We Do This Together: NAU and the Arizona Cardinals

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl run started six months ago on the practice field on the campus of Northern Arizona University, the official home of the team’s annual training camp. The Cardinals have been training in Flagstaff since arriving in Arizona in 1988.

NAU-Arizona Cardinal Connections
* The Cardinals have trained at Northern Arizona University since 1988. Sports Illustrated rated the training facilities at NAU as the third-best in the National Football League.

Top NFL Training Facilities
1. Steelers (St. Vincent's College, Latrobe, Pa.)
2. Packers (Don Hutson Center, Green Bay, Wis.)
3. Cardinals (Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Ariz.)
4. Eagles (Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa.)
5. Panthers (Wofford College, Spartanburg, S.C.)
--Peter King, Sports Illustrated

* Former NAU dancer Kristen Purnell is a member of the Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders squad. Purnell, a native of Aspen, Colo., was a member of the NAU dance team for three years, serving as the coach of the team for the final two seasons. She led the team to a school-best fourth-place finish at the 2008 Universal Dance Association College Dance Team National Championships at Walt Disney World in the Division I Hip Hop category.

* NAU wide receivers coach Francis St. Paul played with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner in St. Louis. St. Paul was a sixth-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in the 2001 NFL Draft, playing with the Rams on the active roster and practice squad over two seasons including Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans. He also had stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars. He is one of 10 former NAU players to be a member of a team that reached the Super Bowl.

Countdown to Signing Day: This is the second in a series leading up to National Letter of Intent Signing Day on Wednesday, February 4. Each day will highlight a current student-athlete or other news from the football program.