Opening Kickoff Happy New Year! The College Football Bowl Season is now complete and what a season it was. The TV viewership numbers are still rolling in and they are strong. Excitement was everywhere and the successes of Bowl Season were evident. College football is thriving, and we were thrilled to stage both the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl matchups. That gave us the opportunity to provide our legendary hospitality to our teams, fans, families, officials, alumni, partners and more. Thank you to our Yellow Jacket Committee, our army of volunteers and talented staff for their dedication and commitment!
FIESTA BOWL ORGAN I Z AT I O N N E WS L E T T ER
Oklahoma State Head Coach Mike Gundy said it best after the game and it reflects our mission: “The PlayStation Fiesta Bowl is first class. Everything involved is first class. The lodging, the facilities, the game day atmosphere, the way we’re treated – this is a once-in-a-lifetime event for everybody involved.” That followed a classic matchup in which the Cowboys overcame a 21-point deficit by scoring 30 straight points to pull out a 37-35 win over Notre Dame in the first-ever matchup between the schools. The game also broke 19 Fiesta Bowl records. Talk about starting off the New Year right! We talk about all that makes Bowl Season special. It’s a month-long event that includes visitors enjoying the amenities that Arizona has to offer, teams engaging with our Arizona nonprofits in community service, elite level college football and, ultimately, memories that last a lifetime. Later this year, Bowl Season will be abuzz with the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl along with another Big Ten/Big 12 contest in Downtown Phoenix. Mark your calendars to spend New Year’s Eve with us! Thank you for your support in helping the Fiesta Bowl serve our community across the board. We are Fiesta!
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COWBOYS RIDE TO 2022 PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl VICTORY The 2022 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl was truly historic. In the first-ever meeting between Oklahoma State and Notre Dame, the Cowboys staged the biggest comeback in Fiesta Bowl history and the teams broke 19 Fiesta Bowl records. No. 5 Notre Dame jumped out to a 28-7 lead, but No. 9 Oklahoma State scored 30 unanswered points to stage a 21-point comeback and lead, 37-28, with a little over two minutes left. Notre Dame QB Jack Coan kept the game close until the very end, throwing his fifth touchdown pass, tying the Fiesta Bowl pass touchdown record, to close the score to 37-35 with a minute left. The Cowboys recovered an onsides kick and earned their third Fiesta Bowl victory. Coan and Cowboys QB Spencer Sanders put on a clinic. Coan ended the game with Bowl record 505 total offensive yards and Sanders just behind at 496 yards. Sanders was named Offensive Player of the Game, going 34-51 with 371 passing yards and four touchdowns, plus 136 rushing yards on 17 carries. WR Tay Martin grabbed three TDs to tie the Fiesta Bowl record. LB Malcolm Rodriguez earned Defensive Player of the Game honors with 11 total tackles and a critical fourth quarter interception.
PG 2
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GOPHERS GRASP 2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl WIN Minnesota brought its nationally-ranked defense and earned its fifth consecutive Bowl victory, with an 18-6 win over West Virgina in Downtown Phoenix. Ranked No. 4 in FBS in yards allowed per game, the Golden Gophers defense held the Mountaineers to a single touchdown and 206 offensive yards, including only six yards in the first quarter. The first score of the game came in the second quarter, when the Gophers handed the ball to 6-9, 380-pound offensive tackle Daniel Faalele, who barreled his way for a two-yard touchdown, the first of his career, and Minnesota added a two-point conversion. Mountaineers QB Jarret Doege responded, with a rushing touchdown of his own to bring the score to 8-6, but his two-point attempt to even the score failed. The Gophers added a score from 5’11, 205-pound RB Ky Thomas, who found the end zone on a fiveyard rush. Minnesota added a field goal to give Minnesota its first Guaranteed Rate Bowl victory in four appearances. Thomas earned the Offensive Player of the Game title for his 144 rushing yards and touchdown. Safety Tyler Nubin was named Defensive Player of the Game after eight tackles and an eight-yard sack.
