Who is going to the Sun Bowl?

[Flatlandcoug]

I've said for a while that I had no desire to go to the Sun Bowl. That said, my wife didn't get to go to either of the Sun Bowls that the Cougs played in because she had to work. As such, she is insisting that she wants to go despite the fact that I've told her repeatedly the El Paso is the armpit of Texas and that the weather is going to be terrible when we are there. Life's too short to argue with the wife and it looks like we are going.

Just curious to know if anybody else has decided to take the trip to the armpit of Texas too.

 

[Coug90]

I can’t get there but donated two seats to the troops. Hopefully they root for the Cougs.

 

[earldacoug]

My wife and I are going. We’re driving over from the Phoenix area.

 

[CougEd]

My wife and I are going. We’re driving over from the Phoenix area.

What is the drive like from Phoenix?

 

[earldacoug]

What is the drive like from Phoenix?

It’s about a 6 hour drive from my place. It’s freeway the whole way. As long as it isn’t snowing east of Tucson someplace it’s an easy drive.

 

[CougFan1980]

If the flights and hotels aren't too expensive I might attend my first Sun Bowl for the gameday experience with the alumni and Seniors! Never been to Texas but I have friends that live close too El' Paso,and it will be fun hanging out with friends I haven't seen since I was a student at Pasadena City College before transferring to Washington State University in 2003! Look forward to another bowl victory person! GO Cougs!

 

[M-I-Coug]

If the flights and hotels aren't too expensive I might attend my first Sun Bowl for the gameday experience with the alumni and Seniors! Never been to Texas but I have friends that live close too El' Paso,and it will be fun hanging out with friends I haven't seen since I was a student at Pasadena City College before transferring to Washington State University in 2003! Look forward to another bowl victory person! GO Cougs!

Did you play for Doba?

 

[M-I-Coug]

My wife and I are going. We’re driving over from the Phoenix area.

Cool. How long have you lived in Maracopa County?

 

[earldacoug]

Cool. How long have you lived in Maracopa County?

We bought a second home here in 2012. We made Arizona our primary residence in 2016.

 

[M-I-Coug]

We bought a second home here in 2012. We made Arizona our primary residence in 2016.

Nice! We really like some specific areas like Cave Creek and Surprise. In 2019, we hit Bevy's Uptown to catch the COUGS and Houston game on a watch party. In addition, the COUGS are down once a year, either Tuscon or Tempe...so you get to see your COUGS in person. Hope to meet you someday!

 

[702coug]

Going and bringing a crew with me. Love EL Paso and its history and culture. Sick of hearing dolts refer to it as an armpit. If you know locals or bother to visit some museums or look into the historical aspects of the city and the school (particularly the basketball program) you may actually enjoy something other than the game. Best mexican food in all of Texas, great local music/beer scene, beautiful old basement cocktail lounges downtown and an easy trip over the border for cheap meds, half price booze and freakin bull fighting ring in the middle of the city. Don't be afraid to venture outside the tourist party traps on Cincinnati St.

 

[Stretch 74]

Going and bringing a crew with me. Love EL Paso and its history and culture. Sick of hearing dolts refer to it as an armpit. If you know locals or bother to visit some museums or look into the historical aspects of the city and the school (particularly the basketball program) you may actually enjoy something other than the game. Best mexican food in all of Texas, great local music/beer scene, beautiful old basement cocktail lounges downtown and an easy trip over the border for cheap meds, half price booze and freakin bull fighting ring in the middle of the city. Don't be afraid to venture outside the tourist party traps on Cincinnati St.

Your reference to their basketball team stirred up a memory for me. As a kid in the Skagit Valley that loved basketball, I used to follow the Seattle University Chieftains on the radio. They were quite good back then, and in 1966 they played Texas Western (Now UTEP) and beat them in a classic game 74-72. I remember several of those players even after all these years-David Lattin, Willie Worsley, Willie Cager, Nevill Shed, and others. The significance of this win was because it was a payback for losing in El Paso earlier in the year, plus Texas Western won the national championship that year, the only team besides UCLA to do that from 1964-1973 (or 74, not sure on that). Also, TW was the first team to ever start five black players in the title game.

