for every week,” said Arizona head coach Brent Brennan. “If we’re in concert competing on the field and them competing in the stands, we’re going to have a hell of a game-day atmosphere. That’s what we’re looking for.”

Numbers game

13,000: Number of miles Weber State will travel for seven road games this season. Weber State is traveling around 9,000 miles in just the first three weeks with games against James Madison, Arizona and McNeese State.

4: Arizona’s four captains on Saturday were wide receiver Luke Wysong, running back Kedrick Reescano and linebackers Taye Brown and Max Harris.

3: The Arizona-Weber State game was set to air on ESPN+, the third streaming-only game for Arizona since last season. The other two games were the NAU and TCU games last year.

0: No NFL scouts attended the Arizona-Weber State game.