Fiesta Bowl has a way of bringing out best in Arizona, Boise State
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- First things first. Boise State's appearance in the Fiesta Bowl will not include a marriage proposal, at least not one from Broncos' star running back Jay Ajayi.
"Sadly, I do not have that special someone," Ajayi said chuckling at the thought.
"I'm single, man."
Not that it hasn't been done. In its time, the Fiesta Bowl has served as an oasis at the tip of the Sonoran desert for both Arizona and Boise State, one that has included the most memorable "she-said-yes" moment in NCAA bowl history.
Arizona won the only major bowl game in school history here by dominating Miami (Fla.) in 1994 in a game played at Sun Devil Stadium. The final was 29-0, and because of the Wildcats' impenetrable Desert Swarm defense it was not even that close.
Upstart Boise State, one of the two original BCS-busters, used a captivating 43-42 victory over Oklahoma on Jan. 1, 2007, to springboard onto the national stage. The Broncos won the game and the girl, all live on TV. Shortly after a running for a game-winning a two-point conversion in overtime, halfback Ian Johnson dashed to the sideline and on one knee proposed marriage to his cheerleader girlfriend Chrissy Popadics during a post-game interview. The NCAA sent representatives to their wedding seven months later, the better to monitor possible extra benefits.
It may be difficult for No. 10 Arizona (10-3) and No. 20 Boise State (11-2) to scale that level of remarkable on Thursday afternoon at University of Phoenix Stadium, but it will not be for a lack of trying.
A legacy beckons.
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FIESTA BOWL
No. 10 Arizona (10-3) vs. No. 20 Boise State (10-2)
When: 2 p.m. Wednesday
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium
TV: ESPN (Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman, Todd McShay)
KEY PLAYERS
Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise State: Ajayi watched the 2007 Fiesta Bowl on YouTube and was first drawn to Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson. He soon shifted his attention to Boise State's wide-open attack, and it drew him in. Ajayi has he has been on a tear lately with 15 touchdowns of his 29 touchdowns coming in the last five games. "As the season goes on, we all started to get more comfortable in our system," Ajayi said. "You start the little extra layers of each play. You know where things can hit." Ajayi combines breakaway speed with good leverage.
Scooby Wright III, LB, Arizona: Wright has a bountiful pre-holiday season. He won the Bronko Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik awards as the nation's best defensive player and the Lombardi Award as the nation's best lineman or linebacker in a four-day flurry in the second week of December. He plays at sic-'em speed and he entered the bowl season leading the FBS in tackles for loss (27) and forced fumbles (six).
Nick Wilson, RB, Arizona: Wilson, a true freshman, had big shoes to fill in replacing Ka'Deem Carey, who left for the NFL with one year of eligibility remaining after rushing for 1,885 yards and 19 touchdowns last year. It was a comfortable fit. Wilson popped for 1,289 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns, and his big games -- 218 yards against Utah, 178 against Arizona State -- were instrumental in getting Arizona to the Pac-12 title game.
Grant Hedrick, QB, Boise State: Hedrick's superb decision-making is defined by one stat -- he is the Broncos' career leading in completion percentage at 70.1 percent, and he has been even better (72 percent) during their eight-game winning streak. He also is a threat to run, gaining 563 yards, including a school quarterback record 131 against New Mexico on Nov. 8.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Arizona appears to be a program on the rise, and with young playmakers on both sides of the ball appears to be just scratching the surface of what could be many good years to come as Rich Rodriguez fully implements his style. Even now, after a remarkable run that includes the highest winning percentage (.914) this millennium, Boise State does not have the national profile it deserves. A victory here would continue to drive that point home.
PREDICTION
Arizona 33, Boise State 29
"I think we're trying to put Arizona back on the map," Arizona all-everything sophomore linebacker Scooby Wright III said.
A victory would give the Wildcats the second-most victories in program history, behind only Dick Tomey's 12-1 team in 1998. Boise State already has its eighth 10-win season in the last nine years and is making its 13th consecutive bowl appearance. Included was a 17-10 victory TCU in the 2010 Fiesta Bowl, a game that featured two BCS-busters and matched major college unbeatens for the first (and only) time outside a de facto national championship game.
"These are exciting times at Boise State," said first-year coach Bryan Harsin, who took over for Chris Petersen when he left for Washington a year ago. "I know that our players, this is something in the past they've seen and are excited to be a part of again."
Ajayi and Wright are the headliners in a game that matches teams with impressive credentials. Arizona won its first Pac-12 South title and beat No. 2-ranked Oregon in the regular season before getting blown out in the rematch in the Pac-12 championship game. Boise State won its first Mountain West Conference title and enters with an eight-game winning streak, five on the blue, blue artificial grass of home.
Ajayi, a junior who declared for the NFL draft just before the bowl game, mentions DeMarco Murray, Matt Forte and Marshawn Lynch when asked about running backs he admires, and his numbers at this level compare favorably to what the trio did in college. Ajayi has 1,689 yards rushing and 2,225 all-purpose yards while scoring 29 touchdowns, tied with Wisconsin halfback Melvin Gordon for the most in the FBS. He has scored on a 62-yard run and 73- and 75-yard pass receptions.
"I want to have a Marshawn Lynch-style running mentality, because that guy doesn't want to be tackled by anybody," said Ajayi, who was asked if he saw Lynch's 79-yard touchdown run against the Arizona Cardinals two weeks ago.
"That play was ridiculous. That's what he does, and that's why I like Marshawn Lynch so much. He just doesn't want to be stopped. He won't be stopped."
Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez, who built West Virginia into a national title contender before coming to Arizona three years ago, has compared Ajayi to former Arizona back Ka'Deem Carey, who rushed for 1,885 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2013.
Wright is a throttle-wide-open attack defender with a resume that is not dissimilar to that of former Arizona All-American Tedy Bruschi. Both are from quiet California towns north of the Bay Area, both slipped under the recruiting radar, and both became stars. Bruschi was a member of Arizona's Desert Swarm defense before winning three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.
"I still have that edge," Wright said. "Nothing has changed. Going into fall camp, we said we were going to surprise a lot of people. That's what we're doing."
Anu Solomon's health: Solomon, who stepped into Arizona's starting lineup as a redshirt freshman and leads FBS freshmen with 3,458 passing yards, aggravated an ankle injury against Utah on Nov. 22 and was removed early in the Pac-12 title game against Oregon on Dec. 5. He makes the UA offense work, and his availability is crucial. He's had more than three weeks to mend.
Defensive acuity: Both defensive units can make you pay. Boise State has five defensive touchdowns, tied for No. 6 in the FBS, including four interception returns for scores. It also has scored on a punt return. Arizona has four defensive touchdowns and has scored 104 points after turnovers.
Time your trips to the refreshment stand: Arizona has scored 30 or more points eight times, and Boise State has done it 10 times.
--Boise State will hardly be in awe against a Pac-12 opponent. The Broncos are 6-3 since against Pac-12 schools since 2006. They beat Oregon in 2008 and 2009, holding the Ducks to eight points the second time.
--Arizona will play a fourth consecutive ranked opponent for the first time in school history. The Wildcats have won two (Utah and Arizona State) of previous three.
--The Pac-12 is unbeaten in three bowl games, while the Mountain West is 2-4. In the one bowl game between the two conferences, Utah blew out Colorado State 45-10 in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 20. Boise State beat Colorado State 37-24 on Sept. 6. Arizona beat Utah 42-10 on Nov. 22.
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