Growing up in nearby Douglas, Del Arvayo never imagined he鈥檇 end up at Harvard, much less end up spending his days trying to find a way to house a horse on New Year鈥檚 Eve.
But the Chief Operating Officer of the 蜜柚直播 Bowl is a larger-than-life personality with a larger-than-life story, one that has found him with a perfect role for his skills and passions.
Unfortunately, sometimes that role includes some truly strange problem-solving.
鈥淲yoming wants to bring its horse and pony, and my first thought is, 鈥榃here do we put the horse?鈥欌 said Arvayo of the particular conundrum caused by the Cowboys mascot, as the Pokes square off against the Georgia State Panthers in the New Year鈥檚 Eve matchup. 鈥淒oes it stay at the stadium?鈥
He had an epiphany. Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa, one of the bowl鈥檚 partners, hosts the game鈥檚 cheerleaders and bands. They also happen to have horse stables. Crisis averted.
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Arvayo would be in real trouble if Georgia State wanted to bring an actual panther, but odds are, he鈥檇 find a way.
This is exactly why Ali Farhang tabbed him, after all, first as a community-oriented volunteer for the burgeoning bowl, and then as COO of an emerging enterprise.
They got to know each other through their mutual participation with the Salpointe Catholic High School football program, Farhang as an assistant coach, and Arvayo first as an assistant coach and then as a jack-of-all-trades.
As a student at Douglas High School, Arvayo scored exceptionally well on the SATs, so well, in fact, that Harvard came after him. He was not going to apply because he couldn鈥檛 afford the $60 application fee. One of his coaches 鈥 standing at 6-foot-5, 230-plus pounds, Arvayo played football and basketball for the Bulldogs 鈥 said, 鈥淚鈥檇 love to see you apply, and I鈥檒l pay the fee.鈥
So, Arvayo applied, and was accepted to the prestigious Ivy League school.
鈥淚t was a culture shock,鈥 he said of moving from a tiny town in 蜜柚直播 to lofty Cambridge, Massachusetts. 鈥淓verything from the weather, the school, to the culture itself. In Douglas, we were so isolated. But that was the promise of it, too. Being exposed to all these people. It was a fantastic experience. I actually loved it.鈥
At Harvard, Arvayo lettered one year in basketball and in crew and played freshman football. Upon graduation, he realized he wanted to coach, and his old coach said, 鈥淕o find the best program you can find, and tell them you鈥檙e willing to do anything.鈥
That was nearby Cambridge Rindge and Latin School 鈥 which had produced NBA stars Patrick Ewing and Rumeal Robinson, among others 鈥 and Arvayo found himself sweeping floors and tutoring the players academically.
In 2009, he joined Salpointe as a JV offensive line coach, but he鈥檇 really leave his mark on the program on the academic side.
When he realized a few years in that a number of freshman and sophomores were becoming academically ineligible, he helped launch the Priority 1 program to boost the Lancers鈥 academic standing. Salpointe head coach Dennis Bene asked him to move from a coaching role to an operations role, because he proved so valuable off the field.
His proudest achievement?
鈥淭he last three years on varsity, no ineligibles,鈥 he said.
Arvayo was also tasked with launching the Lancers鈥 social media presence, as well as bolstering the HUDL recruiting platform. He was also tasked with arranging travel and meals, senior week and senior dinner, mother-son photos, everything.
Farhang saw all of it in action and tried to scoop Arvayo up. Roughly 18 months ago, Arvayo left his role as a consultant for Aetna for what he considers a dream job with the 蜜柚直播 Bowl.
鈥淒el is one of those teammates who you can鈥檛 have enough of,鈥 Farhang said. 鈥淣o matter what鈥檚 happening, he鈥檚 always consistent, always looking to solve problems, always looking at the big picture. We鈥檙e lucky to have him as part of the 蜜柚直播 Bowl staff. He makes our game better, everything about our organization better.鈥
In his dream role, he鈥檚 learned that pulling off a successful bowl game is a 365-day endeavor.
鈥淭here is no separating this year and next year,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e growing every year, improving our processed. The game is two days away, and I鈥檓 constantly thinking about what we can do better.鈥
So while it may be tempting to think the 蜜柚直播 Bowl officials have everything put to bed on New Year鈥檚 Eve, the real work starts later that week.
鈥淛anuary 2, we鈥檙e going to sleep,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been 24/7 since Dec. 1. But starting Jan. 3, we have to wrap up a lot of the finances, vendors, a lot to close down mechanically. Then we start the whole feedback process. That鈥檚 all of January.鈥
There鈥檚 no rest for the weary.
Now 鈥 where did he put that horse?
