Notre Dame, Oregon State receive cheerful greeting in El Paso for Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Oregon State became the final team to arrive for the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl on Monday afternoon, a day after Notre Dame made it way to the Sun City for the Sun Bowl.
The Sun Bowl Association greeted both teams with its usual festive cheer on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as players and coaches danced and sang along with mariachis and folklórico dancers. Notre Dame was greeted at the Marriott Hotel near El Paso International Airport and Oregon State was greeted at Million Aire FBO near the El Paso International Airport.
More: Here's how the Sun Bowl landed Notre Dame and what it means for El Paso
"We're grateful to be here for one of the most prestigious bowl games in the country," Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said. "To be able to come to this bowl game is a unique opportunity."
Typically, the Sun Bowl Association greets the arriving teams at the airport; but, since so many Notre Dame players had flown into the city individually, the team was greeted at the hotel instead.
The mariachis and folklórico dancers are a longtime tradition for the Sun Bowl Association for team arrivals.
Oregon State had many more players arrive with coaches and administration on Monday and happily engaged with the dancers and music being played.
Both head coaches were fitted with sombreros upon their arrival.
Notre Dame (9-3) is making its second appearance at the Sun Bowl. The first was in 2010 when it defeated the Univeristy of Miami. The Sun Bowl is celebrating its 90th year and is the second oldest bowl game in the nation along with the Orange and Sugar Bowls.
This will be Oregon State's third appearance in the Sun Bowl, as the Beavers won an instant classic against Missouri in 2006 on a final-minute two-point conversion, then beat Pitt 3-0 in 2008 in a game most notable for the Villiage People halftime show when the world record for most people dancing to YMCA was set.
"We're excited for this week," Oregon State interim football coach Kefense Hynson said. "It wouldn't come fast enough. Being here in El Paso is the first time for most of the players. It's a new place, a new city for us and with the football stuff, it's great to be in game week. The heavy lifting for the game is done."
Sun Bowl history: Notre Dame, Oregon State part of Sun Bowl's fascinating college football history
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X (Formerly Twitter)
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Sun Bowl teams receive cheerful arrival for Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
