Completed Event: Football versus Illinois State on August 30, 2025 , Win , 35, to, 3
Final
Football
35
vs Illinois State
3
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Oklahoma Fans Share Bowl Experience
December 27, 2010 | Football
Sooner Bowl Daily Updates | Bowl Central | Sooner Fan Bowl Primer | Join the Sooners on Facebook
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Oklahoma fans are renowned for their support of the Sooners. In addition to daily bowl coverage of the team during its week of preparation in Arizona for the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, the OU Athletics Department invited several fans to share their experiences leading up to the game.
We'll update this blog as the fans send us their stories and photos throughout the week. Oklahoma meets the UConn Huskies in Glendale on New Year's Day. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT with ESPN televising the game to the nation.
Note to fans: The Arizona Republic ran a story on Thursday about traffic planning for Saturday night's Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game. Check it out and make your bowl game experience a bit smoother.
"Wow. Not a bad way to start the New Year. 2011 is off to an epic start!
"We woke up way too early this morning and ran in the New Years Day 5K at the Phoenix Zoo. We rolled out of bed at 7.30am, pulled on our Sooner running gear and ran as fast as we could through the 30 degree morning air. The event organizers kept apologizing about the weather. They claimed that the temperature was in the 70s for the 2010 run. Hasn't been this cold in 15 years, they told us. Briskness aside, I am proud of Torrie for running hard even though she is nearly six months pregnant. Let me tell you, she's one tough chick!
"After the run, we grabbed lunch at a great bistro downtown called Carly's and made our way up to the stadium. You can't fully explain the big time college football atmosphere, but I'll try to throw out a few observations from our time at the Fiesta Bowl today.
"First of all, the University of Phoenix Stadium complex is topnotch. Torrie spotted the stadium from the highway and commented that it looks like a spaceship. I agreed. The entire complex is so state of the art, you'd think it was designed by the people who built the Death Star. There are several restaurants and bars, shops, hotels and even an IMAX movie theater all within walking distance of the stadium. This is a great place to watch a game and the Auburn and Oregon fans are in for a great atmosphere next week. Oh, and postgame traffic was a breeze… unlike like the crawl up I-35 after home games. Nothing personal Oklahoma DOT.
"Secondly, we loved visiting with UConn fans. They were extremely classy and friendly. It's obvious that they have a great athletic department up there and the fans reflect the University's appreciation for their athletes. As the final seconds ticked off the clock tonight, the entire UConn section (which was pretty loud though outnumbered 5 to 1) stood and applauded the Huskies as they left the field. Solid people, I tell you.
"As far as the Sooners are concerned, we should all be extremely proud of this team for battling all season. Remember that secondary that looked so suspect back in September against Utah State? Flash-forward to tonight and they deliver two INTs returned for scores and don't give up an offensive touchdown. Additionally, I counted one penalty all game. That's unheard of. We have a great group of young, talented players. Good things to come in 2011. Boomer Sooner.
- Eric
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Our seats in the stadium. Boomer Sooner!"
- Ben
"As I fly to Glendale, Ariz., today for the Fiesta Bowl, my husband, Daniel and his buddy, Jerry, proudly support OU while in Baghdad. They are both excited to be able to wear their Sooner shirts and jerseys under the required gear! Thank you to my husband and Jerry for all that they do for our nation (including the Sooner Nation)!
- Jenni from Mustang, Okla.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Due to the blizzard conditions on I-40, we took the southern route. There was only one place where we had a little bit of ice. During one of our stops, I visited with a couple that had on OU attire. It was Damon Williams' parents. We arrived at 3 p.m. to a beautiful, sunny sky. Now it is time to rest a while then make plans for tomorrow."
- Mike
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Another cold day we have braved in the Valley of the Sun. Attended the Fiesta Bowl parade this morning. Took pictures of my favorite men: my son in the Pride and Kurt Warner, the grand marshall of the parade. Excitement is building in the air! Boomer Sooner!"
- Sherri
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Kelly and I arrived in Phoenix at 10 a.m. MST. We had trouble throughout much of New Mexico and Arizona from the winter weather. So far we have seen downtown Phoenix, Chase Field (home of the MLB Diamondbacks), and U.S. Airways Arena(home of the NBA Suns). Off to Tempe tonight for New Year's Eve. We will stop by the Grand Canyon on our way back Sunday. We just wanted to get here this morning after the long night."
- Ben and Kelly
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"We've made our signs (check), got tickets (check), parking pass (check), entertainment guide (check), map to stadium (check). Happy New Year everyone and Boomer Sooner!"
