Gators arrive in Arizona

The Gators arrived at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix on Tuesday at about 12:10 p.m. (MST) and were greeted like the President.

The red carpet rolled down the tarmac and the Gators came out of their charted American Airlines, Boeing 757 flight.

Led off the plane by senior wide receiver Jemalle Cornelius, the team was first welcomed by four Fiesta Bowl girls.

With a Mariachi band playing on the runway, about 150 members of the press, fans and committee members for the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game lined up to greet the team.

Fans and committee members waved orange and blue pom-poms and held welcome signs.

Players were dressed in their best attire, including a pink suit worn by freshman linebacker Brandon Spikes and a brown, pinstripe suit by freshman running back Brandon James.

UF Coach Urban Meyer spoke briefly to the media, and the players headed to their hotel. The Gators will practice at 3:30 p.m. (MST) today at Scottsdale Community College.