by Adam Gonzales
Tucson, Ariz. – Being a team captain is one of the highest honors as an athlete at any level. As a young kid, you always dream about being one of the players to call heads or tails for the coin toss in front of thousands of fans and leading your team to victory. Head coach Rich Rodriguez has a system where each senior is named a game captain for at least one game if they’ve earned it, rewarding everyone who has put endless hours of work in trying to make the University of Arizona football program one of the top programs in the country.
At the last regular season practice, four seniors were named team captains for the 2014 season: receiver Austin Hill, offensive lineman Steven Gurrola, defensive lineman Dan Pettinato and safety Jared Tevis.
Gurrola was named a team captain after serving as the Wildcats’ center for the last two seasons. He began his career at Glendale Community College where he was named a first-team All-American center. It all ended too fast in Gurrola’s opinion but recognizes that this was the opportunity of a lifetime.
“I wish I had two more years,” Gurrola said. “This is the best situation I could have been in. I could’ve been in Division II, but I was fortunate enough to come here. It has been so much fun.”
There are thousands of kids who grow up in Tucson wanting to play for the Wildcats in Arizona Stadium. Tevis was able to fulfill that dream for his college career. The Tucson native and former walk-on became one of the more vital players on defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel’s defense in the past few years. He finished the regular season second in total tackles with 119 and added two interceptions and four sacks, both tied for second on the team.
“It’s been a blast because it has been so rewarding,” Tevis said. “We have put in a lot of hard work after going through a lot of adversity. I knew Arizona had been on the brink of greatness for a while. Growing up in Tucson, I saw teams have a lot of potential. It’s incredible to be a part of this team and to see everything we have accomplished. This University has changed me from a boy to a man. I’ve grown more in the last five years than I did in the first 18 years.”
Hill has also risen through adversity. After a season that any receiver in the country would gladly have with 1,300+ yards and All-America honors, he tore his ACL in spring practice, forcing him to miss the entire season. After putting in countless hours of rehab work, he was able to pick up where he left off.
In 2014, he has caught 45 passes for 605 yards and four touchdowns this year, making him seventh in the record books in career catches (147), yards (2,280) and touchdowns (17). He is seven receptions away from moving into fifth all time in career receptions, which is a very reachable feat as the Wildcats play in the Fiesta Bowl. The senior has loved his time as a Wildcat and knows that he has learned a lot from all the experiences he has had, and is trying to go out on top.
“There are a lot of experiences that I have had here that I will never forget,” Hill said. “It’s been great to be a Wildcat. I want to have fun and enjoy my last game while not being too emotional about it. I just want to go out and play the best game that I can play.”
Tevis isn’t the only captain that has previous connections to the University of Arizona. Pettinato’s uncles were both Wildcats so he was able to keep the legacy going. He came to Tucson as a true freshman in 2010 and redshirted behind the likes of Brooks Reed, Ricky Elmore and D’Aundre Reed, all NFL players. He got to see how you play the game the right way, and that has gotten him far in his college career. Playing his last game in the Fiesta Bowl is special to him because the team is finally getting rewarded for all the hard work they have put in since he got here in 2010.
“I’ve worked hard since I got here five years ago,” Pettinato said. “I saw the older guys go to the Alamo Bowl when I was a freshman and it was motivation for me. It’s been a long time coming. I’ve played since second grade and I’m not sure it has hit me yet that it’s going to be my last college game, but it’s a crazy feeling and a little overwhelming. I just love this school.”
Beating Arizona State in their final regular season game was the best way to finish their career in Arizona stadium, and winning the Fiesta Bowl would be icing on the cake.
“It’s the perfect way to go out,” Tevis said. “Beating ASU this year has been one of my greatest memories and it is an exciting opportunity for us to seal our legacy before we leave. We have a chance to go out as winners and champions.”
The Wildcats’ VIZIO Fiesta Bowl game with Boise State will be played Wed., Dec. 31, at 2 p.m. MT and will air on ESPN. For continued coverage of Arizona football, follow the team on Facebook at facebook.com/ArizonaFootball and on Twitter @ArizonaFBall.