- Sherri
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Maybe we are waiting for the real party to start tomorrow night. Or maybe 28 is the new 68. Either way, it is 11 p.m. on New Years Eve, Torrie and I are in a great, vibrant city and we are at the condo fighting to stay awake. Ten years ago today I went to the national championship game against Florida State with some friends. We might have been stupid 20 year olds back then but at least we could stay up until midnight. My point? Enjoy your youth while it last, kids. It's all downhill once you turn 25.
"We are content with our low key evening and had a fantastic day here in Arizona. It's still cold and gets even colder as you move north from Phoenix. We spent the afternoon in a beautiful little mountain town called Sedona. About a two-hour drive up I-17 from Phoenix, Sedona makes a great daytrip for anyone who is hanging in the area after the game.
"The drive up is painless and the excursion really has something for everyone in your caravan. The scenery is outstanding as you climb out of the valley through the snowcapped mountains. The blue sky seems to collapses onto the white peaks that gradually fade into the red rock. Catch it at sunset (while listening to the Into the Wild soundtrack) if you can. You can thank me later. Give yourself an extra hour or two because there's a big outlet mall just north of where I-10 meets I-17. And when you finally get there, Sedona itself boasts several little shops and eateries set against a postcard worthy backdrop. Needless to say, we're glad we made the trip.
"At the spur of the moment, we changed our original Friday night plans and picked up a pair of scalped tickets for the Suns v. Pistons game. Saw a couple of people in UConn sweatshirts at the game tonight. I've heard they like basketball in Connecticut. The Suns won the game but I believe we were the real winners tonight. I mean, a Black Eyed Peas cover band as the halftime entertainment?!? Can anything top that? I've gotta feeling… ah, never mind.
"Happy New Year everybody! Cheer like a champion tomorrow!"
- Eric
"10 p.m. and we are ready to head out (for the Fiesta Bowl)."
- Mike
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"We made it to Phoenix. Flew out early this morning from Tulsa, and as expected, I got bumped to first class. As planned, I surprised Torrie and switched her seats before the flight to Salt Lake City. She was thankful but didn't think it would be fair to take the good seat on both flights and convinced me to sit up front on the ride into Phoenix. Actually, it didn't take that much convincing.
"I've only flown first class a few times but each time I do I think to myself, why don't I do this every time? If someone tells you it's not worth it, they are lying to you and should not be trusted. What they won't tell you is that in first class you get unlimited cocktails in real glasses, the good snacks and complimentary Wi-Fi access. It wouldn't have surprised me if they had raffled off an albino tiger cub up there today. Believe me, it's the only way to fly.
"Once we landed in Phoenix, we jumped on the rental car shuttle (you can catch it right outside the baggage claim area) with a couple of UConn fans and rode over to the rental car facility. If you are flying in for the game, make a note that the rental cars are offsite. Give yourself an extra 30 minutes coming and going. All in all, the airport is nice and has free Wi-Fi.
"It is colder here than I expected. Not that I'm complaining. I think any fan would rather be at a BCS game than at home right now… even if it was 73 degrees in Austin today (Zing!). Still glad I brought a jacket though. The guy at the rental car desk said that the temperature could dip into the 30's Saturday evening. On the other hand, the weather inside the enclosed stadium will be perfect.
"Back to today. We went straight to In-N-Out from the airport. Shame on you if you are in Phoenix this weekend and don't grab a burger at one of the many In-N-Out locations. They are only located on the west coast and I tend to believe they serve the best burgers in the country. Even Torrie, who is a borderline vegetarian, loves them. They are pretty cheap too, so you really have no excuse.
"After lunch, Torrie ran over to a spa in Scottsdale for some well-deserved maternity pampering and I took a nap. We ended the day with a fantastic dinner at Pizzeria Bianco (downtown Phoenix on 7th St, near the baseball stadium). This little brick oven pizza joint came highly recommended from our friends that live here. I'm happy to say that it lived up to the hype, even with a three-hour wait.
"Heads up though. If you are here just for the weekend, don't bother trying to find it on the map. After today, Pizzeria Bianco is closed until next Wednesday for New Years.
- Eric
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Didn't know we were going to go through a snow storm to get to Phoenix!"
- Nona
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Attached you will find a photo of my 2004 Ford F-150 with OU flags-a-flyin' as we get set to roll out to Arizona! Our ETD (Estimated Time of Departure) from Duncan is 5:30 p.m. CST. We'll drive through the night with a few stops along the way for gas and food. Our first official sightseeing place should be magical as we anticipate seeing the sunrise over a snow-covered Grand Canyon on New Year's Eve morning."