F I E S TA B O W L . O R G
PG 3
Team Outreach WEST VIRGINIA It was a special day for more than 50 kids from Special Olympics Arizona when the Mountaineers joined them for a “Day of Play” at Mavrix in Scottsdale. Each child was paired with a player and, together, they enjoyed a morning of bowling, arcade games and laser tag. At the end of the day, the kids got autographs, took a group photo with the team and, kids and players alike, left with big smiles and memories that will last a lifetime. Click here to watch a recap.
MINNESOTA The Golden Gophers also had a fun “Day of Play” with more than 75 children from the Muscular Dystrophy Association at Main Event in Tempe. The kids competed with the Minnesota football team in a variety of arcade games, as well as bowling and laser tag. By the end of the day, autographs were signed, pictures were taken and fun was had by all. Click here to watch a recap.
OKLAHOMA STATE The Cowboys competed for a cause at Fiesta Bowl Charities’ annual backpack stuffing competition, held in partnership with PNC Bank. Teachers and teammates participated in a friendly competition to see who could stuff the most backpacks with new school supplies. At the end of the day, 1,000 backpacks were stuffed and donated to Title I schools across the state. Click here to watch a recap.
NOTRE DAME In partnership with Fiesta Bowl Charities and Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, the Fighting Irish treated youth to a holiday shopping spree at Dick’s Sporting Goods. The Notre Dame players helped the kids pick out new clothes, test out sporting equipment and even signed autographs for their new friends to take home. Click here to watch a recap. PG 4
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Game records 2021 GUARANTEED RATE BOWL
TEAM RECORDS:
TEAMS SET FOUR COMBINED RECORDS:
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Fewest Passes Attempted: 44, West Virginia (31) vs. Minnesota (13)
Most total first downs: 34, Oklahoma State vs. Notre Dame
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Fewest total offensive plays: 122, West Virginia (58) vs. Minnesota (64)
Most first downs passing: 24, Notre Dame
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Fewest PATs made: 1, West Virginia (0) vs. Minnesota (1)
Most Net Passing Yards: 509, Notre Dame
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Fewest Punt Return Yards: -2, West Virginia (-2) vs. Minnesota (0)
Most pass attempts: 68, Notre Dame
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Most touchdown passes: 5, Notre Dame
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Most field goals attempted: 4, Oklahoma State
• • • •
2022 PLAYSTATION ® FIESTA BOWL SAW A TOTAL OF 19 RECORDS BROKEN:
INDIVIDUAL RECORDS:
COMBINED RECORDS:
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Most total offensive yards: Jack Coan (505), Notre Dame
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Most total first downs: 61, Oklahoma State (34) vs. Notre Dame (27)
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Most pass attempts: Jack Coan (68), Notre Dame
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Most first downs passing: 43, Oklahoma State (19) vs. Notre Dame (24)
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Most passing yards: Jack Coan (509), Notre Dame
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Most pass attempts: 119, Oklahoma State (51) vs. Notre Dame (68)
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Most touchdown passes: Jack Coan (5), Notre Dame – Tied 1st
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Most pass completions: 72, Oklahoma State (34) vs. Notre Dame (38)
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Most touchdown receptions: Tay Martin (3), Oklahoma State – Tied 1st
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Most net passing yards: 880, Oklahoma State (371) vs. Notre Dame (509)
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Most field goals attempted: Tanner Brown (4), Oklahoma State – Tied 1st
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Most touchdown passes 9, Oklahoma State (4) vs. Notre Dame (5)
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Most total offensive yards: 1,156, Oklahoma State (605) vs. Notre Dame (551)-
Quotes of the week “This is clearly the biggest win in the history of the school. You’re in a New Year’s Day Bowl. You’re playing Notre Dame. Biggest comeback in the school history… It’s the biggest win in the history of the school.”
