Picto Diary - 07 to 11 January 2026 - Fiesta Bowl

Above: Park City Mountain (Canyons), Red Pine Lodge. 7 January 2025.
10 9 64
Skied with Espresso. Conditions and newly opened terrain improving day by day. Skied with Espresso off of Orange Bubble, Saddleback, Tombstone, Peak Five and Over and Out lifts. I'm working up to my average of about 15 runs an AM. Still a bit too many out here for my "local skier" tastes. Tomorrow and 9th, skiing day off. Going with Koessler to UM versus Ole Miss game in Phoenix.

Above: LSDM Early Winter Social, Sugar Beach, Wasatch Bagel. 07 January 2025.
Bishop 'n 777.

Above: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona. 08 January 2025.
Bishop 'n Koessler.

Attendance at Fiesta Bowl, FCS semi-final, University of Miami (UM)versus Ole Miss.
Thrilling game won by University of Miami 31 to 27. Four lead changes in final quarter. Miami moves on to play University of Indiana in the national championship college football game on 19 January 2025 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens Florida. Indiana is favored by seven points, but, perhaps, by playing on their home field, the Canes will revive some of the spirit that took them to five college championships from the mid-80's to 2001. Also, despite their stellar year, Indiana until the last two years, was a Big Ten football nonentity. They had a great story this year (for another diary), but lack of big stage playing experience could spook them.

It was fun to attend a college game on the big stage... particularly a game featuring a team to which Koessler and Mwah (sic) have strong ties. Koessler is both a UM undergraduate and UM law school graduate. I lived in Miami for twelve years over a fifteen-year period. For part of that time, I was a member of the UM Citizens' Board. How could I not agree to Koessler's suggestion that we attend this game in Glendale, Arizona?

Koessler and Mwah (sic) remember the glory days of University of Miami football. I lived in Miami from 1986 to 1988 and again from 1991to 1995.

University of Miami - Five College Football National Championships.

  • 1983 — Defeated Nebraska in the Orange Bowl (31-30)
  • 1987 — Undefeated season, defeated Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl
  • 1989 — Defeated Alabama in the Sugar Bowl
  • 1991 —Undefeated season, shut out Nebraska in the Orange Bowl (22-0)
  • 2001 — Undefeated season, defeated Nebraska in the Rose Bowl (37-14) for the BCS National Championship; widely regarded as one of the greatest teams ever


I'll never forget being at the game, 27 September 1986, in the Orange Bowl, when Miami defeated Oklahoma, 28 to 16.

From Soonerstats: In the 20th meeting in college football history of the two top-ranked teams, defending national champion and #1 Oklahoma traveled to Miami seeking revenge against the #2 Hurricanes (3-0). History was on the Sooners' side, for in the previous 19 games, aside from a pair of ties, only three times had a #2 team knocked off the top team.

Oklahoma sophomore quarterback Jamelle Holieway, who had taken charge of the offense in the Miami loss a year earlier when since-transferred Troy Aikman broke his leg, came in with a 10-0 record as a starter. He had the wishbone grinding out an average of 467 yards per game, as they had won their first two games by a total score of 101-3. Although it was still early, 240-pound linebacker Brian "The Boz" Bosworth led an Oklahoma defense that appeared even better than a year earlier. They were leading the country in points allowed, rushing yards per game (41.5), and total defense (150.5).

Miami head coach Jimmy Johnson, who returned 18 starters from his 10-2 from a year earlier, was in the process of mimicking what Oklahoma had been doing for a while, using fast players on defense. He would take slightly undersized defensive players that could all run like track stars and made great use of their speed. But he was putting a slightly different spin on the formula, as he bulked up fast linebackers and made them defensive linemen, and he took fast defensive backs, had them hit the weight room, and turned them into linebackers. Finally, he'd then find the fastest players to play defensive back. The one variable was that they were under their fourth defensive coordinator, Dave Wannstedt, in as many years.

Heisman Trophy candidate Vinny Testaverde was back at quarterback, a senior who had once considered leaving the university, and Miami's pro-style passing offense that was averaging 39 points per game featured three speedsters for targets, Brian Blades, Michael Irvin and Brett Perriman. It had given the Oklahoma secondary major problems in their previous meeting a year earlier. Even though Miami came into the game having beaten South Carolina, Florida and Texas Tech, they were six-point underdogs on their home field. But it was a turf that the Sooners were familiar with, having played in the Orange Bowl each of the past two seasons. So it was the Boz, who had proclaimed loudly and often that the Sooners would reassert themselves, versus Vinny in front of over 71,000 fans. [Soonerstats]

 

Above: Fiesta Bowl, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona. 08 January 2025.

Pictured: Ole Miss kicker, Lucas Carneiro. Lucas is the grandson of a childhood friend of mine, John Paxman. John, and wife Patrina, live in Montreal, Quebec. Here Lucas puts up a 58 yarder in the first half of the game. Telephoto Image taken by my Samsung phone from our upper deck seats on the fifty-yard line.