- Ben and Kelly
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Tomorrow is travel day. My parents have an early flight whereas I have a late flight. My plan for spending quality time with them at home backfired, but in a good way! A bunch of Sooners came over to my house in Texas yesterday to celebrate my birthday, so I hope our boys know a win would be a great birthday present!
"My friend Mallori, the one crashing on my couch, is driving to Phoenix. She left this morning, but had to take a detour since a snowstorm was brewing through New Mexico. Apparently, she drove for 15 hours from Tulsa until she made it out of Texas! You really do forget how big Texas can be. She'll finish her drive tomorrow and probably get in before I do.
"For everyone flying in for the game, when departing out of Phoenix Sky Harbor, they have free WiFi upstairs, so feel free to bring your laptops or iPads! Safe travels to all and see you in Arizona!
- Erika
"Our flight to Phoenix leaves early tomorrow morning, so that makes Wednesday a packing day. I travel a lot with my job so getting all of the essentials in a bag that will fit in the overhead bin has become an art form. No small task for a guy who wears size 14 shoes. It's early afternoon and our suitcases are packed and ready to go. The easy part is done. Getting to the Tulsa airport at 5 a.m. That's a different story.
"The packing list is pretty straightforward. Tickets. Check. Socks. Check. Pants. Check. A few OU t-shirts. Check. Running shoes and shorts for the New Years Day 5K. Check. All of our toiletries in 3 oz. bottles inside of a clear plastic baggie. Check. A jacket… Apparently it is going to be in the 50s while we're in Phoenix. I expected the desert to be a little warmer than that. Regardless, the OU pullover is in the bag. Check. Gameday polo and hat. Check. Yes, I wear the same shirt and hat to every OU game. It's not that I'm superstitious. The combo didn't bring any luck at Mizzou this year. I just like routine. Which is one of the reasons Torrie and I are freaking out a little about the baby on the way. We've been told newborns disrupt routine.
"We'll set two alarms tonight just to make sure we roll out of bed in time to catch the flight. I received an email last night from the airline informing me that I have been upgraded to first class. Keep track of your frequent flier miles kids. It pays off. Bad news is that while I have been upgraded, Torrie has not. By the way, she doesn't know this yet, so keep it our secret.
"It won't be a secret for long and I'm going to trade her seats anyway. It'll be a nice surprise tomorrow morning. Am I that nice of a guy? No, I'm just smart. There has to be a law somewhere forbidding a man from sitting in first class while his pregnant wife sits in coach. Call me old-fashioned but that's just common sense."
- Eric
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Today, we woke with the rising sun in the west Texas town of "Friday Night Lights." We are leaving the land of contrasts to continue our trek into the land of enchantment."
- Sherri
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Stopped at the Big Texan in Amarillo (on the way to Phoenix for OU's Fiesta Bowl matchup with UConn)."
- Nona
"We left this morning at 7:30 a.m. from East Texas and have traveled all day. We are still in Texas! On our drive through fog and rain, we have seen friendly drivers with thumps up and then there were the irritated drivers as they noticed the logos on our van. They were the ones that had the Longhorn logos. Too bad, so sad. Surprisingly, our paint job did not wash off! Boomer Sooner!"
- Sherri
"For the last eight years, my wife Torrie and I have been going to OU games together. You'd think, as an OU alum, that I was dragging my wife to game after game against her will. But truth be told, she has come to love the gameday experience as much as me. Cheering on the Sooners together has become one of those "shared interests" that marriage counselors always talk about. We've loved every minute of it.
"In April, we'll welcome our first child into the world. With that in mind, the Fiesta Bowl will be the last trip we'll take together as a kidless couple. I think some people call a trip like this a "babymoon". Sure, we could have gone to the beach or NYC but we felt that nothing would define this period in our life better than one last Sooner road trip.
"We've deciding to go out in style. We're going to do Phoenix right. Our itinerary includes a maternity massage at a Phoenix spa, a day trip to Sedona, eating at some off the beaten path Phoenix restaurants (thanks to a friend who lives there), catching the Fiesta Bowl sponsored New Year's Eve party and game day tailgate party and eventually watching the Sooners win from section 125, row 4."