Seatle U was coached by Bob Boyd, later of USC, and had some great players. All American guard Charlie Williams, Tom Workman, Plummer Lott, Malkin Strong, were all great players, along with Steve Looney and Mike Acres. Williams was later accused of point shaving, don't recall if it was ever proved or not, but IIRC he was blackballed from NBA and was stuck in ABA for years.

Here is a link to a nice story about that game and the two teams. Good read. https://www.sportspressnw.com/2200653/2015/wayback-machine-seattle-u-stuns-mighty-miners

Connection to WSU from all of this- Years ago at one of the Cougar Club golf tourneys I was playing with one of the assistant women's basketball coaches. Forget her name, but it was during the reign of Jenny Przekwas (sp?). Turns out the coach was Tom Workman's daughter.

Sorry for the rambling......

 

[earldacoug]

Cool. How long have you lived in Maracopa County?

We bought a second home here in 2012. We made Arizonaour primary residence in 2016.

Nice! We really like some specific areas like Cave Creek and Surprise. In 2019, we hit Bevy's Uptown to catch the COUGS and Houston game on a watch party. In addition, the COUGS are down once a year, either Tuscon or Tempe...so you get to see your COUGS in person. Hope to meet you someday!

Cave Creek is nice. We live in Surprise and love it, love where we live. It’s clean, safe, have nice green belts to walk in, walk the dog etc. Its grown a lot in last 2 years though and appears to be much more growth on the way. The large warehouses and large number of them, down south on the 303 and near Camelback, are mind boggling. If you get down this way, give me a shout.

 

[702coug]

Your reference to their basketball team stirred up a memory for me. As a kid in the Skagit Valley that loved basketball, I used to follow the Seattle University Chieftains on the radio. They were quite good back then, and in 1966 they played Texas Western (Now UTEP) and beat them in a classic game 74-72. I remember several of those players even after all these years-David Lattin, Willie Worsley, Willie Cager, Nevill Shed, and others. The significance of this win was because it was a payback for losing in El Paso earlier in the year, plus Texas Western won the national championship that year, the only team besides UCLA to do that from 1964-1973 (or 74, not sure on that). Also, TW was the first team to ever start five black players in the title game.

Seatle U was coached by Bob Boyd, later of USC, and had some great players. All American guard Charlie Williams, Tom Workman, Plummer Lott, Malkin Strong, were all great players, along with Steve Looney and Mike Acres. Williams was later accused of point shaving, don't recall if it was ever proved or not, but IIRC he was blackballed from NBA and was stuck in ABA for years.

Here is a link to a nice story about that game and the two teams. Good read. https://www.sportspressnw.com/2200653/2015/wayback-machine-seattle-u-stuns-mighty-miners

Connection to WSU from all of this- Years ago at one of the Cougar Club golf tourneys I was playing with one of the assistant women's basketball coaches. Forget her name, but it was during the reign of Jenny Przekwas (sp?). Turns out the coach was Tom Workman's daughter.

Sorry for the rambling......

Awesome link and story. Thanks man! I got to hang with some locals a great neighborhood dive joint in EP called the Pershing Inn that told stories about how it was Haskins' evening watering hole and how he would get into fights etc., ha. Crazy that guy coached for nearly 40 years and had over 700 wins.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

Going and bringing a crew with me. Love EL Paso and its history and culture. Sick of hearing dolts refer to it as an armpit. If you know locals or bother to visit some museums or look into the historical aspects of the city and the school (particularly the basketball program) you may actually enjoy something other than the game. Best mexican food in all of Texas, great local music/beer scene, beautiful old basement cocktail lounges downtown and an easy trip over the border for cheap meds, half price booze and freakin bull fighting ring in the middle of the city. Don't be afraid to venture outside the tourist party traps on Cincinnati St.

Sorry if you didn't appreciate the armpit reference. I'll just say that it's the worst place that I've went to watch the Cougs play a football game and it isn't close. I am going there and I plan on seeing White Sands, Carlsbad and Roswell when we are making our way there and back. I will not be going to Juarez. Dirty and dangerous isn't high on my list. El Paso is an ok town but it is completely unremarkable in every way. Plenty of strip malls and shopping malls but 100 cities do everything that El Paso does.....but better.

