1984 Arizona Wildcats football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1984 Arizona Wildcats football Pacific-10 Conference Pac-10 7–4 5–2 Larry Smith 5th Steve Axman 5th Moe Ankney 5th Arizona Stadium The 1984 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the Pacific 10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth season under head coach Larry Smith, the Wildcats compiled a 7–4 record (5–2 against Pac-10 opponents), finished in a tie for third place in the Pac-10, and outscored their opponents, 272 to 192. The team played their home games at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats were placed on probation by both the NCAA and Pac-10 in May 1983 following the discovery of cash payments to student-athletes and players as well as allegations of fraud involving former Arizona coach Tony Mason in a scandal that rocked the university.UA football program aware of Mason cover-up The Arizona Republic May 7, 1983 Due to the NCAA violations, Arizona was ineligible for the 1984 Pac-10 championship and was banned from playing in a bowl game (including the Rose Bowl). They were also barred from playing games on live television during the season as well as 1985. Before the season The Wildcats completed the 1983 season with a record of 7–3–1 (4–3–1 in Pac-10). They did not participate in a bowl game due to the NCAA sanctions for recruiting violations. Arizona was deeply affected by the penalties when it came to recruiting during the offseason.Wildcats recruiting affected by NCAA sanctions Arizona Daily Star April 12, 1984 Arizona entered the 1984 season believing that they would win despite being on probation, though they would neither be competing for the Rose Bowl nor being shown on television.Smith believes Cats can still compete for wins despite probation Tucson Citizen July 27, 1984 The NCAA had announced in May 1983 that the Wildcats would be barred from both a bowl game and having games aired live on TV. As a result of the TV ban, Arizona games were not aired on national or cable networks.No UA football games on live TV in ‘84 and ‘85 due to NCAA ban Arizona Daily Star August 20, 1984 Schedule 1984 AP Mountain September 1 7:00 p.m. l y Fresno State Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 22–27 43,477 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-modesto-bee-80-yard-play-with-35-sec/170139616/ The Modesto Bee 80-yard play with 35 seconds left lifts Fresno over Arizona September 2, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 8 7:00 p.m. w California Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 23–13 41,234 https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-wildcats-bop-bumbling-be/170139668/ Oakland Tribune Wildcats bop bumbling Bears September 9, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 15 7:30 p.m. w y Oregon State Multnomah Stadium Portland, OR 27–8 18,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-oregonian-stumbling-osu-loses/170139733/ The Sunday Oregonian Stumbling OSU loses to Arizona 27–8 September 16, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 22 5:30 p.m. l y y LSU Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA 26–27 78,052 https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-lsu-rallies-past-wild/134620039/ LSU rallies past Wildcats, 27–26 Arizona Daily Star September 23, 1984 November 4, 2023 Newspapers.com September 29 7:00 p.m. w y Long Beach State Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 31–24 41,910 Long Beach Comes Close Again but Loses to Arizona Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Dick Wagner September 30, 1984 III-8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8868590/long_beach_comes_close_again_but_loses/ Newspapers.com February 10, 2017 October 6 7:00 p.m. w Oregon Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 28–14 40,848 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olympian-arizona-ruins-ducks-undefe/170139793/ The Olympian Arizona ruins Ducks' undefeated season October 7, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 20 1:30 p.m. l y USC Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 14–17 65,411 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-usc-leade/170138018/ The San Bernardino County Sun USC, leader of the Pac, edges Arizona October 21, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 27 1:00 p.m. l y Washington 1 Husky Stadium Seattle, WA 12–28 59,876 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dedVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VuEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4996%2C7215502 Eugene Register-Guard Idaho wire services Huskies win, then the battle starts October 28, 1984 7E November 3 7:30 p.m. w y Utah State Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 45–10 44,225 https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-horton-helps-wildcats/170139843/ The Arizona Daily Star Horton helps Wildcats rout Utah State November 4, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com November 10 1:30 p.m. w y Stanford Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 28–14 44,836 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-peninsula-times-tribune-arizona-defe/170139900/ The Peninsula Times Tribune Arizona defeats Stanford November 11, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com November 24 7:30 p.m. w Arizona State Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ rivalry 16–10 58,132 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-arizona-state-inte/170139961/ The Los Angeles Times Arizona State intercepted at pass by Arizona, 16–10 November 25, 1984 April 12, 2025 Newspapers.com Game summaries LSU Arizona traveled to Baton Rouge to play