- Eric
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"I live here in Phoenix and have been to the past two Fiesta Bowls the Sooners have played in. This year, it's going to be different because we are fulfilling my dad's lifelong dream of actually experiencing a live game in person. He had always dreamed of being at a game and being that we have hit hard times in this economy, this is the one. We were fortunate enough to get tickets and he is so excited. My dad is from Talihina, Okla., but now lives in Window Rock, Ariz. Maybe he will be the Sooners' good luck charm and we'll kill this streak of bad luck at the Fiesta Bowl."
- Phil from Phoenix
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"We are getting our toes done before we hit the road tomorrow!
"My husband recently lost his brother, another huge Sooner fan. Ben died in his sleep in July just two weeks after his birthday. He was 36. He left behind three children from his first marriage and two from a second (ages 15 down to 5). His oldest daughter has had a very difficult time with his death.
"We decided to take our family and pick the three children up in Oklahoma City and then drive to Phoenix where the other two children are and take the rest of his family to the Fiesta Bowl. Ben would have been unbelievably thrilled. None of them have ever had a chance to go to a game. We have 16 tickets and can't wait to go and help these kids have a great memory of what their father loved."
- Nona
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"We will be driving from the northeast piney woods of Texas, across the country to get to Glendale to watch the Sooners win and the Pride perform (a 1250-mile trek one-way). We've only been Sooner fans for two years as our son is a sophomore at OU and we have already made seven games and two bowl games. Included in our dedication is the Sooner flag proudly displayed in our front yard and bumper stickers on all our vehicles. This is a risky thing to do from our town in Texas!
"We are very proud that our son is a dedicated trumpet player, AF ROTC cadet and a proud supporter of the University of Oklahoma. We will start our drive Tuesday morning and arrive in Glendale Thursday evening, probably attending the band exhibition at the stadium that night. Boomer Sooner!"
- Sherri from Texas
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"As my wonderful husband is currently overseas during Christmas and New Year's, I thought it was important to go and have some fun in Arizona. Daniel would want me to scream and yell for my Sooners in person (as I always do)!
"He is in Baghdad at the present time. I can't thank him enough for all he does for our nation and for our family. This is a man who gives 110 percent, he is my true Hero. He has 17 years of military service and now works high-threat security in Iraq. I will be saddened not to have my best friend there by my side cheering on our sensational Sooners. He is a huge fan and wears his OU shirts and caps in Iraq -- all of the time!"
- Jenni
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"I will be going to my first bowl game on January 1 when OU takes on UConn. I just graduated in May, and I now live in Phoenix. I started my first job in the middle of August working with the Arizona Diamondbacks, so I'm really excited to see all the Sooner faithful in sunny Arizona! My parents are flying in from Texas and a fellow Sooner is crashing at my apartment in downtown Phoenix. The best part of this bowl game is that some of the friends I've made in Arizona are actually alumni from UConn, so we're ready for the game to get here to settle the trash talk. I'm pumped to see all the crimson and cream! Boomer Sooner!"
- Erika from Phoenix
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Because of my work, we have to wait until Dec. 30 to leave, as I must cover a Duncan basketball tournament from Dec. 28-30. After the tournament, we're leaving and driving straight through the night (Hopefully we get to leave around 6 p.m.) and should be in Phoenix/Glendale early afternoon Dec. 31. Our plans from there vary as far as checking into our hotel, grabbing a bite to eat, checking out Phoenix/Tempe/Arizona State University/Chase Field (Home of the Arizona D-backs)/etc."
- Ben from Duncan, Okla.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Our group of six is anxiously waiting for our departure time of 9 p.m. Thursday. We will be driving straight through from Oklahoma. This will be the first bowl experience for four individuals. We are all looking forward to a great time in Arizona. I want to thank those responsible for allowing me to be a part of sharing fan experiences. Boomer Sooner!"
- Mike
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"My fiance' and I are getting married before the game on Saturday. Here is how it came about: Last year at the OU-OSU game in Norman, my fiance' asked me to marry him at halftime. We never really set a date and just thought we'd do it sometime. Well, at the start of the 2010 football season, he says “Let's get married on January 1, 2011, and if OU is in a bowl game, we can get married where they play. I never thought OU would get picked to play the bowl game on 01/01/11. I figured they would go to a bowl game just not one on 01/01/11!
"After the Big 12 Championship game, we started making plans for our wedding. We are not having a traditional wedding with the big white dress and all the drama that goes with that. We are BIG Sooner fans and think getting married at the game would be fun and different. Plus, we will have all our Sooner friends around!"
