Anaheim, Calif. ? Adam Farley paid $1.79 for his Snickers bar, and he intends to let Arizona forward Luke Walton know all about it during tonight’s NCAA West Regional Final.
“We didn’t steal these,” said Farley, who plays baritone in the Kansas University pep band. “We definitely paid for this legally. We don’t support those kinds of actions.”
Farley and fellow band members are poised to taunt Walton and other Wildcats with such sweet sentiments, harkening back to the dubious “Candygate” caper.
A recap: Before facing KU Jan. 25 at Allen Fieldhouse, the Wildcats stayed at SpringHill Suites by Marriott in downtown Lawrence. A guest reported he’d seen Walton and other players taking candy from a hotel vending machine in the early-morning hours.
After the game, which Arizona won, 91-74, an assistant coach left money with the hotel to cover the costs of the candy, and the Wildcats left town. No charges were filed, and Arizona officials later said “action had been taken” against the involved players.
But the memory wouldn’t go away, especially now that the two teams are playing for a berth in the Final Four next week in New Orleans.
Janet Murguia, KU’s executive vice chancellor for university relations, said she ran into a couple of Arizona fans Thursday night at the team hotel, talking smack.
“They said, ‘Lock up the vending machines! Here comes Arizona!'” Murguia recalled.
KU fans are ready. Players in the tuba section already were screaming “Candy Stealers!” while Wildcats shot free throws during the team’s semifinal Thursday against Notre Dame.
Expect more tonight. Tipoff is set for 6:05.
“We’ll definitely use it to our advantage,” said Alie Farley, Adam’s sister and a mellophone player in the band.
Added her brother, still munching on his Snickers: “Anything we can do. We’re getting ready for New Orleans.”