Louisiana State (LSU) in the first meeting between the two schools. The Wildcats fought tough and ultimately came up short against the Tigers.Wildcats fall short at LSU Arizona Daily Wildcat September 24, 1984 Oregon 1984 Oregon Ducks football team Oregon 7 0 0 7 Arizona 0 10 11 7 October 6 Arizona Stadium 40,848 yes Q1 ORE Barnes 80 yard pass from Miller (MacLeod kick) ORE 7–0 Q2 ARIZ Zendejas 23 yard field goal ORE 7–3 Q2 ARIZ Jenkins 6 yard run (Zendejas kick) ARIZ 10–7 Q3 ARIZ Zendejas 30 yard field goal ARIZ 13–7 Q3 ARIZ Prior 6 yard run (Prior run) ARIZ 21–7 Q4 ORE Miller 11 yard pass from McCall (MacLeod kick) ARIZ 21–14 Q4 ARIZ Adams 10 yard run (Zendejas kick) ARIZ 28–14 yes Against Oregon at home, Arizona played a close game in the first half before taking control in the second to pull away from the Ducks to earn the win.Cats pull away from Ducks, 28–14 Arizona Daily Star October 7, 1984 Washington On the road at Washington, Arizona's offense struggled at times against the top-ranked Huskies’ defense, which led to a Wildcats loss. Arizona committed several turnovers, which ultimately cost them the game.10 turnovers give UA 28-12 loss Arizona Daily Star October 28, 1984Turnovers doom Wildcats in loss to top-ranked Huskies Tucson Citizen October 29, 1984 Arizona State Arizona–Arizona State football rivalry The Wildcats played their season finale against rival Arizona State. In front of an Arizona Stadium crowd, the Wildcats did enough against the Sun Devils in low-scoring contest, and Arizona came out victorious over ASU for the third year in a row.Arizona wins third straight from ASU Arizona Daily Star November 25, 1984 The offense managed to get only one touchdown and kicker Max Zendejas, who defeated ASU the previous year with a field goal, made three kicks, including 51 and 32 yard attempts in the fourth quarter, during the win. In addition, Arizona’s defense intercepted ASU several times, which led to the victory.Turnovers spark UA past ASU The Arizona Republic November 25, 1984 It was the first time since 1960-62 that the Wildcats defeated their rivals in three consecutive seasons.Wildcats edge Devils for third consecutive year Tucson Citizen November 26, 1984Three in a row! Wildcats triumph over Sun Devils in close battle Arizona Daily Wildcat November 26, 1984Wildcats are the ‘Big Brother’ of ASU in 1984 Tucson Citizen November 27, 1984 Arizona finished the season with seven wins, matching their 1983 total. Season notes Arizona's seven victories were enough to be bowl-eligible, but due to NCAA sanctions, they were not eligible for the postseason. The Wildcats lost their home opener against Fresno State and would prevent a perfect home record as they would win their remaining home games. The road game at Oregon State was played in the evening, which was the first time since 1981 that Arizona played a night game on the road.Wildcats set to play under the lights against Beavers Tucson Citizen September 12, 1984 It turned out to be the Wildcats’ only road win of the season. The loss to LSU would be the closest that the Wildcats would ever come to defeating the Tigers, as they lost big in future meetings in 2003 and 2006. Arizona played only one game against a ranked team, which was a loss to Washington (ranked first) in late October. After starting out the season with a 4–4 record, the Wildcats won their final three games to finish with a winning record. For the third season in a row, the team treated their finale against Arizona State as their bowl game, and ultimately won it, as they were under a bowl ban.UA-ASU game is Wildcats’ bowl game Arizona Daily Star November 22, 1984Triumphed like ‘Nerds’: Cats’ win over ASU was their bowl victory Tucson Citizen November 26, 1984 In addition, a Tucson newspaper labeled Arizona’s victory as “terminating” (defeating) ASU, due to it being a reference to the film The Terminator, which was released during the year.Wildcats ‘terminating’ ASU was another big win for UA Arizona Daily Star November 27, 1984 All of Arizona's home games this season (as well as 1985) were televised on a local Tucson station (then-independent affiliate KZAZ, which would become KMSB in 1985, and is now a Fox affiliate) and were all aired on a tape delay and broadcast the day after due to the games not airing live as a result of the team's TV ban.KZAZ Channel 11 to air UA football home games on tape delay in ‘84 and ‘85 due to live TV ban Tucson Citizen August 22, 1984 Three of the Wildcats’ four road games (LSU, USC, and Washington) actually aired on TV, which were broadcast only in the local markets of the opposing teams (Baton Rouge, Los Angeles, and Seattle, respectively), as the ban was limited to the Tucson market. As a result of their games not being aired live on television, fans had to either attend the games or listen to them on the radio.Going to stadium or tuning to radio: UA football fans have two ways to see or hear Cats play live due to TV ban Arizona Daily Star August 20, 1984 After the season The Wildcats would improve on their 1984 record and had their bowl ban lifted in 1985, though their live TV ban would continue to be in effect until the end of the 1985 regular season.Arizona football relived as bowl ban gets lifted this season Arizona Daily Star May 16, 1985UA football will be eligible for bowl in ‘85 The Arizona Republic December 27, 1984Smith will finally give the Wildcats a chance at bowl in ‘85 Arizona Daily Wildcat January 25, 1985 Arizona would continue to have success and they would eventually appear in bowl game in the 1985 season. Personnel 1984 Arizona Wildcats y Jr Max Zendejas K y Larry Smith Tom Roggeman Terry Malone GA References Arizona Category:Arizona Wildcats football seasons Arizona Wildcats football