Arizona State's Sun Devils touched down in El Paso on Saturday and walked straight into a full-on cultural welcome at an Atlantic FBO hangar. Mariachi music, folklórico dancers and cheering staff turned the arrival into a mini fiesta, as the team officially kicked off Sun Bowl week. Players and coaches jumped into the dancing and posed for photos while an equipment semi pulled up outside and crew members started unloading the program's gear.
Sun Bowl Week Sets The Stage
The Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl is set for Wednesday, Dec. 31 at Sun Bowl Stadium, with kickoff at noon Mountain Time, according to the Sun Bowl Association. One of the country's oldest postseason games, the bowl does not just drop in for game day. Organizers load the calendar with cultural events that are designed to show off El Paso to visiting teams all week long.
Arrival Celebration At The Atlantic FBO Hangar
Mariachi Alegre provided the soundtrack while folklórico dancers took over the floor, and several Sun Devils joined the routine, according to a photo gallery from the El Paso Times. The outlet's captions also show the Arizona State equipment semi rolling up outside the hangar as staff members got to work unloading game-week gear.
Local Tie: Del Valle Native On The Roster
The arrival came with a local twist. Del Valle High School product Jake Fette is an incoming Arizona State freshman and drew attention in El Paso coverage ahead of the trip. As reported by KTSM, Fette signed with ASU earlier this month and is set to join the program in the spring.
El Paso's Welcome Is A Longstanding Tradition
Greeting visiting teams with mariachi, folklórico dancers and the Sun Court is a staple of Sun Bowl week and a civic showcase of the region's borderland culture. Local outlets noted that Duke received the same colorful reception when the Blue Devils arrived earlier in the week, as KVIA reported, underscoring that the welcome is about community pride as much as it is about football.
Game Day
Arizona State and Duke are scheduled to meet at Sun Bowl Stadium on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at noon Mountain Time, with the matchup airing on CBS, according to the ASU Sun Devil Athletics site. Fans from both states are expected to make the trip for the rematch, and local organizers say this week's festivities are aimed at giving the visiting programs a full taste of El Paso hospitality.
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