1977 Arizona Wildcats football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1977 Arizona Wildcats football Western Athletic Conference WAC 5–7 3–4 Tony Mason 1st Arizona Stadium The 1977 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. In their first season under head coach Tony Mason, the Wildcats compiled a 5–7 record (3–4 against WAC opponents), finished in fifth place in the WAC, and outscored their opponents, 256 to 250.1977 Arizona Wildcats Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football September 6, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/arizona/1977-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 in Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. This was Arizona’s (and rival Arizona State’s) final season as members of the WAC and joined the Pac-8 Conference, which became the Pac-10, in the following season. Mason replaced Jim Young, who left for Purdue after the 1976 season ended.Wildcats pick Cincinnati's Mason as head football coach Arizona Daily Wildcat January 10, 1977 The team's statistical leaders included Marc Lunsford with 1,344 passing yards, Derriak Anderson with 568 rushing yards, and Harry Holt with 423 receiving yards.1977 Arizona Wildcats Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football September 6, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/arizona/1977.html Linebacker Corky Ingraham led the team with 153 total tackles.2016 Media Guide, p. 86. Before the season Arizona concluded the 1976 season with a record of 5–6 (3–4 in WAC). Young accepted the head coaching position at Purdue afterwards, and Mason was chosen to be his successor. Mason, who coached at Cincinnati, came to Arizona to rebuild the program and promised to return the team to its winning ways.Mason plans to return Wildcats back to winning Arizona Daily Star January 5, 1977 Schedule y y September 10 at Auburn<ncg> Jordan-Hare Stadium Auburn, AL L 10–21 45,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-republic-auburn-rips-injury-hit/134284071/ The Arizona Republic Auburn rips injury-hit 'Cats, 21–10 September 11, 1977 October 29, 2023 Newspapers.com September 17 San Diego State<ncg> Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ L 14–21 42,135 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-breeze-san-diego-state-shows-i/157420878/ The Daily Breeze San Diego State shows it belongs September 18, 1977 October 19, 2024 Newspapers.com September 24 at Iowa<ncg> Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA W 41–7 53,110 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-arizona-stuns-io/157420936/ Wisconsin State Journal Arizona stuns Iowa, 41–7 September 25, 1977 October 19, 2024 Newspapers.com October 1 at Wyoming War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY L 12–13 25,133 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115988432/pokes-clip-cats/ Casper Star-Tribune Pokes clip Cats in 13–12 thriller Chuck Harkins October 2, 1977 24 October 19, 2024 Newspapers.com October 8 Texas Tech<ncg> Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ L 26–32 41,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-caller-times-adams-accur/157421053/ Corpus Christi Caller-Times Adams' accurate foot leads Tech past Arizona October 9, 1977 October 19, 2024 Newspapers.com October 22 Utah Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ W 45–17 43,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-wildcats-roar-past/157421135/ The Salt Lake Tribune Wildcats roar past Utah, 45–17 October 23, 1977 October 19, 2024 Newspapers.com October 29 at BYU Cougar Stadium Provo, UT L 14–34 33,621 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ogden-standard-examiner-cougars-take/157419438/ The Ogden Standard-Examiner Cougars take easy win over Arizona October 30, 1977 October 19, 2024 Newspapers.com November 5 Colorado State Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ L 14–35 41,016 https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-idaho-press-colorado-state-tops-ar/157420716/ South Idaho Press Colorado State tops Arizona November 6, 1977 October 19, 2024 Newspapers.com November 12 New Mexico Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ (rivalry) W 15–13 40,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-wildcats-squeeze-pa/157421194/ The Arizona Republic Wildcats squeeze past Lobos November 13, 1977 October 19, 2024 Newspapers.com November 19 at UTEP Sun Bowl El Paso, TX W 41–24 7,100 https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-wildcats-romp/157421225/ The Arizona Daily Star Wildcats romp November 20, 1977 October 19, 2024 Newspapers.com November 26 at Arizona State Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ (rivalry) L 7–23 56,326 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-best-shot-finishe/157420259/ The Arizona Republic 'Best shot' finishes UA's 'Cats, 23–7 November 26, 1977 October 19, 2024 Newspapers.com December 3 at Hawaii<ncg> Aloha Stadium Halawa, HI W 17–10 30,994 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-anderson-works-ari/157421304/ The Arizona Republic Anderson works; Arizona wins December 5, 1977 October 19, 2024 Newspapers.com Game summaries Auburn For the second year in a row, Arizona opened the season against Auburn. It was also their first visit to an SEC team’s home stadium. In Mason’s first game as Arizona coach, the Wildcats started slow and never recovered as the Tigers got the victory.Auburn tops Arizona in Mason's debut Arizona Daily Star September 11, 1977 As of 2021, both Arizona and Auburn have not played each other since. Iowa Arizona traveled to Iowa to take on the Hawkeyes. The Wildcats got their offense going and Mason captured his first win as Wildcat coach.Wildcats crush Iowa on road, give Mason his first win Arizona Daily Star September 25, 1977 New Mexico The Wildcats faced New Mexico in their home finale. Arizona’s offense struggled at times but was able to get past the Lobos and the Kit Carson Rifle returned back to Tucson for the first time since 1974.Wildcats edge Lobos, Kit Carson Rifle heads back to Tucson Tucson Citizen November 14, 1977 This turned out to be Mason’s only meeting against New Mexico. It was also the last meeting between the Wildcats and Lobos until 1987 (due to Arizona leaving the WAC). As a result, the two schools would no longer play annually as rivals. Arizona State In Mason's debut against Arizona State, the Wildcats were unable to overcome Arizona State and its home crowd and lost to the Sun Devils for the third straight year.Three's a crowd: ASU gets third straight win over UA The Arizona Republic November 27, 1977 This was the final WAC game played by the two teams. Hawaii The Wildcats played a twelfth game of the season due to non-conference scheduling. They traveled to Hawaii in their season finale. Both Arizona and Hawaii’s defense shut down the offense and led to a low-scoring game. In the end, the Wildcats came out victorious.Wildcats edge Hawaii in low-scoring affair Arizona Daily Wildcat December 5, 1977 Coincidentally, Hawaii was coached by Dick Tomey, a future Arizona coach who would have a successful tenure with the Wildcats. Season notes Arizona seemed to have struggled for wins for most of the season. After Young departed for Purdue, the Wildcats may have been affected by the absence of his leadership and that Mason could not duplicate his success, which led to the team losing six of their first eight games, though they recovered to win three of the final four games. This was the last season that Arizona played in the WAC before moving to the Pac-10. In addition, this was also the last year that Arizona and New Mexico played an annual rivalry series together as conference opponents. The Wildcats defeated the Lobos in this season to reclaim the Kit Carson Rifle, the rivalry’s trophy. The rifle was eventually retired in 1997. New Mexico remained in the WAC until 1999 when then joined the Mountain West Conference. The win over New Mexico was the Arizona’s first over a rival since 1974, when they defeated Arizona State. This was the first season that Arizona played twelve regular-season games. This feat would not occur again until 1998. After losing to San Diego State, the Wildcats would not lose to them at home again until 2021, which would also be a home opener for Arizona. In three of Arizona’s five wins, they scored more than 40 points. Personnel 1977 Arizona Wildcats y Lee Pistor K Tony Mason Tom Roggeman References Arizona Category:Arizona Wildcats football seasons Arizona Wildcats football