I've visited most of the major metropolitan areas in the US and El Paso is desperately bad compared to just about any of the other places I've been. So, call me a dolt if you want....but that town is the armpit of Texas. A true Coug will still consider going to the game to support the team if their finances and time allow, but that's out of loyalty to WSU, not because of El Paso.

 

[SDCoug]

Sorry if you didn't appreciate the armpit reference. I'll just say that it's the worst place that I've went to watch the Cougs play a football game and it isn't close.

Flat - didn’t realize that you’d never seen the Cougs at fusky stadium before 😁

 

[Flatlandcoug]

Flat - didn’t realize that you’d never seen the Cougs at fusky stadium before 😁

Well.....to be honest.....I was talking about the towns and not the stadiums but your point is well taken. FWIW, the worst stadium that I've been to is Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. That was as low rent as I've ever seen. Tough to get to, tough to get out of the parking lot and just a crappy, ol' rundown stadium. So....basically the same as Husky stadium.

 

[Stretch 74]

Well.....to be honest.....I was talking about the towns and not the stadiums but your point is well taken. FWIW, the worst stadium that I've been to is Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. That was as low rent as I've ever seen. Tough to get to, tough to get out of the parking lot and just a crappy, ol' rundown stadium. So....basically the same as Husky stadium.

Crappy, yes-but did their roof also fall down during construction? lol

 

[M-I-Coug]

We bought a second home here in 2012. We made Arizonaour primary residence in 2016.

Cave Creek is nice. We live in Surprise and love it, love where we live. It’s clean, safe, have nice green belts to walk in, walk the dog etc. Its grown a lot in last 2 years though and appears to be much more growth on the way. The large warehouses and large number of them, down south on the 303 and near Camelback, are mind boggling. If you get down this way, give me a shout.

Cool. We love Cave Creek and Surprise for it's natural hills and the Saguaro's all around. No blacktop like Scottsdale. Natural landscape with those Saguaro cactus. Kind of like a Hollywood western. Super cool.

Will absolutely take you up on it. Long term plan is to transition to Maricopa County. I'll reach out the next time we're planning to be in the area.

 

[mister noon]

Your reference to their basketball team stirred up a memory for me. As a kid in the Skagit Valley that loved basketball, I used to follow the Seattle University Chieftains on the radio. They were quite good back then, and in 1966 they played Texas Western (Now UTEP) and beat them in a classic game 74-72. I remember several of those players even after all these years-David Lattin, Willie Worsley, Willie Cager, Nevill Shed, and others. The significance of this win was because it was a payback for losing in El Paso earlier in the year, plus Texas Western won the national championship that year, the only team besides UCLA to do that from 1964-1973 (or 74, not sure on that). Also, TW was the first team to ever start five black players in the title game.

Seatle U was coached by Bob Boyd, later of USC, and had some great players. All American guard Charlie Williams, Tom Workman, Plummer Lott, Malkin Strong, were all great players, along with Steve Looney and Mike Acres. Williams was later accused of point shaving, don't recall if it was ever proved or not, but IIRC he was blackballed from NBA and was stuck in ABA for years.

Here is a link to a nice story about that game and the two teams. Good read. https://www.sportspressnw.com/2200653/2015/wayback-machine-seattle-u-stuns-mighty-miners

Connection to WSU from all of this- Years ago at one of the Cougar Club golf tourneys I was playing with one of the assistant women's basketball coaches. Forget her name, but it was during the reign of Jenny Przekwas (sp?). Turns out the coach was Tom Workman's daughter.

Sorry for the rambling......

thanks for the memory jog Stretch - I was at that game - Colisuem was crazy loud and yeah I was one without a seat - a few years later I played bball in city league with Tom Workman's brother Jerry who was on that Seattle U roster - and remember Bob Love schooling me then in his post Sonics days - fun times!

 

[95coug]

I like this thread. Makes it clear that I'm not even in the running for being the old man on the board.

 

[Observer11]

I like this thread. Makes it clear that I'm not even in the running for being the old man on the board.

Get off my lawn.

 

[mister noon]

I like this thread. Makes it clear that I'm not even in the running for being the old man on the board.

would it make a difference if I claimed I was only 2 years old in 1966?

