TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Ty Nichols knows his way around a football field.
"I was a walk-on at the University of Wyoming. Then, when I got done with my playing career, I always knew I wanted to get into coaching. So, I volunteered at my old high school. Then, I was blessed enough to get on with Texas Tech and then that opportunity two years later lead me to here," shared Nichols.
He's a defensive GA for the University of Arizona football team, but before his football days, he grew up with a love for the rodeo.
"My main event was steer wrestling, which is the one you'll see where I'm kind of pulling the steer to the ground type deal. I was lucky enough to win a state championship in that in Texas," said Nichols.
Nichols says his dad got him into rodeo when he was eight; and he continued competing through high school until he signed on to play college ball in Wyoming.
"So, my dad and his dad they grew up in eastern Oregon, and they grew up ranching and rodeoing, so he got me into that," said Nichols.
Steer wrestling and calf roping were his events.
"Love both of them. My favorite one was the steer wrestling. That was mainly what my dad did," he revealed.
Now, Nichols is adding some of his rodeo experience into his coaching.
"The kids' kind of like it whenever I say I can, you know, wrestle a steer to the ground. So, I don't want to hear anything about them not being able to tackle somebody."
A no excuses mentality. Competing in rodeo is like no other experience.
"Your heart's racing really fast, but your horse can actually feel if your nervous or something like that, so you have to stay calm," said Nichols.
For the first time this weekend, he'll get to experience Tucson's Rodeo.
"Get back to the like smell of the dirt and all that kind of stuff. Like it'll bring back a whole bunch of memories. Seeing you know the crowd react. The little kids watching the horses and you know loving that whole thing," described Nichols.
He might even size up the competition. "I might try to sneak into the box, see if somebody lets me on their horse. Maybe try to get a run in," said Nichols.
Nichols has thought about competing in rodeos again, but for now he's fully invested in exploring his football coaching career here in the Old Pueblo.
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Lydia Camarillo is an anchor and reporter for KGUN 9. Lydia is no stranger to the Old Pueblo. She has been reporting in Tucson for more than a decade and has been involved in numerous projects highlighting folks in the community. Share your story ideas and important issues with Lydia by emailing lydia.camarillo@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.