Editor's Note: The 2000-01 academic year was filled with a host of athletic achievements. In today's issue of the Arizona Daily Wildcat - the last of the school year - UA staff writers reflect on their favorite sports moment of the year.
Ryan Finley, Sports Editor
Of all the events I covered this season, my favorite UA sports memory came while pacing the sidelines of the UA football team's 53-47 overtime win against Washington State in Arizona Stadium on Oct. 14.
During the extra periods, running back Leo Mills - who was platooning with freshman Clarence Farmer - scored a touchdown on 12 overtime carries while linebacker Antonio Pierce intercepted a Justin Gesser pass to win the game in triple overtime.
Arizona Stadium - still relatively full despite the late hour and cold weather - erupted, as fans stormed the field looking for players to congratulate. In the locker room following the game, Mills and then-head coach Dick Tomey shared a hug and tears while talking about the sophomore's performance.
At the time, the UA football team had to win just one of its remaining five games to earn a bowl berth. Little did the Wildcats know that the win would be Tomey's last as a college head coach. After losing the next five contests, the winningest coach in UA history unceremoniously resigned.
On that one night, though, all seemed right with the UA football program.
Kamy Shaygan, Assistant Sports Editor
There is no question as to what my favorite UA sports moment of the year is. Covering the volleyball team earlier this season, I drove up to Tempe to report on the Wildcats' game against Arizona State. The crowd was really loud despite the fact that there weren't many Wildcat fans in Wells Fargo Arena.
The match started, and although UA was considered one of the best teams in the country, the Wildcats lost the first two games and were on the brink of getting swept.
After the first two games, the volleyball players had their break. When the they ran out of the locker room, they were led by junior setter Dana Burkholder, who was sporting a huge smile on her face. I asked myself, "Why is she smiling when they are down 2-0?" Burkholder knew something that I didn't, because she led the Wildcat charge to come back and win three-straight games in the emotional victory.
I will never forget the expression on the faces of the UA volleyball team. They were celebrating as if they just won the National Championship. The crowd was so silent, all you could hear were the Wildcats screaming on center court. Even Arizona head coach David Rubio managed to crack a smile in the victory.
Connor Doyle, Columnist
I would love to say that my favorite moment came when I was in San Antonio to watch the Midwest Regional Finals of the NCAA Tournament, but the truth is much less glamorous than that. It happened while I was at home with my friends, watching the men's basketball game against Stanford. That entire game was an anxiety-fest for me - when Michael Wright hit that impossible shot, weaving through the arms of the Collins twins, I jumped so high that my head almost hit the ceiling fan. For the rest of that night I screamed "WE F**KING BEAT STANFORD!" about every five minutes. I realized after the game that I didn't think there was any way that we were going to beat the Cardinal, and when we did, I knew this team was going to go far.
Jeff Lund, Staff Writer
It has been a very exciting year for UA sports. Rushing the field after the WSU football game was definitely up there, but just edging out that joy was the feeling of total excitement and anticipation when some friends and I were sporting our "McKale Crew" T-shirts at the women's basketball game against ASU.
Sure, the seats weren't packed and the team lost, but jumping up and down screaming obnoxiously in our student section provided by coach Joan Bonvicini during a hard fought nail-biter that went to overtime was definitely a night to remember. It may have seemed to be just a group of crazy guys cheering sarcastically, but as far as we were concerned, we were part of a packed house rooting on our Wildcat women.
The 20 or so of us acted as if we were a part of 2,000 screaming women's-basketball fanatics. We were primed to go as far as to rush the court. Even if only 10 or 15 students ran out to center court and mobbed our team, it wouldn't have mattered. It was our team, and the night in which students were joined to form my first basketball student section experience, there was no less excitement than any other sport I have been to.
Bryan Rosenbaum, Staff Writer
Damn it. Lund took mine.
So I'll have to go with the more obvious and the biggest event of the school year - Arizona's run to the Final Four.
If you were in the Metrodome that weekend, you'd understand. The UA students put the "Cameron Crazies" to shame, and it took everybody who went well over a week to get our voices back. Unfortunately, the fans and the team were overshadowed by the violence that took place on Fourth Avenue.
I'll spare you sentimental memories, they're not my style. But all of us in the first couple rows behind the UA band, for two games at least, held it down. Perhaps Mr. Livengood and the rest of the athletic department will finally listen to the fans who really matter - the students.
