1975 Arizona Wildcats football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1975 Arizona Wildcats football Western Athletic Conference WAC 13 18 9–2 5–2 Jim Young 3rd John Mackovic 3rd Larry Smith 3rd Arizona Stadium The 1975 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1975 NCAA Division I football season. In their third season under head coach Jim Young, the Wildcats compiled a 9–2 record (5–2 against WAC opponents), finished in second place in the WAC, were ranked No. 18 in the final AP Poll, and outscored their opponents, 330 to 169.1975 Arizona Wildcats Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football September 6, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/arizona/1975-schedule.htmlArizona Football 2016 Media Guide University of Arizona September 6, 2016 107 2016 http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/arizona.sidearmsports.com/documents/2016/8/24/2016_Arizona_FB_Media_Guide.pdf September 21, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160921192006/http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/arizona.sidearmsports.com/documents/2016/8/24/2016_Arizona_FB_Media_Guide.pdf dead The team played its home games at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. Even though they captured their second straight nine-win season, the Wildcats missed out on a bowl due to not winning an outright conference title for the third season in a row. Arizona lost in the season finale to their rival Arizona State in a game that decided the WAC title. Both of Arizona's losses this season were to their rivals, (New Mexico and Arizona State). The team's statistical leaders included Bruce Hill with 1,747 passing yards, Dave Randolph with 657 rushing yards, and Scott Piper with 718 receiving yards.1975 Arizona Wildcats Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football September 6, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/arizona/1975.html Linebacker Obra Erby led the team with 188 total tackles.2016 Media Guide, p. 86. Schedule 1975 AP September 20 w y 17 Pacific (CA) Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 16–0 37,720 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-arizona-16-u/157326784/ The San Francisco Examiner Arizona 16, UOP 0 September 21, 1975 October 17, 2024 Newspapers.com September 27 w y 15 Wyoming War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY 14–0 21,909 Wildcatss edge Pokes, 14–0 Casper Star-Tribune 19 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116016144/wildcats-edge-pokes/ October 17, 2024 Newspapers.com October 4 w y 17 Northwestern Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 41–6 38,501 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-oregonian-arizona-rips-northw/157326901/ The Sunday Oregonian Arizona rips Northwestern October 5, 1975 October 17, 2024 Newspapers.com October 11 w y 17 UTEP Sun Bowl El Paso, TX 36–0 15,700 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tri-city-herald-arizona-crushes-utep/157327001/ Tri-City Herald Arizona crushes UTEP October 12, 1975 October 17, 2024 Newspapers.com October 18 w y 13 Texas Tech Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 32–28 39,854 https://www.newspapers.com/article/express-news-arizona-nips-red-raiders/157327094/ Express-News Arizona nips Red Raiders October 19, 1975 October 17, 2024 Newspapers.com October 25 l 13 New Mexico Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 34–44 rivalry 35,878 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-billings-gazette-new-mexico-upsets-a/157327204/ The Billings Gazette New Mexico upsets Arizona October 26, 1975 October 17, 2024 Newspapers.com November 1 w 17 y BYU Cougar Stadium Provo, UT 36–20 25,287 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-defense-pistor-spa/157327298/ The Arizona Republic Defense, Pistor spark UA, 36–20 November 2, 1975 October 17, 2024 Newspapers.com November 8 w y y 15 San Diego State 13 San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA 31–24 53,611 https://www.newspapers.com/article/north-county-times-arizona-edges-aztecs/157327431/ The Blade Tribune Arizona edges Aztecs November 9, 1975 October 17, 2024 Newspapers.com November 15 w y 12 Colorado State Hughes Stadium Fort Collins, CO 31–9 19,887 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-wildcats-deal-rams/157327578/ The Arizona Republic Wildcats deal Rams 31–9 defeat November 16, 1975 October 17, 2024 Newspapers.com November 22 w 11 Utah Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 38–14 37,966 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ogden-standard-examiner-arizona-poun/157327685/ The Ogden Standard-Examiner Arizona pounds past Utah 38–14 November 23, 1975 October 17, 2024 Newspapers.com November 29 l y 12 Arizona State 8 Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ rivalry 21–24 51,388 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-breeze-arizona-state-comes-fro/157326307/ The Daily Breeze Arizona State comes from behind to win November 30, 1975 October 17, 2024 Newspapers.com Before the season Arizona concluded the 1974 season with a 9–2 record (6–1 