Arizona Daily Wildcat Online
sections
Front Page
News
Opinions
Sports
Go Wild
Live Culture
Police Beat
Datebook
Comics
Crossword
Special Sections
Photo Spreads
Classifieds
The Wildcat
Letter to the Editor
Wildcat Staff
Search
Archives
Job Openings
Advertising Info
Student Media
Arizona Student Media Info
UATV -
Student TV
 
KAMP -
Student Radio
The Desert Yearbook
Daily Wildcat Staff Alumni

Family rings true for Bell brothers


Photo
Jacob Konst/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Arizona football players Travis and Tanner Bell's parents Tim and Tracey attend each of their sons' football games, be it home or away, and Family Weekend will be no different.
By Charles Renning
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Friday, October 14, 2005
Print this

Football players 'as close as you can get'

For Arizona football players Travis and Tanner Bell, every weekend during the football season is Family Weekend.

When the Wildcats take on Stanford tomorrow at 4 p.m. as part of the university's Family Weekend, it won't feel that much different for the Bell pair because whether the team is in Salt Lake City, Los Angeles or Tucson, parents Tim and Tracey Bell are there to support their sons.

"We put everything on the Visa," Tracey said, adding that the price is worth it to see Tanner and Travis play together.

"They learned that life is a precious thing and family is important," she said. "We always told them that all they have is each other."

Photo
Tanner Bell
No. 72 offensive tackle Senior Castroville, Calif.

The Bell brothers joined forces on the football field last season when tight end Travis committed to Arizona and redshirted his freshman season.

"They feel very blessed to be able to play together and play at this level," Tracey said.

Although the pair is only two years apart in age, they were three years apart in school and never played on the same football team, although they played together regularly in basketball.

"When (Arizona) called and gave me the offer to come here, I took it as quickly as I could," Travis said. "I've always wanted to play with him."

Tracey said Travis was recruited by a number of different schools but chose the Wildcats because of Tanner, who has played a significant role on the Wildcat's offensive line the last four seasons.

"He always wanted to play football with his brother," she said. "That was just a dream come true."

Photo
Travis Bell
No. 86 tight end redshirt freshman Castroville, Calif.

The Bell brothers are so close that they bought a house together in Tucson and live as roommates.

"We're pretty much as close as you can get," Travis said.

Tracey said it was nice to have the pair at the same university for both personal and financial reasons.

She said sending her youngest child, Travis, off to college was easier knowing Tanner would be in Tucson to help him out.

"He showed me everything I needed to do. He backed me up on everything," Travis said. While the Bell family continues to be supportive of one another on and off the field, the Bell parents have also taken on a role with the team.

Tracey said the couple often brings cookies and candies for the other players and treats players whose parents can't make it to all the games as extended family.

Tim and Tracey planned on arriving in Phoenix today around 6:30 p.m., driving to Tucson and spending as much time with their sons as possible. Tracey said that only amounts to a couple hours a weekend because of Travis and Tanner's football commitments.

"We're kind of at the mercy of their schedule," she said.

Tracey said the couple hopes to cook for their sons on Sunday when they have a little free time, but any time together is important to all of them.



Write a Letter to the Editor
articles
Plenty of pride at drag show
divider
Reactor security report flawed
divider
Student-parents feeling left out from Family Weekend festivities
divider
Two students report assaults
divider
Campus briefs: Alum lectures on real-life CSI
divider
Quick Hits
divider
FastFacts
divider
Family Weekend calendar
divider
Copter parents should come in for landing
divider
Activities abound for Family Weekend fun
divider
Food and drink: Dining out in the Old Pueblo
divider
College confessions
divider
Alumni won't recognize today's UA
divider
Health help on campus: Campus Health: a one-stop shop for aid
divider
Students concerned about assault, theft
divider
Students clean house before parents arrive
divider
Student government plans for campus child care
divider
In her shadow
divider
Family rings true for Bell brothers
divider
A Slice Of Bacon: The good, bad and ugly of Family Weekend
divider
Arnold follows father by donning Cats jersey
divider
The 'other' family members: Mom and Dad may write checks, but siblings worth gold
divider
A family film: Media arts student makes film about family
divider
You always remember your first time: You want me to tell my parents what?
divider
Police Beat
divider
Datebook
divider
Restaurant and Bar Guide
Housing Guide
Search for:
advanced search Archives

NEWS | SPORTS | OPINIONS | GO WILD
CLASSIFIEDS | ARCHIVES | CONTACT US | SEARCH



Webmaster - webmaster@wildcat.arizona.edu
© Copyright 2005 - The Arizona Daily Wildcat - Arizona Student Media