- Shannon
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Oklahoma fans are renowned for their support of the Sooners. In addition to daily bowl coverage of the team during its week of preparation in Arizona for the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, the OU Athletics Department invited several fans to share their experiences leading up to the game.
We'll update this blog as the fans send us their stories and photos throughout the week. Oklahoma meets the UConn Huskies in Glendale on New Year's Day. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT with ESPN televising the game to the nation.
Note to fans: The Arizona Republic ran a story on Thursday about traffic planning for Saturday night's Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game. Check it out and make your bowl game experience a bit smoother.
 |
Saturday, January 1 |
"Wow. Not a bad way to start the New Year. 2011 is off to an epic start!
"We woke up way too early this morning and ran in the New Years Day 5K at the Phoenix Zoo. We rolled out of bed at 7.30am, pulled on our Sooner running gear and ran as fast as we could through the 30 degree morning air. The event organizers kept apologizing about the weather. They claimed that the temperature was in the 70s for the 2010 run. Hasn't been this cold in 15 years, they told us. Briskness aside, I am proud of Torrie for running hard even though she is nearly six months pregnant. Let me tell you, she's one tough chick!
"After the run, we grabbed lunch at a great bistro downtown called Carly's and made our way up to the stadium. You can't fully explain the big time college football atmosphere, but I'll try to throw out a few observations from our time at the Fiesta Bowl today.
"First of all, the University of Phoenix Stadium complex is topnotch. Torrie spotted the stadium from the highway and commented that it looks like a spaceship. I agreed. The entire complex is so state of the art, you'd think it was designed by the people who built the Death Star. There are several restaurants and bars, shops, hotels and even an IMAX movie theater all within walking distance of the stadium. This is a great place to watch a game and the Auburn and Oregon fans are in for a great atmosphere next week. Oh, and postgame traffic was a breeze… unlike like the crawl up I-35 after home games. Nothing personal Oklahoma DOT.
"Secondly, we loved visiting with UConn fans. They were extremely classy and friendly. It's obvious that they have a great athletic department up there and the fans reflect the University's appreciation for their athletes. As the final seconds ticked off the clock tonight, the entire UConn section (which was pretty loud though outnumbered 5 to 1) stood and applauded the Huskies as they left the field. Solid people, I tell you.
"As far as the Sooners are concerned, we should all be extremely proud of this team for battling all season. Remember that secondary that looked so suspect back in September against Utah State? Flash-forward to tonight and they deliver two INTs returned for scores and don't give up an offensive touchdown. Additionally, I counted one penalty all game. That's unheard of. We have a great group of young, talented players. Good things to come in 2011. Boomer Sooner.
- Eric
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Our seats in the stadium. Boomer Sooner!"
- Ben
|
Friday, December 31 |
"As I fly to Glendale, Ariz., today for the Fiesta Bowl, my husband, Daniel and his buddy, Jerry, proudly support OU while in Baghdad. They are both excited to be able to wear their Sooner shirts and jerseys under the required gear! Thank you to my husband and Jerry for all that they do for our nation (including the Sooner Nation)!
- Jenni from Mustang, Okla.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Due to the blizzard conditions on I-40, we took the southern route. There was only one place where we had a little bit of ice. During one of our stops, I visited with a couple that had on OU attire. It was Damon Williams' parents. We arrived at 3 p.m. to a beautiful, sunny sky. Now it is time to rest a while then make plans for tomorrow."
- Mike
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Another cold day we have braved in the Valley of the Sun. Attended the Fiesta Bowl parade this morning. Took pictures of my favorite men: my son in the Pride and Kurt Warner, the grand marshall of the parade. Excitement is building in the air! Boomer Sooner!"
- Sherri
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Kelly and I arrived in Phoenix at 10 a.m. MST. We had trouble throughout much of New Mexico and Arizona from the winter weather. So far we have seen downtown Phoenix, Chase Field (home of the MLB Diamondbacks), and U.S. Airways Arena(home of the NBA Suns). Off to Tempe tonight for New Year's Eve. We will stop by the Grand Canyon on our way back Sunday. We just wanted to get here this morning after the long night."
- Ben and Kelly
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"We've made our signs (check), got tickets (check), parking pass (check), entertainment guide (check), map to stadium (check). Happy New Year everyone and Boomer Sooner!"
- Sherri
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Maybe we are waiting for the real party to start tomorrow night. Or maybe 28 is the new 68. Either way, it is 11 p.m. on New Years Eve, Torrie and I are in a great, vibrant city and we are at the condo fighting to stay awake. Ten years ago today I went to the national championship game against Florida State with some friends. We might have been stupid 20 year olds back then but at least we could stay up until midnight. My point? Enjoy your youth while it last, kids. It's all downhill once you turn 25.
