Flight deck to football field: SMU, Arizona visit the USS Makin Island ahead of Holiday Bowl

Dante Ulanday - News Moderator Dante Ulanday - News Moderator
Dec 31, 2025 - 21:01
Flight deck to football field: SMU, Arizona visit the USS Makin Island ahead of Holiday Bowl
Two men flank a service member aboard a U.S. Navy ship, the USS Makin Island.
Five young men don yellow firefighter garb while standing on a yellow surface on a ship.
Players tried on firefighter uniforms while aboard the USS Makin Island. (Photo by Kristos Zafiropoulos)

It was a memorable day for Southern Methodist University and the University of Arizona as the Navy’s USS Makin Island welcomed both school’s football teams before Friday’s Holiday Bowl.

Players gathered on the flight deck where Capt. Jose Arana called hosting the tour for the Holiday Bowl teams “an absolute honor.” He went on to compare the effort of Navy teams aboard ships to those of the Wildcats and Mustangs.

“We leave everything on the table when we go out to sea, to bring the reign to the enemy if called to do so,” Arana said. “Come January 2nd, you guys are going to do the same thing.” 

Two men flank a service member aboard a U.S. Navy ship, the USS Makin Island.
L-R, SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee, Navy Capt. Jose Arana and Arizona head coach Brent Brennan during the pre-Holiday Bowl tour of the USS Makin Island. Lashlee’s and Brennan’s teams will compete in the Holiday Bowl on Friday Jan. 2 2026.
(Photo by Kristos Zafiropoulos)

Each team’s coach offered a gift to Arana. Brent Brennan of Arizona presented him with a replica of the Wildcats’ “Turnover Sword.” SMU’s Rhett Lashlee gifted the captain a Mustang helmet. 

“We have an incredible amount of respect for the U.S. military,” Brennan said. “We get to play this great game, we get to have this incredible experience because of the sacrifice you and so many other Americans make for us. We appreciate you.”

But he couldn’t resist a bit of partisanship. “We just want you to know, by the end of this thing you’re going to be an Arizona Wildcat fan and that’s all we care about,” Brennan said. 

As the tour continued, players from both teams competed in a rapid-fire drill to see who could suit up the fastest in the ship’s firefighter gear. Service members received a gift too – Sports San Diego and the Holiday Bowl Host Committee gave the crew 100 tickets to the game.

Approximately 3,000 tickets remain for a sellout crowd for Friday’s game, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. at Snapdragon Stadium. Arizona is a slight favorite.

Read More