Three of my favorite smells in the world are fresh cooked bacon, the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ desert after it rains, and victory after a football beatdown.
I got all three this past week. After 20-plus years of cheering on my husband Chuck as professional player, NFL defensive coordinator now college analyst, I am known for being a little, well, intense during the games. Our surrogate parents, Burt and Nancy Kinerk, keep me tucked alongside of them at game time; they understand it’s more than just a football game to all of us.
Between plays, I visit with Wildcat supporters inside the Sands Club at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Stadium. They are a gaggle of blue and red devotees that range from those who attended U of A long before Chuck and me and those who watched Chuck play to second-and-third-generation alumni or passionate Cat enthusiasts like my friends Mike and Karen Fisher, who have made ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ their home and the Wildcats their team. It’s such a blessing to share a good yarn, be a part of their extended family and the true ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ tradition.
Speaking of the Sands Club, I ran into Rich and Rita Rodriguez, who were cheering on the Cats at the game as their son, Rhett, plays quarterback behind Khalil Tate, and their daughter, Raquel is now an intern with the local site. I’ve seen them before in the stands but wanted to respect their privacy. It's heartwarming: Even after parting ways with the team, the duo is like any good mom or dad who puts their politics or emotions aside to simply show up and do the right thing by supporting their kiddos.