1987 Arizona Wildcats football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1987 Arizona Wildcats football Pacific-10 Conference Pac-10 4–4–3 2–3–3 Dick Tomey 1st Ben Griffith 1st Larry Mac Duff 1st Arizona Stadium The 1987 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. They were coached by Dick Tomey in his first season with the school. Tomey was hired from Hawaii to replace Larry Smith, who accepted the head coaching position at USC, who like Arizona, was in the Pac-10 Conference. Tomey and Smith would face other later in the season (see below). The departure of Smith heavily affected the Wildcats in the season, leading to a rebuild of the team led by Tomey, and ultimately finishing the season with a record of 4–4–3 (2–3–3 in Pac-10), including a tie with rival Arizona State in the season finale. Before the season Arizona ended 1986 with a 9–3 record and won the Aloha Bowl, which was their first postseason win. When the season concluded, Smith was hired by conference opponent USC to take over the team, reportedly due to the Trojans’ longer-lasting football tradition as well as Smith’s success with Arizona.How ex-UA coach Smith got to USC Arizona Daily Star January 6, 1987 Arizona would hire Tomey, who was coaching at Hawaii, and accepted the coaching position (Tomey had attended the Aloha Bowl and was impressed by Arizona's performance that he contacted the school and was ultimately hired).Hawaii’s Tomey becomes Wildcats’ new football coach Tucson Citizen January 14, 1987 Due to Smith leaving for USC, the Wildcats struggled to get in-state recruits under a new coach, which changed the direction of the football program. As a result, Arizona entered the 1987 season unranked in the polls. Schedule 1987 AP Mountain September 12 7:00 p.m. l y Iowa Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ KMSB 14–15 57,284 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-hartlieb-guides/172261524/ The Des Moines Register Hartlieb guides Iowa to 15–14 win September 13, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 19 7:00 p.m. w y New Mexico Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ rivalry/Kit Carson Rifle KMSB 20–9 46,094 https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-wildcats-hold-on-to-b/172101897/ The Arizona Daily Star Wildcats hold on to beat New Mexico, 20–9 September 20, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com September 26 12:30 p.m. l y UCLA 13 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Prime 24–34 55,823 https://www.newspapers.com/article/camarillo-star-donahue-scolds-wildcats/172247780/ The Camarillo Daily News Donahue scolds, Wildcats fold September 27, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 3 7:00 p.m. w y Bowling Green Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ KMSB 45–7 43,498 https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-ua-wins-457-veal-s/172261810/ The Arizona Daily Star UA wins, 45–7; Veal sets QB record in first start October 4, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 10 1:00 p.m. t y California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA Prime 23–23 35,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-tie-with-arizona-nearly-a/172261919/ The Fresno Bee Tie with Arizona nearly as good as a win for rallying California October 11, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 17 7:00 p.m. w Oregon State Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ KMSB 31–17 48,494 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-oregonian-nimble-freshman-qb/172262100/ The Sunday Oregonian Nimble freshman QB directs Arizona past Beavers October 18, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 24 7:30 p.m. l y Washington State Martin Stadium Pullman, WA Prime 28–45 22,269 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tri-city-herald-cougars-claw-wildcats-4/172262219/ Tri-City Herald Cougars claw Wildcats, 45–28 October 25, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com October 31 4:30 p.m. w y Stanford Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA TBS 23–13 34,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-arizona-knocks-off-st/172260965/ The Sacramento Bee Arizona knocks off Stanford, gets a day off November 1, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com November 7 6:30 p.m. t y Washington Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ Prime 21–21 50,021 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-uw-kicking-game-ruins-c/172258212/ The Daily Herald UW kicking game ruins Conklin's debut November 8, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com November 14 2:30 p.m. l y USC Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA ESPN 10–12 51,428 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-rodriquez-field-goals-boost-s/172257524/ The State Rodriquez' field goals boost Southern Cal November 15, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com November 28 1:00 p.m. t y Arizona State Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ rivalry ABC 24–24 70,839 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-arizona-fg-at-gun-ties-stun/172259258/ Tulsa World Arizona FG at gun ties, stuns Sun Devils November 29, 1987 May 12, 2025 Newspapers.com College Football @ Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-Jun-11. Game summaries Iowa In Tomey's Arizona debut, the Wildcats hosted Iowa. Arizona's offense struggled at times, but the defense kept them in the game. They would fall a point short to the Hawkeyes.Cats come up short to Iowa, spoils Tomey’s debut Arizona Daily Star September 13, 1987 New Mexico Arizona-New Mexico football rivalry In their second game of the season, Arizona hosted New Mexico, and the Wildcats defeated the Lobos to give Tomey his first win as Arizona coach and the rivalry's trophy, the Kit Carson Rifle, remained in Tucson (the rifle would be retired after the 1997 season).