 

[702coug]

I will not be going to Juarez. Dirty and dangerous isn't high on my list.

I think you make it pretty clear what the issue is. Just be sure to drop loads of money while you're in town and keep the windows rolled up and hands tight on your wallets.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

I think you make it pretty clear what the issue is. Just be sure to drop loads of money while you're in town and keep the windows rolled up and hands tight on your wallets.

I hope that you aren't implying that it's a race thing. For me....it's the whole slum and violence thing. In 2021, Juarez was ranked #5 in the world in terms of homicides per capita. They average 3-4 murders every single day. In 2015, I remember taking pictures of the Juarez slums from the top of the parking garage by the football stadium. Juarez is a dirty, dangerous town. Anybody who suggests otherwise is either a fool or lying to themselves. One of my co-workers is from a small town about two hours from Mexico City. She said that nobody from her family would ever go to Juarez.

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

I hope that you aren't implying that it's a race thing. For me....it's the whole slum and violence thing. In 2021, Juarez was ranked #5 in the world in terms of homicides per capita. They average 3-4 murders every single day. In 2015, I remember taking pictures of the Juarez slums from the top of the parking garage by the football stadium. Juarez is a dirty, dangerous town. Anybody who suggests otherwise is either a fool or lying to themselves. One of my co-workers is from a small town about two hours from Mexico City. She said that nobody from her family would ever go to Juarez.

US Travel advisory

nah bro, you're just racist like all your neighbors in KS...

/s

 

[702coug]

from the top of the parking garage by the football stadium.

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

you're implying he isn't happy with the lack of parking in Juarez?

 

[spongeandshoot]

I hope that you aren't implying that it's a race thing. For me....it's the whole slum and violence thing. In 2021, Juarez was ranked #5 in the world in terms of homicides per capita. They average 3-4 murders every single day. In 2015, I remember taking pictures of the Juarez slums from the top of the parking garage by the football stadium. Juarez is a dirty, dangerous town. Anybody who suggests otherwise is either a fool or lying to themselves. One of my co-workers is from a small town about two hours from Mexico City. She said that nobody from her family would ever go to Juarez.

Plenty of great places to visit in Mexico that are safe. Juarez isn't one of them.

Its not as bad as it was in 2010 or so...but still not worth going to...at least at night. I did read it was safe during the day though.

Can't fault anyone for doing a risk/reward assessment on their travels.

 

[FnuLnu]

Your reference to their basketball team stirred up a memory for me. As a kid in the Skagit Valley that loved basketball, I used to follow the Seattle University Chieftains on the radio. They were quite good back then, and in 1966 they played Texas Western (Now UTEP) and beat them in a classic game 74-72. I remember several of those players even after all these years-David Lattin, Willie Worsley, Willie Cager, Nevill Shed, and others. The significance of this win was because it was a payback for losing in El Paso earlier in the year, plus Texas Western won the national championship that year, the only team besides UCLA to do that from 1964-1973 (or 74, not sure on that). Also, TW was the first team to ever start five black players in the title game.

Seatle U was coached by Bob Boyd, later of USC, and had some great players. All American guard Charlie Williams, Tom Workman, Plummer Lott, Malkin Strong, were all great players, along with Steve Looney and Mike Acres. Williams was later accused of point shaving, don't recall if it was ever proved or not, but IIRC he was blackballed from NBA and was stuck in ABA for years.

Here is a link to a nice story about that game and the two teams. Good read. https://www.sportspressnw.com/2200653/2015/wayback-machine-seattle-u-stuns-mighty-miners

Connection to WSU from all of this- Years ago at one of the Cougar Club golf tourneys I was playing with one of the assistant women's basketball coaches. Forget her name, but it was during the reign of Jenny Przekwas (sp?). Turns out the coach was Tom Workman's daughter.

Sorry for the rambling......

Seattle U cheated their ass off in 1960s to get to the NCAA tourney but probably very small potatoes compared to today. Too bad Gonzaga blackballed them from joining WCC. The new WAC is a joke.

