Classy Gesture by the Cardinals

[TJ]

A few days ago, the starting center for the University of Arizona, Zach Hemmila, a product of Chandler High, died in his sleep. The team is obviously distraught as he was an amazing teammate and friend. Added to the madness is that the intense monsoon storms in Tucson destroyed the practice fields, so the team was left without a place to practice.

The Cardinals offered to let the Wildcats use its Tempe facility for two days while the field in Tucson is being repaired. The Cards really rolled out the red carpet; it painted "Arizona" in the team's font in the end zone, hung up welcome signs, and allowed the players to use the Cardinal players' lockers.

Really awesome of Michael Bidwill and the rest of the organization to offer UofA the opportunity to not only practice at its place, but to get the players out of town and clear their minds after suffering such a tragedy.

Here are some pics floating around the UofA media;

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[jmt]

Very cool.

 

[DutchmanAZ]

2 words. Class act

 

[Kel Varnsen]

2 words. Class act

Yep.

They got all that done in a really short amount of time, too.

 

[AZCrazy]

In the old days they would have sent the university a bill for the paint.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Heard a snipit from Mike Bidwill regarding this gesture and all I can say is that he continues to make all the right moves. The man is truly incredible. Rock freakin Solid!

 

[TJ]

Just so cool.

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[Dback Jon]

That's awesome - thanks for sharing the story

 

[BigRedRage]

A few days ago, the starting center for the University of Arizona, Zach Hemmila, a product of Chandler High, died in his sleep. The team is obviously distraught as he was an amazing teammate and friend. Added to the madness is that the intense monsoon storms in Tucson destroyed the practice fields, so the team was left without a place to practice.

The Cardinals offered to let the Wildcats use its Tempe facility for two days while the field in Tucson is being repaired. The Cards really rolled out the red carpet; it painted "Arizona" in the team's font in the end zone, hung up welcome signs, and allowed the players to use the Cardinal players' lockers.

Really awesome of Michael Bidwill and the rest of the organization to offer UofA the opportunity to not only practice at its place, but to get the players out of town and clear their minds after suffering such a tragedy.

Here are some pics floating around the UofA media;

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

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Imagine that, the kids sitting at Fitz and etc lockers, how cool would that be as a young football player?

 

[DeAnna]

Would they have done the same for ASU? Probably not, given their history.

 

[Dback Jon]

Would they have done the same for ASU? Probably not, given their history.

I think they would have.

 

[AZ Native]

I think they would have.

That would be a good way to change history.

 

[slanidrac16]

We have become one of the classiest organizations in the NFL, Period!

 

[82CardsGrad]

Would they have done the same for ASU? Probably not, given their history.

Clearly you still aren't familiar with Mike B and who he really is...

 

[DemsMyBoys]

OK the "Football is Family" banner is making me a little teary-eyed.

#NotJustAllergies

#LovetheBirdgang

 

[DeAnna]

Clearly you still aren't familiar with Mike B and who he really is...

You mean with his ongoing legal feud with ASU which goesback to the SDS days? Was that settled out of court?

 

[TJ]

Imagine that, the kids sitting at Fitz and etc lockers, how cool would that be as a young football player?

And imagine the disappointment by those who got Stephan Taylor, Earl Watford, Ed Stinson, Kareem Martin, et al.

 

[82CardsGrad]

You mean with his ongoing legal feud with ASU which goesback to the SDS days? Was that settled out of court?

Care to describe how Mike B is somehow at fault there? [emoji848]

 

[DeAnna]

Care to describe how Mike B is somehow at fault there? [emoji848]

IIRC, he sued them to get the money from signage at SDS.

 

[82CardsGrad]

IIRC, he sued them to get the money from signage at SDS.

As far as I know, the Cards (not Mike Bidwill) sued ASU because, in the view of the Cards, ASU violated a clause in their agreement signed back in 1994. This clause essentially allowed the Cards to receive advertising/promotion/sponsorship revenue related to Sun Devil Stadium. An arbitrator actually ruled in favor of the Cardinals (I think around 1999/2000). You can debate whether the Cards have or had (I don't know if this suit has ever been settled) a viable case, but again - how does this reflect negatively on Mike Bidwill?

 

[unseenaz]

UGH!! hope they can pressure wash the stink outta fields and locker rooms before the Cards return to the facilities

 

[Borderrat]

Yes Mike Bidwill and the Cardinals would have done the same for ASU. Simple answer.

 

[ajcardfan]

IIRC, he sued them to get the money from signage at SDS.

ASU did have to pay a small settlement. But that is really ancient history now.

 

[Shaggy]

That's awesome. How did the player die in his sleep? Did he have a known disease?

 

[TJ]

That's awesome. How did the player die in his sleep? Did he have a known disease?

Unknown. Autopsy will reveal cause in 4-6 weeks.