Where I Come From: How I Became A Die Hard Arizona Wildcat Fan

by joenewby4040 on Jul 5, 2010 6:57 AM PDT in EA Sports NCAA FB 11

This post is sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 2011

I attended the University of Arizona in 1998. Long before I had considered moving out to the old pueblo to attend college, I loved watching the Cats on T.V. from my home in Austin, Texas. Every kid in America knew about the "Desert Swarm" and my blog was appropriately titled to honor that era.

I was born in 1979 so my knowledge of Arizona came right around the time the Desert Swarm was making a name for itself. The hard nosed defense led by coach Dick Tomey made national headlines and put the Cats in the 1993 Fiesta Bowl where they trounced Miami 29-0. This was when Arizona was put on my radar.

The Cats basketball program also led me to believe that I wanted to attend the "school in the desert" as my friends in Austin used to say. Watching Mike Bibby lead the Cats to the National Championship in 1997 was another defining moment in how I became a die hard Arizona fan. Attending a college with a solid sports program was number two on my list of requirements, next to good looking girls.

(One of my favorites ever: Ortege Jenkins)

Attending the University of Arizona was an amazing experience. While I was there, Arizona had successful football, basketball, baseball, softball, diving, golf, and volleyball sports. Being entrenched in Tucson during these sporting events solidified my love for Wildcat sports. Jenny Finch, Gilbert Arenas, Luke Walton, Ortege Jenkins and Chris McAlister are some of my favorites from my years at school. Experiences at McKale Center, Wildcat Stadium, and Sancet field were a part of my four years living in Tucson. The Bear Down tradition is something special that only Arizona alumni can claim as their own.

How did you become a Die Hard Arizona Wildcat Fan? Post your comments below.

Tomorrow: All Time Favorite Arizona Team

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Alum

It’s funny how students in Tucson take the U of A for granted. I was the drummer in the Pride of Arizona for the basketball/football games & religiously followed the hardwood. Arizona basketball was huge, but I didn’t actually become a die-hard Arizona Fan until I graduated.

My wife and I moved from Tucson to Houston & we hi-five anybody on the streets with Wildcats apparel. We vacation frequently, but never fly on basketball/football game-days. Arizona Athletics is in Tucson, but we take pride in promoting the Cats in Texas. We’ll watch anything related to Arizona & we cheer on the volleyball, football, basketball, softball, and baseball teams in person (as much as possible).

I miss being at all of the home events, but at least we have the internet!

by HoustonCats on Jul 5, 2010 5:28 PM PDT reply actions

Became a die-hard in 1996

My dad got us season tix that year and we went from being indifferent to major die-hards. I was at the Oregon State game that was absolutely freezing and then the horrible ASU game. I have despised ASU since then and ended up going to UA and graduating in 2005. Favorite memories were blasting Oregon on Halloween in 1998 and then beating ASU 50-42 to end that season.

~Tommy~

by sb24ws2005 on Jul 7, 2010 4:47 PM PDT reply actions

Went to ua from 99-03

And lived with athletes my entire time there. Had some great times and great memories. My fav cats moment was actually in 05 when I took my future wife to her first football game, the homecoming game when we absolutely destroyed then #3 ranked ucla.
My least favorite moment was watching the cats lose the title in 2000 to duke. That one really hurt

OJ Mayo is the Blazers' PG of the Future

by GreatOden'sRaven on Jul 11, 2010 11:09 PM PDT reply actions

Undergrad 02-06

My freshman year at Arizona was QB Jason Johnson‘s last as he set a number of passing records at the school as well as Bobby Wade’s.

I went to every home game that year but it was an otherwise awful football season as I recall.

I had to work the night Kansas beat Arizona in the NCAA tournament. I was working on the corner of University and Tyndall near my dorm and could hear the reactions of the crowd at the bars as we listened to the game on the radio.

In 2005, I was on a weekend getaway with my college girlfriend and after we were out all day, I was able to convince her to let me watch what turned into the infamous Arizona/Illinois meltdown — giving away a 15-point lead. A roommate of mine showed me the heartbreaking photo of Hassan Adams sitting on the court right after the game. Man that hurt. (Salim Stoudemire was amazing to watch play, though. That kid could shoot like nobody’s business. Why he didn’t take that last second shot I’ll never know.)

The height of my time at Arizona has to be when the Wildcats crushed #7 UCLA, 52-14, in 2005, my senior year. I was at that game. I remember seeing them move the sideline obstacles as we stood at the edge of the field in tense anticipation of the final whistle.

It was long before I ever had a smart phone with a camera otherwise I’d have dozens of photos and video of that night.

I met Chris Henry at a party once. He seemed like a pretty cool guy with muscles that went from his shoulders to his ears.

by mattortega on Jul 12, 2010 7:59 AM PDT reply actions