Don't think Charlie Williams was guilty of point shaving. He was Connie Hawkins teammate on the ABA Pittsburgh Pipers/Condors.
Hawkins was also "blackballed" by NBA along with Doug Moe and others.
It was guilt by association and Connie Hawkins won big settlement (that "scandal" covered in the great book Foul).
Tom Workman was on that Blanchet team that won state title? Blanchet pitiful in Boys hoops recent decades.

 

[spongeandshoot]

Going and bringing a crew with me. Love EL Paso and its history and culture. Sick of hearing dolts refer to it as an armpit. If you know locals or bother to visit some museums or look into the historical aspects of the city and the school (particularly the basketball program) you may actually enjoy something other than the game. Best mexican food in all of Texas, great local music/beer scene, beautiful old basement cocktail lounges downtown and an easy trip over the border for cheap meds, half price booze and freakin bull fighting ring in the middle of the city. Don't be afraid to venture outside the tourist party traps on Cincinnati St.

That sounds awesome actually. Right up my alley. Wish it wasn't so hard to get to

 

[Flatlandcoug]

US Travel advisory

nah bro, you're just racist like all your neighbors in KS...

/s

You post a link that says that Chihuahua is rampant with violent crime, gang activity and kidnapping and then say I'm racist? From your link:

Chihuahua state – Reconsider Travel

Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping.

Violent crime and gang activity are common. The majority of homicides are targeted assassinations against members of criminal organizations. Battles for territory between criminal groups have resulted in violent crime in areas frequented by U.S. citizens and U.S. government employees, including restaurants and malls during daylight hours. Bystanders have been injured or killed in shooting incidents. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.

Umm......ok.

 

[95coug]

US Travel advisory

nah bro, you're just racist like all your neighbors in KS...

/s

Juarez is amateur hour compared to Tijuana. TJ is the murder capitol of the world, about 50% higher than Juarez.
But, there's a need for perspective too. Baltimore, Detroit, and Chicago have all floated around the 2-3 murders per day ballpark in recent years.

As for travel advisories, even pre-COVID, countries like Canada, Australia, Japan, France, and Germany all recommended caution in travel to the US due to the prevalence of guns, the potential for mass shootings to occur anywhere, thieves targeting travelers, rampant identity theft, proliferation of hate crimes, risk of terror attacks, probability of serious car accidents, and extreme cost of medical assistance. Among other things.

It's all about perspective and having some idea where you're safe.

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

You post a link that says that Chihuahua is rampant with violent crime, gang activity and kidnapping and then say I'm racist? From your link:

Chihuahua state – Reconsider Travel

Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping.

Violent crime and gang activity are common. The majority of homicides are targeted assassinations against members of criminal organizations. Battles for territory between criminal groups have resulted in violent crime in areas frequented by U.S. citizens and U.S. government employees, including restaurants and malls during daylight hours. Bystanders have been injured or killed in shooting incidents. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.

Umm......ok.

google "/s", then get back to me...

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

Juarez is amateur hour compared to Tijuana. TJ is the murder capitol of the world, about 50% higher than Juarez.
But, there's a need for perspective too. Baltimore, Detroit, and Chicago have all floated around the 2-3 murders per day ballpark in recent years.

As for travel advisories, even pre-COVID, countries like Canada, Australia, Japan, France, and Germany all recommended caution in travel to the US due to the prevalence of guns, the potential for mass shootings to occur anywhere, thieves targeting travelers, rampant identity theft, proliferation of hate crimes, risk of terror attacks, probability of serious car accidents, and extreme cost of medical assistance. Among other things.

It's all about perspective and having some idea where you're safe.

One of my best memories with my recently departed cousin took place in Juarez, I'll stick with those as I don't think any visit subsequent could live up to Fred's Rainbow Bar, the albino bartender, and $.50 shots of tequila. Although I'm pretty sure my cousin would have gotten us in trouble with a couple of hookers if we hadn't had to pick up our other cousin at the airport later that night. Which is another story as well...

 

[Stretch 74]

Seattle U cheated their ass off in 1960s to get to the NCAA tourney but probably very small potatoes compared to today. Too bad Gonzaga blackballed them from joining WCC. The new WAC is a joke.