"We are content with our low key evening and had a fantastic day here in Arizona. It's still cold and gets even colder as you move north from Phoenix. We spent the afternoon in a beautiful little mountain town called Sedona. About a two-hour drive up I-17 from Phoenix, Sedona makes a great daytrip for anyone who is hanging in the area after the game.
"The drive up is painless and the excursion really has something for everyone in your caravan. The scenery is outstanding as you climb out of the valley through the snowcapped mountains. The blue sky seems to collapses onto the white peaks that gradually fade into the red rock. Catch it at sunset (while listening to the Into the Wild soundtrack) if you can. You can thank me later. Give yourself an extra hour or two because there's a big outlet mall just north of where I-10 meets I-17. And when you finally get there, Sedona itself boasts several little shops and eateries set against a postcard worthy backdrop. Needless to say, we're glad we made the trip.
"At the spur of the moment, we changed our original Friday night plans and picked up a pair of scalped tickets for the Suns v. Pistons game. Saw a couple of people in UConn sweatshirts at the game tonight. I've heard they like basketball in Connecticut. The Suns won the game but I believe we were the real winners tonight. I mean, a Black Eyed Peas cover band as the halftime entertainment?!? Can anything top that? I've gotta feeling… ah, never mind.
"Happy New Year everybody! Cheer like a champion tomorrow!"
- Eric
|
Thursday, December 30 |
"10 p.m. and we are ready to head out (for the Fiesta Bowl)."
- Mike
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"We made it to Phoenix. Flew out early this morning from Tulsa, and as expected, I got bumped to first class. As planned, I surprised Torrie and switched her seats before the flight to Salt Lake City. She was thankful but didn't think it would be fair to take the good seat on both flights and convinced me to sit up front on the ride into Phoenix. Actually, it didn't take that much convincing.
"I've only flown first class a few times but each time I do I think to myself, why don't I do this every time? If someone tells you it's not worth it, they are lying to you and should not be trusted. What they won't tell you is that in first class you get unlimited cocktails in real glasses, the good snacks and complimentary Wi-Fi access. It wouldn't have surprised me if they had raffled off an albino tiger cub up there today. Believe me, it's the only way to fly.
"Once we landed in Phoenix, we jumped on the rental car shuttle (you can catch it right outside the baggage claim area) with a couple of UConn fans and rode over to the rental car facility. If you are flying in for the game, make a note that the rental cars are offsite. Give yourself an extra 30 minutes coming and going. All in all, the airport is nice and has free Wi-Fi.
"It is colder here than I expected. Not that I'm complaining. I think any fan would rather be at a BCS game than at home right now… even if it was 73 degrees in Austin today (Zing!). Still glad I brought a jacket though. The guy at the rental car desk said that the temperature could dip into the 30's Saturday evening. On the other hand, the weather inside the enclosed stadium will be perfect.
"Back to today. We went straight to In-N-Out from the airport. Shame on you if you are in Phoenix this weekend and don't grab a burger at one of the many In-N-Out locations. They are only located on the west coast and I tend to believe they serve the best burgers in the country. Even Torrie, who is a borderline vegetarian, loves them. They are pretty cheap too, so you really have no excuse.
"After lunch, Torrie ran over to a spa in Scottsdale for some well-deserved maternity pampering and I took a nap. We ended the day with a fantastic dinner at Pizzeria Bianco (downtown Phoenix on 7th St, near the baseball stadium). This little brick oven pizza joint came highly recommended from our friends that live here. I'm happy to say that it lived up to the hype, even with a three-hour wait.
"Heads up though. If you are here just for the weekend, don't bother trying to find it on the map. After today, Pizzeria Bianco is closed until next Wednesday for New Years.
- Eric
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Didn't know we were going to go through a snow storm to get to Phoenix!"
- Nona
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Attached you will find a photo of my 2004 Ford F-150 with OU flags-a-flyin' as we get set to roll out to Arizona! Our ETD (Estimated Time of Departure) from Duncan is 5:30 p.m. CST. We'll drive through the night with a few stops along the way for gas and food. Our first official sightseeing place should be magical as we anticipate seeing the sunrise over a snow-covered Grand Canyon on New Year's Eve morning."