Here is a Grok summary of Lucas' kicks during the game:

  • 58 yards — Late first half (with ~11 seconds left before halftime). Made. Pulled Ole Miss within 17-13. Described as having plenty of distance and unreal range; second-longest in Fiesta Bowl history.
  • 42 yards — Second quarter (around 4:38 left before halftime). Made. Tied the game at 10-10.
  • 51 yards — Early third quarter. Missed (hit off the left upright and bounced out). Ended a promising drive.
  • 54 yards — Late third quarter (with ~22 seconds left). Made (doinked off the left upright but went in). Cut the deficit to 17-16. Noted as his second straight upright interaction, but this one favored Ole Miss.
  • 21 yards — Fourth quarter (after a long 86-yard, 14-play drive that stalled inside the Miami 5–11-yard line). Made. Gave Ole Miss a brief lead at 19-17 (their first since early second quarter).

Grok: Lucas Carneiro, the Ole Miss Rebels' junior placekicker who transferred from Western Kentucky prior to the 2025 season, has built an exceptional reputation as one of the top kickers in college football. Known for his powerful leg and clutch performances, he boasts an impressive 88.6% field goal success rate (with perfect extra points) and has drilled multiple long-range kicks, including several 50+ yarders in the College Football Playoff—such as a 58-yarder (second-longest in CFP history) and game-winners in high-stakes games like the Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia.

Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding has publicly called him potentially the best kicker in the country, a sentiment echoed by teammates who praise his "ice in his veins" mentality under pressure. His standout play in the 2025 CFP run, including SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors early in the season, has made him a fan favorite in Oxford and drawn NFL draft buzz from analysts and even other fanbases. Despite a couple of late-season misses, Carneiro is widely regarded as reliable, elite-range, and a major asset who helped propel Ole Miss deep into the postseason.

It was fun for Koessler and Mwah (sic) to have a one degree of separation link to this impressive kicker.

Above: Fiesta Bowl, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona. 08 January 2025.

Half time. Ole Miss Marching Band. Love those sousaphones! Not the Buckeye band (the world's best) but pretty darn good. Miami's band performed well, but it was only 20% to 30% the size of the Ole Miss band.

Big Ten schools have long had the reputation of having the best marching bands. Ohio State Buckeyes are currently reputed to be the best. I know two people who were members of Purdue's marching band... not at the same time. Each counts their marching band experience as one of the best times of their lives. Band membership taught discipline, camaraderie, and musicality. Each friend was gratified that the band experience prevented them from being subsumed by the frat/drinking/hookup culture rife at Purdue.

As a former marching band participant (Provo High School, 1960-63) I love watching a good marching band. For me, it's an important part of the college football experience.

Above: Fiesta Bowl, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona. 08 January 2025.
Koessler and Sebastian, UM mascot, at pregame tailgate party.

Above: Fiesta Bowl, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona. 08 January 2025.

But for a UM fan to his right, Koessler stands alone amidst a sea of Ole Miss fans. Koessler got our tickets from general admission and not through the UM alumni portal. Here in the upper deck on the fifty-yard line we had better seats than most of the UM fans who were seated in the lower deck goal side of the thirty-yard line.

Ole Miss fans stood most of the time and didn't stop yelling. It was a terrific atmosphere for watching football. I didn't mind standing with them at all. Ole Miss fans were pleasant and disciplined notwithstanding their enthusiasm. Unlike being at Veterans stadium in the 80's watching the Eagles, there wasn't much beer consumption or profanity or fighting.

Apart from it taking an hour to get out of the parking lot in our rental car and a several hour delayed departure from Phoenix, the trip went off without a hitch. Koessler did a great job getting our experience organized and father and son had a great time together.

Above: My Office, West Wing, Empire Lodge, Deer Valley, UT 10 January 2026.

Little things mean a lot.

My skiing partner Espresso and Mwah (sic) stopped at my office for the first time this ski season. Frankly, I was worried that the landlords might have made some unwanted changes without gaining my approval. I was pleasantly surprised. Two minor changes were made, but I was happy with both of them.

As I walked towards my desk at the rear of the West Wing, I was gratified to see the real log burning fireplace ablaze. The comforting after smell of burning log amplified the real mountain vibe of the lodge. I mused that the spirit of Edgar Stern still permeated the presence of Deer Valley. Stern, the first to adopt the luxury hotel concept for a ski resort, would have never installed gas fireplaces in his lodges.

I looked down. A new carpet added a flash of disproportionate renewal to Deer Valley's aging lodges. Zoom in on carpet portion in above image.

Hot chocolate in hand at the cashier station, I searched the usual table near the cashier for a cookie or a brownie. "Sir, you know we've added a selection of quality pastries. You might want to check them out at the breakfast station," said the cashier. I followed her advice and bought a "to die for" scone. Zoom in on the scone in the above image.

With all the mega changes going on at Deer Valley the small changes can go unnoticed. In addition to the small improvements at my office, I noticed some minor enhancements to the terrain this morning. A section of Trump run had been excavated to provide another access to Ontario run. The trail leading off Blue Bell run to Silver Buck run had been widened... a small, but great improvement to a trail that heretofore gave rise to dicey collision avoiding maneuvering.

How the little things are dealt with say a lot about the tone and fabric of an organization. The small changes I have seen at Deer Valley this season speak to a management on top of things, carrying forward the spirit of Deer Valley founder, Edgar Stern. Kudos, DV.

Above: Park City Mountain (Canyons). Park City, UT. 10 January 2026.
Image taken from Jersey Mikes, Outlet Mall.
Looks like this ski season will be a manufactured snow skiing season.

Above: Iron Canyon, Park City, UT. 10 January 2026.
Turkey rafter, including a couple in the tree.

Above: Willow Creek Park, Summit County, UT. 11 January 2026.
Freddie frolics with friends.