Broncos in the Bowls:  Good luck to Trent Murphy (BCP 2009), who returns home with the Stanford Cardinal for the Fiesta Bowl. Murphy led the Broncos' defense in the 2007 and 2008 big-school state championship games at the Arizona Cardinals' University of Phoenix Stadium, site of the Fiesta Bowl on Monday, January 2. Murphy wears his familiar #93 at defensive end and outside linebacker for the Cardinal. Ranked #4 in the BCS, Stanford plays the #3 Oklahoma State Cowboys. Click here: Uneasy alliances formed at Stanford - East Valley Tribune: Sports In the Las Vegal Bowl December 22d, Alex Garoutte (BCP 2010) was a perfect 3/3 for PATs and 1/1 on field goals (from 32 yards in the 2d qtr) for the ASU Sun Devils against Boise State. 

Do you know the unofficial nickname of the '78 Brophy football team?  From the BrophyFootball.org History --tab at left-- Joe Klein (BCP 1985) explains: "The 1978 Broncos were a small, undersized yet determined group.“Pygmy Power” was a term used by many when referring to the ’78 team.With each game looking to be an uphill battle due opponents being larger and stronger, the team took it one game at a time."  George Quiniff (BCP 1979) fondly recalls even the newspapers referred to the '78 Broncos as the Pygmies.

What current Bronco player has a dad who played on the 1978 Broncos? George Hale (BCP 1979), father of current Broncos' fullback Andy Hale (BCP 2012) #41, was a linebacker on the '78 team.

There is a long way to go this season, but a 10-0 regular season record is a special opportunity to look back at one of Brophy's top football teams, the 1978 Broncos.  Coach Trevor Stinson and his 1978 squad, led by quarterback Doug Stitler (BCP 1979), was the first, and until this season the only, Brophy varsity football team to get through the regular season without a loss.  It did not come easy.  The team opened the season with back-to-back narrow 7-6 wins over Central and Paradise Valley, and completed the season sweep with a tough 10-6 victory over Cortez.  After defeating St. Mary's 30-17 during the season, Brophy again played the Knights in the first round of the playoffs.  For the second time, Brophy beat St. Mary's, moving on to play Tucson Amphitheater in the quarterfinals.  The Broncos sealed a win over Amphi with a 99-yard touchdown pass from Stitler to Curt Reiman (BCP 1979), a longest touchdown pass record that will stand forever.  A tough loss to Mountain View -- the eventaul champion -- in the semifinals ended the season at 12-1.  Special thanks to George Quiniff (BCP 1979), 1978 Broncos' offensive lineman and father of Sam (BCP 2009), who was a QB and long snapper in Brophy's most recent championship game appearances in 2007 and 2008.

Photo and story from the ARIZONA DAILY STAR: Stanford linebacker Trent Murphy (BCP 2009) smothers UA's Nick Foles after Foles fumbled late in the second quarter. It was one of five sacks for the Cardinal. Click here: Stanford 37 Arizona 10: That's gotta hurt