‘Cats defeat Lobos, give Tomey first win Arizona Daily Star September 20, 1987Wildcats capture first win of season vs. New Mexico, keeps Kit Carson Rifle in Tucson Arizona Daily Wildcat September 21, 1987 UCLA In Arizona's Pac-10 opener, they visited UCLA, who was ranked 13th. In what was Tomey's first big test, the Wildcats hung with the Bruins before UCLA pulled away late to win. Arizona led at the half, but UCLA gained momentum in the second half that led to the Wildcats’ defeat.Wildcats fight hard, fall to Bruins Arizona Daily Wildcat September 28, 1987 California In Berkeley, the visiting Wildcats took on California. Both Arizona and the Golden Bears tied each other in the end, giving Tomey his first tie as Arizona coach.Cal 23, Arizona 23: Golden Bears tie up Wildcats San Francisco Chronicle October 11, 1987 Washington On homecoming day, Arizona faced Washington and was still looking for their first win over the Huskies. Both teams would play even, and the game ultimately ended in a draw.Arizona, Washington play to tie Tucson Citizen November 9, 1987 USC On the road at USC, Tomey faced his predecessor Larry Smith, and came up short to the Trojans. It was the first time in Wildcats history that a head coach faced an opponent coached by his predecessor in his first season.USC edges Arizona led by Smith’s successor Los Angeles Times November 15, 1987‘Cats come up short against ex-UA coach Smith’s Trojans Arizona Daily Star November 15, 1987 USC would ultimately go on to clinch a spot in the Rose Bowl near the end of the season. Arizona State Arizona-Arizona State football rivalry In Tempe for the rivalry game, Arizona and Arizona State battled back and forth all game long. In the final minute of the fourth quarter, ASU led 24-21 and appeared on its way to ending the Wildcats’ five-game winning streak in the rivalry when they fumbled on a punt attempt and Arizona recovered the ball in the red zone. The Wildcats would convert on a field goal as time expired to settle for a tie. It would be the rivalry's first and only tie in history (the 1979 meeting nearly ended in a tie, but was thwarted by an ASU penalty on the final play and led to a winning Arizona field goal).Tied! UA capitalizes on late ASU blunder, ties Devils on last-second FG Arizona Daily Star November 29, 1987ASU makes mistake in final minute, settles for tie against Wildcats The Arizona Republic November 29, 1987Sun Devils’ botched punt saves Wildcats, FG on final play forces tie Arizona Daily Wildcat November 30, 1987 Awards and honors Chuck Cecil, S, Pac-10 defensive player of the year, Consensus All-American, First-team all-Pac-10 Dana Wells, DL, Pac-10 Morris Trophy winner (defense) Season notes Without the guidance of Smith, Arizona's win percentage dropped in Tomey's first year, though the program was in a rebuilding process. Tomey would bring back a winning resurgence that Smith built beginning in 1988. The Wildcats played Iowa this season and had a new coach. They had also played Iowa in Smith's first year in 1980. Unlike Smith, who defeated the Hawkeyes, Tomey lost to them. Tomey got his first Pac-10 win against Oregon State and his first road win against Stanford. Arizona finished the season with three ties, which was the first season in which Arizona had more than one tie in its record. They were one of only two Pac-10 teams that had at least two ties in the season, with California being the other. When Arizona played USC, the game was referred to the “Smith Bowl” due to Smith being the coach at both schools and was previously Arizona coach before taking the USC job in this season.‘Smith Bowl’? Cats facing ex-coach, USC on Saturday Arizona Daily Star November 12, 1987 After this season, Tomey and Smith would face each other five more times, with USC winning three of them before Smith was fired in 1992. Despite tying Arizona State, the Wildcats were still dominant over the Sun Devils at the time and would finish the rest of the 1980s without losing to them.Despite tie, UA’s dominance over ASU lives on Arizona Daily Star November 30, 1987 As the game against Arizona State ended in a tie, it will forever be the only tie in the rivalry as the NCAA would eliminate ties in 1996. If not for the ties and close losses, Arizona would have made a bowl appearance this season. The Wildcats only played five home games this season, which was the fewest in the Tomey era. For the second consecutive year, an Arizona player won the Pac-10 defensive player of the year award, as Chuck Cecil became the award's recipient this season. Cecil is known to many Wildcats fans for returning an interception for a touchdown against Arizona State in 1986 and picking off four passes against Stanford this year. After the season Despite finishing the 1987 season with a mediocre record, the Wildcats had a bright future under Tomey. Arizona captured winning seasons for the rest of the 1980s and dominated the early part of the 1990s with a menacing defense. Tomey would coach the Wildcats to two memorable seasons in the decade (1993 and 1998) and resigned as coach in 2000, and is the winningest coach in Wildcat football history.Tomey, Wildcats’ winningest football coach, resigns Tucson Citizen November 25, 2000 Roster 1987 Arizona Wildcats f 52 Jr Joe Tofflemire C y 6 Sr Chuck Cecil S y 98 Fr John Fina DT y 97 Sr George Hinkle DT y *Dick Tomey References Arizona Category:Arizona Wildcats football seasons Arizona Wildcats football