- Ben and Kelly
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Tomorrow is travel day. My parents have an early flight whereas I have a late flight. My plan for spending quality time with them at home backfired, but in a good way! A bunch of Sooners came over to my house in Texas yesterday to celebrate my birthday, so I hope our boys know a win would be a great birthday present!
"My friend Mallori, the one crashing on my couch, is driving to Phoenix. She left this morning, but had to take a detour since a snowstorm was brewing through New Mexico. Apparently, she drove for 15 hours from Tulsa until she made it out of Texas! You really do forget how big Texas can be. She'll finish her drive tomorrow and probably get in before I do.
"For everyone flying in for the game, when departing out of Phoenix Sky Harbor, they have free WiFi upstairs, so feel free to bring your laptops or iPads! Safe travels to all and see you in Arizona!
- Erika
|
Wednesday, December 29 |
"Our flight to Phoenix leaves early tomorrow morning, so that makes Wednesday a packing day. I travel a lot with my job so getting all of the essentials in a bag that will fit in the overhead bin has become an art form. No small task for a guy who wears size 14 shoes. It's early afternoon and our suitcases are packed and ready to go. The easy part is done. Getting to the Tulsa airport at 5 a.m. That's a different story.
"The packing list is pretty straightforward. Tickets. Check. Socks. Check. Pants. Check. A few OU t-shirts. Check. Running shoes and shorts for the New Years Day 5K. Check. All of our toiletries in 3 oz. bottles inside of a clear plastic baggie. Check. A jacket… Apparently it is going to be in the 50s while we're in Phoenix. I expected the desert to be a little warmer than that. Regardless, the OU pullover is in the bag. Check. Gameday polo and hat. Check. Yes, I wear the same shirt and hat to every OU game. It's not that I'm superstitious. The combo didn't bring any luck at Mizzou this year. I just like routine. Which is one of the reasons Torrie and I are freaking out a little about the baby on the way. We've been told newborns disrupt routine.
"We'll set two alarms tonight just to make sure we roll out of bed in time to catch the flight. I received an email last night from the airline informing me that I have been upgraded to first class. Keep track of your frequent flier miles kids. It pays off. Bad news is that while I have been upgraded, Torrie has not. By the way, she doesn't know this yet, so keep it our secret.
"It won't be a secret for long and I'm going to trade her seats anyway. It'll be a nice surprise tomorrow morning. Am I that nice of a guy? No, I'm just smart. There has to be a law somewhere forbidding a man from sitting in first class while his pregnant wife sits in coach. Call me old-fashioned but that's just common sense."
- Eric
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Today, we woke with the rising sun in the west Texas town of "Friday Night Lights." We are leaving the land of contrasts to continue our trek into the land of enchantment."
- Sherri
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Stopped at the Big Texan in Amarillo (on the way to Phoenix for OU's Fiesta Bowl matchup with UConn)."
- Nona
|
Tuesday, December 28 |
"We left this morning at 7:30 a.m. from East Texas and have traveled all day. We are still in Texas! On our drive through fog and rain, we have seen friendly drivers with thumps up and then there were the irritated drivers as they noticed the logos on our van. They were the ones that had the Longhorn logos. Too bad, so sad. Surprisingly, our paint job did not wash off! Boomer Sooner!"
- Sherri
|
Monday, December 27 |
"For the last eight years, my wife Torrie and I have been going to OU games together. You'd think, as an OU alum, that I was dragging my wife to game after game against her will. But truth be told, she has come to love the gameday experience as much as me. Cheering on the Sooners together has become one of those "shared interests" that marriage counselors always talk about. We've loved every minute of it.
"In April, we'll welcome our first child into the world. With that in mind, the Fiesta Bowl will be the last trip we'll take together as a kidless couple. I think some people call a trip like this a "babymoon". Sure, we could have gone to the beach or NYC but we felt that nothing would define this period in our life better than one last Sooner road trip.
"We've deciding to go out in style. We're going to do Phoenix right. Our itinerary includes a maternity massage at a Phoenix spa, a day trip to Sedona, eating at some off the beaten path Phoenix restaurants (thanks to a friend who lives there), catching the Fiesta Bowl sponsored New Year's Eve party and game day tailgate party and eventually watching the Sooners win from section 125, row 4."
- Eric
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"I live here in Phoenix and have been to the past two Fiesta Bowls the Sooners have played in. This year, it's going to be different because we are fulfilling my dad's lifelong dream of actually experiencing a live game in person. He had always dreamed of being at a game and being that we have hit hard times in this economy, this is the one. We were fortunate enough to get tickets and he is so excited. My dad is from Talihina, Okla., but now lives in Window Rock, Ariz. Maybe he will be the Sooners' good luck charm and we'll kill this streak of bad luck at the Fiesta Bowl."
