K-state fans have waited for over a month to finally be in Arizona to watch the K-State Wildcats take on the Oregon Ducks. On Tuesday, fans got to warm up their cheering voices as they packed onto Chase Field in the University of Phoenix Stadium to see the K-State’s Fiesta Bowl pep rally.

More than 20,000 fans were in attendance, over half of the estimated 35,000 to 40,000 K-Staters to make the trip.

One of those fans, Cheynne Roden, junior in psychology, could not believe the amount of her fellow K-State fans that took over Chase Field.

“There was a ton of purple,” Roden said. “It was so awesome to see everyone in Phoenix with purple all around because that’s where I am from. And it was just a pumped up environment and I am glad we got to be here for it.”

Caitlin Estes, senior in accounting, had the same thing to say about the amount of fans, even talking about the lack of Oregon fans at their own pep rally.

“It was really awesome to see the entire lower section of the stadium full with 24,000 fans,” Estes said. “Then you hear the Oregon pep rally, who only had 2,000 fans, and it makes it even more amazing.”

Fans screamed and roared as the band played the fight song and many other popular K-State tunes. The voice of K-State, broadcaster Wyatt Thompson made the introductions before handing the microphone off to many popular figures around K-State.

Among the group was K-State President Kirk Schulz and Athletic Director John Currie.

K-State graduate Eric Stonestreet made a big time appearance right before the team was introduced. Stonestreet has become a K-State legend since he has emerged as a star of ABC’s comedy series “Modern Family.”

“He’s not just teaching football, he is teaching guys how to live a life with integrity and class,” Stonestreet said about head coach Bill Snyder.

Highlights of past and present Wildcat teams were presented on the big screen as the football team made their way to the field.

Snyder was the first to speak, followed by captains Ty Zimmerman, B.J Finney, Collin Klein, Arthur Brown and Jared Loomis.

The big crowd was somewhat expected; bowl officials’ reports are estimating that there will be 30-35,000 K-State fans at University of Phoenix Stadium as the Wildcats take on the Oregon Ducks in search of their first ever BCS bowl on Thursday night.

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