Welcome to the Fun Bunch!
How else do you describe the University of Arizona football team as it continues this glory ride to 6-1 and meaningful games in late October?
Saturday’s walk-in-the-park 39-3 win over visiting Iowa State did something many in the Big 12 Conference have yet to do – avoid an unexplainable loss to the masses. Instead, Arizona has remained steady … save for the fun.
Arizona is having it. It’s obvious. But doesn’t winning do that?
Coach Brent Brennan called it “a great night” in front of an “electric” crowd.
“It was tremendous,” he added.
Arizona now has won five straight and has done so in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1992-93 (Oh, those good ol’ days) and have qualified for a bowl game for the second straight year – a first since the Rich Rodriguez days of 2014-15.
“We’re going to celebrate the hell out of this one because the goal this week, the mission this week, was to win this game, and we did,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan said. “So, we’re going to have fun, and enjoy it for 24 hours, and then we’re going to get on to the next one.”
Here’s the kicker – UA is still in the hunt for a Big 12 title, given all the chaos at the top. AND, the chaos doesn’t involve UA. How refreshing is that? Again, it’s all part of the fun, something that hadn’t been seen much over the last decade, save for two or three seasons. But, it’s back … again winning has it happening.
“A lot of coaching staffs throw around words like ‘family atmosphere’ and ‘culture’ but this team is all the way bought in to Brennan’s way,” said Lamont Lovett, a former UA player and the team’s color analyst for games on KCUB 1290. “Because it’s working so well naturally this team is having a blast. They clearly play for each other. I know I’m having fun.”
Talk about together?
Noah Fifita, who usually doesn’t talk to the media after a victory, spoke briefly on an ESPN broadcast after the win alongside younger brother Cash Fifita. And later went to the postgame presser to listen in to his brother speak to the gathered media – as a show of support.
The team that stays together plays (hard) together. And that’s what’s happening.
“This team plays with an infectious energy. Players feed off each other’s success and celebrate every successful play,” former UA star John Fina said. “They are having fun. And they should. Football is hard. It’s dangerous. It’s hard to win any game. So, keep celebrating and carry the same energy to the next contest. That’s how winning streaks go. It’s about guys who like a challenge and celebrate each other.”
And again, they’ll get an extra game now that they are bowl-eligible
“My freshman year,” tight end Henry Gabilis said, “I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Party on, party on.
Recommended for you