“We wanted to be the ‘defense that knocks,’ and I thought we did that. It was a theme our guys rallied around.” - Minnesota Head Coach PJ Fleck on the “Breaking Bad” reference he used to inspire the defense
- Oklahoma State Head Coach Mike Gundy
F I E S TA B O W L . O R G
PG 5
NEWS & NOTES EVERYONE LOVES A PARADE We all love parades and the preeminent parade in Arizona every year is the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade, presented by Lerner and Rowe, which draws the largest single-day event attendance in the state. The theme of “Gold Standard: Commitment to CommUNITY” celebrated the Fiesta Bowl’s Founders and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Alice Cooper. Giant balloons, colorful community floats, equestrian units, specialty and charity groups, local performers and much more marched through Downtown Phoenix on a two-mile Parade route that was televised live on Arizona’s Family 3TV. WATCH RECAP
NEW RESOURCES FOR TUCSON YMCA Fiesta Bowl Charities, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and YMCA of Southern Arizona opened and celebrated the renovated and newly-named Fiesta Bowl Charities Community Resource Room at the YMCA of Tucson/ Mulcahy City. The space includes two sections: a multi-purpose room where kids can play and grow their social skills and a STEM room that will feature equipment and activities designed to educate and promote STEM skills. An average of 85 percent of children in childcare programs at the Mulcahy City YMCA are from low to moderate income households and 92 percent of children served receive financial aid to attend. WATCH RECAP
PG 6
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better to give than receive At the heart of the Fiesta Bowl Organization is a simple mission: to enhance organizations that contribute to the success of their communities through youth, sports and education. Through its two annual bowl games in the Valley, the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl and the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, as well as community events throughout the year, Fiesta Bowl Charities has selected 51 Arizona nonprofits through its 2021-22 Grant Cycle. Over 575,000 Arizonans will be impacted by the Fiesta Bowl Charities Grant Recipients!
2021-22 Projected Numbers 406,941 youth impacted 258,610 benefiting from sports programming 346,945 benefiting from educational programming 6,180 books distributed 20,000 pounds of fresh produce provided
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F I E S TA B O W L . O R G
PG 7
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT First Year as Volunteer: 2019 First Year as Yellow Jacket Committee Member: 2020 Favorite Fiesta Bowl Game: 2019 CFP Playoff Clemson vs. Ohio State. This was the first game I attended as a Yellow Jacket Committee member and volunteer. It put the game into a whole new perspective after seeing the dedication and hard work that goes into making these games a fun and memorable experience for the players, coaches, staff, media, and fans.
Taylor Burgoon Associate, Fennemore
Favorite Fiesta Bowl Moment: Serving as a host for Jim Meyer, one of the Fiesta Bowl Founders, and his wife, Karen Meyer at the 2021 Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe. They told me many amazing stories about how the Founders met, started the Bowl and turned it into the amazing organization it is today. They were so gracious and kind.
Why I Serve the Fiesta Bowl: I serve the Fiesta Bowl so I can give back to the community while getting to meet great people and having fun doing it. The Fiesta Bowl is so much more than just a game. I’ve given back to the community through participating in back-to-school clothing drives, building a playground for kids in an underprivileged neighborhood and making goodie bags for kids undergoing chemotherapy. Favorite Job: My favorite job with the Bowl is working as a foursome captain at the annual PNC Fiesta Bowl Par 3 Challenge presented by Chapman Automotive. It’s one of the jobs that showcases the Fiesta Bowl’s commitment to hospitality. To no surprise, everyone is always having a great time! Interesting fact: My cousin is Drew Henson, who played for the Detroit Lions and the New York Yankees. And I have never eaten a Big Mac.
Ellie Ziegler We mourn the passing of Ellie Ziegler, who served the Fiesta Bowl through devoted volunteerism, as a philanthropist who donated to the organization and brought the Ellie and Michael Ziegler Family Fiesta Bowl Museum to life and as Board Chair during a historic 2006-07 year for the Fiesta Bowl. Our thoughts and prayers to Michael and the Ziegler family. PG 8
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NEWSWORTHY
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Behind the Scenes of the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl
12NEWS
Flagstaff teachers granted wishes as part of statewide program
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Meet this year’s Half Pint Judges for the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade ARIZONA’S FAMILY
F I E S TA B O W L . O R G
OKSTATE.COM
Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade returns to central Phoenix
ARIZONA’S FAMILY
Fiesta Bowl profile likely to be elevated should College Football Playoff expand ARIZONA REPUBLIC
PG 9
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