- Phil from Phoenix
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"We are getting our toes done before we hit the road tomorrow!
"My husband recently lost his brother, another huge Sooner fan. Ben died in his sleep in July just two weeks after his birthday. He was 36. He left behind three children from his first marriage and two from a second (ages 15 down to 5). His oldest daughter has had a very difficult time with his death.
"We decided to take our family and pick the three children up in Oklahoma City and then drive to Phoenix where the other two children are and take the rest of his family to the Fiesta Bowl. Ben would have been unbelievably thrilled. None of them have ever had a chance to go to a game. We have 16 tickets and can't wait to go and help these kids have a great memory of what their father loved."
- Nona
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"We will be driving from the northeast piney woods of Texas, across the country to get to Glendale to watch the Sooners win and the Pride perform (a 1250-mile trek one-way). We've only been Sooner fans for two years as our son is a sophomore at OU and we have already made seven games and two bowl games. Included in our dedication is the Sooner flag proudly displayed in our front yard and bumper stickers on all our vehicles. This is a risky thing to do from our town in Texas!
"We are very proud that our son is a dedicated trumpet player, AF ROTC cadet and a proud supporter of the University of Oklahoma. We will start our drive Tuesday morning and arrive in Glendale Thursday evening, probably attending the band exhibition at the stadium that night. Boomer Sooner!"
- Sherri from Texas
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"As my wonderful husband is currently overseas during Christmas and New Year's, I thought it was important to go and have some fun in Arizona. Daniel would want me to scream and yell for my Sooners in person (as I always do)!
"He is in Baghdad at the present time. I can't thank him enough for all he does for our nation and for our family. This is a man who gives 110 percent, he is my true Hero. He has 17 years of military service and now works high-threat security in Iraq. I will be saddened not to have my best friend there by my side cheering on our sensational Sooners. He is a huge fan and wears his OU shirts and caps in Iraq -- all of the time!"
- Jenni
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"I will be going to my first bowl game on January 1 when OU takes on UConn. I just graduated in May, and I now live in Phoenix. I started my first job in the middle of August working with the Arizona Diamondbacks, so I'm really excited to see all the Sooner faithful in sunny Arizona! My parents are flying in from Texas and a fellow Sooner is crashing at my apartment in downtown Phoenix. The best part of this bowl game is that some of the friends I've made in Arizona are actually alumni from UConn, so we're ready for the game to get here to settle the trash talk. I'm pumped to see all the crimson and cream! Boomer Sooner!"
- Erika from Phoenix
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Because of my work, we have to wait until Dec. 30 to leave, as I must cover a Duncan basketball tournament from Dec. 28-30. After the tournament, we're leaving and driving straight through the night (Hopefully we get to leave around 6 p.m.) and should be in Phoenix/Glendale early afternoon Dec. 31. Our plans from there vary as far as checking into our hotel, grabbing a bite to eat, checking out Phoenix/Tempe/Arizona State University/Chase Field (Home of the Arizona D-backs)/etc."
- Ben from Duncan, Okla.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Our group of six is anxiously waiting for our departure time of 9 p.m. Thursday. We will be driving straight through from Oklahoma. This will be the first bowl experience for four individuals. We are all looking forward to a great time in Arizona. I want to thank those responsible for allowing me to be a part of sharing fan experiences. Boomer Sooner!"
- Mike
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"My fiance' and I are getting married before the game on Saturday. Here is how it came about: Last year at the OU-OSU game in Norman, my fiance' asked me to marry him at halftime. We never really set a date and just thought we'd do it sometime. Well, at the start of the 2010 football season, he says “Let's get married on January 1, 2011, and if OU is in a bowl game, we can get married where they play. I never thought OU would get picked to play the bowl game on 01/01/11. I figured they would go to a bowl game just not one on 01/01/11!
"After the Big 12 Championship game, we started making plans for our wedding. We are not having a traditional wedding with the big white dress and all the drama that goes with that. We are BIG Sooner fans and think getting married at the game would be fun and different. Plus, we will have all our Sooner friends around!"
- Shannon
Sooner Football With Brent Venables - 9/7/25
Sunday, September 07
FB Highlights: OU 24, Michigan 13
Saturday, September 06
Brent Venables Postgame vs Michigan
Saturday, September 06
Ben Arbuckle Postgame vs Michigan
Saturday, September 06
