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Enter the ‘Fiesta’ experience
Bob Beers, Managing Editor
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It was approximately a week ago when The Arbiter learned of its electric blessing. The small, bustling media outlet was given the opportunity to take a team of skilled journalists and editors to Arizona. The goal: cover The Fiesta Bowl with as much color, texture, depth and intimacy as possible. The following is a behind-the-scenes look at how The Fiesta Bowl is covered.
Jan. 1: Slow morning for ‘tired’ journalists
The block party in downtown Phoenix was big, loud and crowded. An estimated 70,000 people crammed into four square blocks of high times partying. It was very clear by means of abundant sweaters and hats that Iowa State had won the Insight Bowl earlier in the night. Fans adorned is maroon and white mobbed the block party.
The electric night was highlighted by a live performance by The Doobie Brothers. Fireworks, cheers and “Black Water” echoed throughout the explosive grounds at midnight. The Arbiter crew made sure to participant in everything the party had to offer. Those of age created the most out of the night, returning home in the wee hours of the morning.
Dec. 31: A quick video showing what a Fiesta Bowl press conference looks like
The video features Kirk Bell — Sports Editor; Trent Lootens — Sports Producer; Josh Rasmussen — Media Manager; Brad Arednt – General Manager; Gray Battson — Video Editor and Bob Beers — Managing Editor.
I shot, edited and narrated the short clip. It’s not much, but it gets the job done!
Unfortunately I wasn’t with the team much today. I left early to cover the band competition at Cardinal Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. From the media hotel, the drive takes approximately 40 minutes from start to finish. What began as a nice drive involving two strangers, driver Llyod Sanders and myself, turned into something more fun.
Llyod and I discussed multiple facets of life. Well, Llyod talked for about 39 minutes and I listened. Topics ranged from Llyod’s occupation to the new set of custom golf clubs he bought. Hell, we even talked about food, bosses and life on the road. He dropped me off to the stadium and left. We shook hands and parted as newly annointed friends. There was a problem however. The band competition wasn’t today at all. I had driven 40 minutes for no reason whatsoever – well, aside from the opportunity of talking with Lloyd of course.
Lloyd returned to the vacant stadium and drove me all the way back to resort. We grabbed a bit to eat first at Lloyd’s favorite little take-out barbecue restaruant, Honeybear’s — the catfish was a little rough but the pork sandwhich was awesome. The whole time he continued to paint the picture of his life in vibrant colors and expressions of textured verve. Line after line and detail after detail. If Lloyd’s life was a moutain landscape, I could easily traverse most of it with my eyes closed. People are funny.
The point to all of this is that you never know who you may run into and what stories they hold. Lloyd is a good guy — perhaps a slightly lonely guy – and we were able to make the best of an awkward situation.
BOB BEERS/THE ARBITER - Arbiter journalists Gray Battson (left) and Trent Lootens lie in wait as the focus on their next big interview Dec. 30 in Arizona
Dec. 30: The team’s first press conference
The 7:30 a.m. wake-up call came earlier than expected for the the crew of sleep-hungry journalists. After a round of showers, brushed teeth and deodorized body crevices, the team strolled through the crisp morning air to the conference hall where members of TCU’s offense waited. The hall was organized so that each specific team member had his own table. This helped to keep the group of media personnel from overcrowding and fighting for attention. Television crews, photographers, videographers and writers abounded.
There were players who attracted more people than others. TCU’s quarterback, Andy Dalton, held the largest group of journalists. His bright red hair and animated face appeared to be an attractive force — perhaps his outstanding play and bravado helped too.
The Arbiter was directly in the eye of the media storm. The sports team had no trouble having its questions answered. Led by editor Kirk Bell, The Arbiter was able to retrieve much of the information it had been seeking. Questions about injuries, hopes, match-ups and projections circulated through the hall’s inquisitive atmosphere.
After the ravenous press was through with TCU, the Boise State defense was put on stage. The stout defense was represented by key players such as Winston Venable, Kyle Wilson and Ryan Winterswyk. The Arbiter team — already familiar with Boise State football — felt right at home interviewing the honored players.
BOB BEERS/THE ARBITER - The lush setting the Camelback Inn offers is just what winter-worn Boise natives crave.
Dec. 29: The team arrives in Arizona
When the charter plane touched ground — complete with screams of tread against tarmac — the small crowd’s anxiety grew. Boise State President Bob Kustra sat at the front of the plane. Kustra, whose right foot was firmly encased in a colorful plaster cast, was backed by a few dozen members of the Boise State community. When the doors of the plane opened, warm drafts of sweet Arizona air swept into the stale cabin.
One by one, like awkward, overloaded penguins, people marched down to the isolated runway where two charter buses waited. Kustra, who sat safely inside a black Lincoln Navigator escort vehicle, led the caravan to a lush resort hotel reserved for Boise State football players and family members.
Fortunately, for everyone else who was not a team member or a relative of one, novelties and luxuries would be liberally spread around.
Jokes trickled through the bus of Idahoans about the pedestrians walking in full winter garb through Arizona’s “frigid winter air.” The temperature was about 55 degrees Fahrenheit — a mark much improved over Boise’s icy landscape.
At the Camelback Inn — a colorful resort and spa designed faithfully to southwestern America — the diverse media personnel filtered in with eyes wide and pockets empty. The first big step was to acquire press credentials for all team members. A rigorous process started with a quick rundown of press access for the many events and a role call. The highlight of the whole procedure was choosing which Fossil watch to take home. There were four from which to choose and whatever the selection, the watch was completely free. For the Arbiter’s young team, the addition of free and expensive merchandise prompted cheek to cheek grins on every member’s joy-filled face.
Other freebies included all-you-can-eat Tostitos snacks and dips. For those old enough to appreciate it, there were also free adult beverages in select areas on the expansive resort.
After the foray into compensated toys and food, the team went diligently back to work.