in WAC), and lost out on the WAC title and bowl eligibility due to their loss to BYU that season. The Wildcats ended the year by defeating Arizona State for the first time since 1964 with a shutout and brought back bragging rights for the state of Arizona. The team went into the 1975 season with high expectations and was looking to contend for the WAC championship and was ranked in the top 20 in preseason polls. Many Wildcat fans believed that Young was rebuilding a resurgence of winning to a football program that was struggling for nearly a decade.Wildcats enter 1975 football season with high hopes The Arizona Daily Star September 4, 1975 Game summaries Northwestern In a game that featured two teams that shared the same nickname, the Wildcats, Arizona took care of Northwestern at home.Wildcats vs. Wildcats: Arizona destroys Northwestern, 41–6 Arizona Daily Star October 5, 1975 Arizona gave up two field goals to Northwestern, and ended a streak of three consecutive shutout wins dating back to the previous season finale against Arizona State (Arizona began 1975 with shutouts over Pacific and Wyoming). New Mexico In the rivalry game between Arizona and New Mexico, both teams’ offense put up several points on the board, with the Lobos coming out on top to upset the Wildcats and handed Arizona its first loss of the season.Wildcats fight hard, but come up short against Lobos for first loss Arizona Daily Wildcat October 27, 1975 The Wildcats’ loss led to the Kit Carson Rifle (the rivalry's trophy) returning to Albuquerque for the first time since 1971.Lobos happy to have Kit Carson Rifle back in Albuquerque after New Mexico upset victory over Arizona Albuquerque Journal October 27, 1975 San Diego State Arizona faced San Diego State on the road for a top-15 non-conference matchup (the Wildcats were ranked 15th whereas the Aztecs were 13th). The game was a big test for Arizona, and the Wildcats ultimately prevailed in a close win.Wildcats survive against San Diego State Tucson Daily Citizen November 10, 1975 Colorado State Against Colorado State, the Wildcats’ defense blitzed the Rams and limited them to only nine points in yet another win.Wildcats take care of Colorado State, 31–9 Arizona Daily Star November 16, 1975 This remains the last time to date that Arizona traveled to Fort Collins to play the Rams, as future meetings between the two teams since then have been played in Tucson. Arizona State The Wildcats traveled to Tempe to face unbeaten Arizona State in a game that decided the WAC championship and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl (the loser would have their season end due to a lack of bowl spots available). Due to the fact that cable and satellite television didn't exist at the time and that all national broadcasters’ schedules of games were booked, the Arizona-Arizona State game was not televised.UA-ASU game will not be televised due to lack of open TV window The Arizona Republic November 26, 1975 Late in the second quarter with Arizona leading 14–3, the Sun Devils drove into Wildcat territory and an Arizona State receiver dove and made a sensational catch in the end zone for a touchdown. There has been debates of whether or not it was indeed a catch, in which many Wildcat fans believe it was not.Remembering 'The Catch' in 1975 UA-ASU football game 30 years later The State Press November 23, 2005 Due to a lack of instant replay at the time and that all officials’ calls were based on judgment and thus were final, the touchdown catch was upheld, much to the ire of Wildcat fans. The disputes of the ASU touchdown catch still continue to this day.Revisiting the 1975 'Duel in the Desert': Was ASU touchdown really a catch? Arizona Daily Wildcat November 18, 2015 The touchdown gave ASU momentum at halftime and carried it with them in the second half and took the lead. The Wildcats had a chance to respond, but fell short and Arizona State went on to capture the WAC with the win and ended the Wildcats’ season.Sun Devils stave off Wildcats, 24–21; Fiesta Bowl berth, WAC title snared The Arizona Republic November 30, 1975ASU gains Fiesta Bowl with 24–21 win; Wildcats stunned by tough loss Arizona Daily Star November 30, 1975 Arizona matched the 1974 season with back-to-back 9–2 records but without a bowl appearance.Wildcats finish 9–2 again with no bowl berth Arizona Daily Wildcat December 1, 1975 Arizona State would ultimately go on to win the Fiesta Bowl and finish with a perfect 12–0 record. Roster 1975 Arizona Wildcats f 7 Jr Bill Baechler QB 11 So Scott Baker QB 18 Sr Theo Bell WR y 4 Sr Derral Davis RB 23 Jr Keith Hartwig WR y 22 Jr Gerhard Hoentsch RB 1 Sr Bruce Hill QB 88 Sr Bob Howard TE 65 Jr Tom Meyer G 76 Sr Brian Murray T 62 Sr Bill Parks G 86 Sr Scott Piper WR y 75 So Duane Swanson T 51 Sr Bob Toon C 85 Sr Bill Baker DE 83 Sr Willis Barrett DE 77 Sr Mike Dawson Mike Dawson (defensive end) DT y 38 So Tom Gallagher S 72 Sr Rich Hall DT 41 Jr Mark Jacobs LB 16 Sr Joe O'Sullivan DB 78 Sr Grant Swanson DT 48 So Larry Yena LB 13 So Lee Pistor K *Jim Young References Arizona Category:Arizona Wildcats football seasons Arizona Wildcats football