Weather Hampers Fans Headed To Fiesta Bowl

Friday, December 29th 2006, 10:17 am

By: News On 6

Some wild winter weather could spell trouble for hundreds of OU fans headed to Phoenix for the Fiesta Bowl. A major winter storm is expected to dump ten inches of snow overnight. Troopers in Texas are already preparing for the storm by shutting down I-40 from Amarillo to the New Mexico border, a main artery likely included in the travel plans of Sooner fans. News on 6 reporter Heather Lewin says if youâ€™re headed to the game you may want to plan on an alternate route.

"From New Mexico, West Texas- Amarillo all the way to Lubbock into Colorado, that's where the weather winter's gonna be unfolding," News on 6 meteorologist Alan Crone said. "They're going to see snow for sure, particularly around the Canyon and Amarillo area."

But what's a little snow to Sooner fans? Some planning road trips with friends say it won't keep them from going to the game.

"No, no, we've done this before. There was a big blizzard in Denver in '03, we were on a trip, and we went through it. We got stuck, but we went through it, so we're gonna do this again," fan Cody Hawkins said.

Jay O'Meilia went to his first OU game in 1951, the artist was struck by the color and action on the field; he's been painting and sculpting the team ever since. This year he's got his eye on Adrian Peterson.

"He's going to break the all-time rushing record. He has to get 150 yards to break Billy Sims' record. To me, I know there's a painting gonna be there," said fan and artist Jay O'Meilia.

As fans try to figure out how to get there, preparations are underway at the new University of Phoenix stadium.

The Fiesta Bowl is a New Year's Day tradition, this year OU takes on Boise State.

"Bob Stoops has probably done one of the best coaching jobs that you could ever do with all of the negative things that happened and these kids have just fought and scratched, so that to me is enough to be there," Oâ€™Meilia said.

"Oh yeah it's worth it. It's Fiesta Bowl! It's a big game for OU and we're big fans and we really wanna go, so if it takes us a day and a half, two days to get out there we're still going," said Hawkins.

Thereâ€™s no telling how long I-40 will be closed at this point, so be sure to check the latest conditions before you hit the road.