Don't think Charlie Williams was guilty of point shaving. He was Connie Hawkins teammate on the ABA Pittsburgh Pipers/Condors.
Hawkins was also "blackballed" by NBA along with Doug Moe and others.
It was guilt by association and Connie Hawkins won big settlement (that "scandal" covered in the great book Foul).
Tom Workman was on that Blanchet team that won state title? Blanchet pitiful in Boys hoops recent decades.

I didn't think CW WAS guilty, but he was accused.

If you are into such things, there is an absolutely GREAT book on the ABA by Terry Pluto that I found fascinating. Title is "Loose Balls", the definitive study of the league with the red, white, and blue ball. . I can remember watching those old ABA games in Observatory Court trailer #49 on a fuzzy old 19" tv. Terrible reception but you could still recognize and appreciate the talent of so many of those guys.

The book has a lot of inside stories of the players, coaches, GM's, and owners. It was a crazy league filled with crazy dudes. Artis Gilmore, Marvin Barnes, Dr J, Bob Netolicki, Dan Issel, The Hawk, Spencer Haywood, Ron Boone, Moses Malone, and so many more.

You wouldn't believe some of the characters and the stories from them. Lot of memories from Bob Costas, who was the broadcaster for on of the teams, maybe St Louis? Here is one I recall with a tie in to the Seattle Supersonics. Remember that Sam Schulman signed away several players from ABA, Haywood, Jim McDaniel, and John Brisker come to mind. Back in the day there was a lot of fighting and dirty stuff that went on in the ABA, and Brisker was regarded as one of the baddest dudes around. So there was a coach who got tired of Brisker bullying his team AND lighting them up on the scoreboard, so he offered a $500 bounty to the guy that could get him out of the game. A sub that wasn't making much money jumped up and said he would do it if the coach started him. Well, the ref tossed the ball up at the start of the game, and while everyone was watching the tipoff, the sub absolutely cold-cocked Brisker, laid him out on the floor! Nobody saw it or knew what happened, but the guy was jumping around yelling that he got $500!

Crazy league, crazy times, wonderful book!

 

[Flatlandcoug]

google "/s", then get back to me...

fair enough.....old people and all that.

 

[Jiff76]

Thought about the six hour drive to El Paso from here in Sun City West or to the Arizona WSU Alumni bar, Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers in Scottsdale. Looks like we'll just rest up on the couch for a NYE party we're committed to. 10am kickoff. That makes for a long day of drinking. Would definitely drive to a bowl in Arizona, LV, LA or SD.

Interesting thread. Our second winter down here in "The Valley". Yes, looking around the 303 loop, plenty of room for more sprawl. Check out Janeys in Cave Creek for food, drinks and live music. My cousin is part owner.

Been to the Cougar football and basketball games in Tempe. Baseball too if the Cougs come down here. Mill Avenue in Tempe is a great before and after game area.

Yes, I remember those Seattle U players and the Texas Western game. Not much sports on TV in the 60s.

Never been to El Paso or Jaurez. In 2019 Beto O'Rourke said he'd tear down the wall between El Paso and Mexico.. Hmmm.

Anyone with time to kill might be interested in a few of my Wazzu related photos at Flickr:
Wazzu photos

Jeff

 

[SDCoug]

Thought about the six hour drive to El Paso from here in Sun City West or to the Arizona WSU Alumni bar, Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers in Scottsdale. Looks like we'll just rest up on the couch for a NYE party we're committed to. 10am kickoff. That makes for a long day of drinking. Would definitely drive to a bowl in Arizona, LV, LA or SD.

Interesting thread. Our second winter down here in "The Valley". Yes, looking around the 303 loop, plenty of room for more sprawl. Check out Janeys in Cave Creek for food, drinks and live music. My cousin is part owner.

Been to the Cougar football and basketball games in Tempe. Baseball too if the Cougs come down here. Mill Avenue in Tempe is a great before and after game area.

Yes, I remember those Seattle U players and the Texas Western game. Not much sports on TV in the 60s.

Never been to El Paso or Jaurez. In 2019 Beto O'Rourke said he'd tear down the wall between El Paso and Mexico.. Hmmm.

Anyone with time to kill might be interested in a few of my Wazzu related photos at Flickr:
Wazzu photos

Jeff

I see you are a Phi Tau. Me too. A decade later.

 

[CougSinceBirth]

I'd go to El Paso only to see Marty Robbins live.