Duke is first team to arrive for 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. Arizona State arrives Saturday, Dec. 27. The annual game is Wednesday, Dec. 31.
The Duke Blue Devils were the first team to arrive for the 92nd Annual Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl.
Some of the team members arrived in El Paso early Friday, Dec. 26, then coaches, more players and Duke administration landed in El Paso just after 2 p.m. and bused to the Marriott Hotel near the El Paso International Airport, where they were greeted with El Paso hospitality.
Duke plays Arizona State at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Sun Bowl Stadium. Arizona State defeated Duke, 36-31, in the 2014 Sun Bowl.
As is tradition, Duke was given a warm El Paso welcome with mariachi and Folklorico dancers in addition to the Sun Bowl committee. The Sun Bowl Court, which serves as an ambassador for the game, was also introduced.
"The Sun Bowl is El Paso's biggest event," Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas said. "To have an ACC Champion in Duke here at our bowl game is tremendous."
The Sun Bowl is the second-oldest bowl in the country behind the Rose Bowl.
Players and head coach Manny Diaz danced with the Folklorico dancers for a few minutes and the players also sang Feliz Navidad.
The Sun Devils are coming off a 23-7 loss to Arizona in the Territorial Cup, their final regular-season game. The Blue Devils defeated Virginia in overtime in the ACC title game, 27-20.
"The Sun Bowl is a unique bowl experience and we're off to a great start with the greeting," said Diaz, who spoke briefly with the media.
Arizona State is set to arrive on Saturday, Dec. 27.
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at [email protected]; @Fchavezeptimes on X
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Duke football arrives in El Paso for Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl vs. ASU
Category: General Sports
