Saturday was a roller coaster for me.
Not only because both ASU and UA were playing highly-ranked Big Ten teams, but also due to the fact that I was the recipient of a press pass to the cage match in Tucson.
The plan was pretty simple: watch ASU and Wisconsin play at 12:30 p.m. AZT, head east on I-10 by 4:30, arrive at the stadium by 6:30 and munch on a catered sandwich by 6:45.
It was flawless, and it went exactly the way I anticipated. Unfortunately, nothing else on that fateful Saturday did.
Arizona State went into Madison to play Wisconsin, and in the process proved to be a talented, speedy team that just can't seem to catch a break. By losing 20-19 in such heartbreaking fashion, ASU cemented itself as the hard-luck loser in my life.
When your favorite team falls flat in such an illustrious fashion, it has a lot of side effects. Mood swings, irritability, nausea, you name it.
But a two hour car ride to watch your arch rival, immediately after experiencing that loss? It was less than therapeutic. Matt, my trusty photographer and friend on this trip, spent a lot of our time complaining about Thomas Weber.
Tucson offered no respite from the madness: UA fans were everywhere, and the campus was littered with cans of Bud Light. Iowa brought the crowd, and I respect their team for having such a devoted fan base.
One brave Sun Devil fan wearing a white and green tank top began yelling "A-S-U" while walking down Cherry Avenue with a beer bong in his hands. Needless to say, he was mocked incessantly. Matt and I were both wearing green, and we decided that it was the new "Sun Devil Secret Color" for Tucson trips. Don't forget that, ASU fans.
Did the Arizona victory help my state of mind? Not at all. But from my vantage point, Iowa put together a remarkable second half comeback, and I was able to witness the final touchdowns from the field. Despite the fact that the Wildcats came away with an impressive win, I still truly enjoyed my experience at Arizona Stadium.
And that scares me.
Loading comments...