1976 Arizona Wildcats football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1976 Arizona Wildcats football Western Athletic Conference WAC 5–6 3–4 Jim Young 4th John Mackovic 4th Arizona Stadium The 1976 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. In their fourth and final season under head coach Jim Young, the Wildcats compiled a 5–6 record (3–4 against WAC opponents), finished in a tie for fifth place in the WAC, and outscored their opponents, 283 to 273.1976 Arizona Wildcats Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football September 6, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/arizona/1976-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. Young left Arizona to become head coach at Purdue after the season concluded.Young to leave Cats for Purdue Arizona Daily Star December 1, 1976 The team's statistical leaders included Marc Lunsford with 1,284 passing yards, Derriak Anderson with 506 rushing yards, and Keith Hartwig with 1,134 receiving yards.1976 Arizona Wildcats Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football September 6, 2016 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/arizona/1976.html Linebacker Obra Erby led the team with 174 total tackles.2016 Media Guide, p. 86. Before the season Arizona finished the 1975 season with a 9–2 record and missed out on a WAC championship by narrowly losing to Arizona State in the finale. During the offseason, the Wildcats had to replace several starters from the 1975 team due to graduation. When the preseason began, Young still believed that the team would compete for the WAC title despite a rebuilding process.Wildcat football will look a lot different this fall Arizona Daily Wildcat August 27, 1976 Schedule 1976 AP y y September 11 Auburn<ncg> Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ W 31–19 52,206 https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-lunsford-guides-arizo/134268646/ The Arizona Daily Star Lunsford guides Arizona past Auburn September 12, 1976 October 29, 2023 Newspapers.com September 18 at No. 5 UCLA<ncg> Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA L 9–37 41,651 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-ucla-takes-care-of/157401311/ The Los Angeles Times UCLA takes care of the rest of Arizona September 19, 1976 October 18, 2024 Newspapers.com September 25 BYU Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ L 16–23 31,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-last-second-td-pass-b/157339587/ The Arizona Daily Star Last-second TD pass beats Wildcats, 23–16 September 26, 1976 October 17, 2024 Newspapers.com October 2 at Northwestern<ncg> Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL W 27–15 23,097 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-arizona-sub-directs/157401437/ The Courier-Journal Arizona sub directs win over Northwestern October 3, 1976 October 18, 2024 Newspapers.com October 9 UTEP Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ W 63–12 42,177 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-cats-explode-bomb/157401536/ The Arizona Republic Cats explode, bomb UTEP, 63–12 October 10, 1976 October 18, 2024 Newspapers.com October 23 at No. 8 Texas Tech<ncg> Jones Stadium Lubbock, TX L 27–52 44,890 https://www.newspapers.com/article/clovis-news-journal-texas-tech-ruins-wil/157401630/ Clovis News-Journal Texas Tech ruins Wildcats, 52–27 October 24, 1976 October 18, 2024 Newspapers.com October 30 at Utah Robert Rice Stadium Salt Lake City, UT W 38–35 18,231 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ogden-standard-examiner-arizona-edge/157400783/ The Ogden Standard-Examiner Arizona edges Utes 38–35 October 31, 1976 October 18, 2024 Newspapers.com November 6 Wyoming Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ L 24–26 52,809 Cowboys 26 Wildcats 24 Casper Star-Tribune Chuck Harkins November 7, 1976 20 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115990724/cowboys-26-wildcats-24/ Newspapers.com November 13 Colorado State Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ W 23–6 44,716 https://www.newspapers.com/article/albuquerque-journal-kickers-have-field-d/157401848/ Albuquerque Journal Kickers have field day in AU win November 14, 1976 October 18, 2024 Newspapers.com November 20 at New Mexico University Stadium Albuquerque, NM (rivalry) L 15–21 15,121 https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-cruz-sentinel-new-mexico-trips-ari/157401952/ Santa Cruz Sentinel New Mexico trips Arizona by 21–15 November 21, 1976 October 18, 2024 Newspapers.com November 27 Arizona State Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ (rivalry) L 10–27 56,800 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-mortensen-lead-asu/157395687/ The Arizona Republic Mortensen lead ASU over UA, 27–10 November 28, 1976 October 18, 2024 Newspapers.com Game summaries Auburn The Wildcats began the season with their home opener against Auburn. The game was a rematch of the 1968 Sun Bowl, a game in which Auburn won. This time, in front of their home crowd, Arizona was able to get past the Tigers for the win.Cats take down Tigers in opener Tucson Daily Citizen September 13, 1976 To date, this remains Arizona's first and only win against an SEC team. UCLA In their road opener, Arizona traveled to UCLA, who was ranked fifth at the time. The Wildcats struggled on both sides of the ball, and could only muster nine points in an ugly loss.Arizona gets mauled by UCLA Arizona Daily Star September 19, 1976 The Bruins would be a future conference opponent for the Wildcats, as Arizona (and Arizona State) would join the Pac-8 Conference (which was then called the Pac-10) two years later. UTEP Against UTEP, the Wildcats scored a season-high 63 points as the team played their best all game long.Wildcats win big over Miners, 63–12 Arizona Daily Star October 10, 1976 New Mexico Arizona traveled to Albuquerque to take on the New Mexico and was hoping to avenge their loss to the Lobos in the previous year that ended the Wildcats’ chances of an undefeated season. The Wildcats would fight hard and would ultimately come up short against the Lobos.Kit Carson Rifle remains in Albuquerque as Lobos top Wildcats again Albuquerque Journal November 21, 1976 It would be the last time that the Kit Carson Rifle trophy would reside in Albuquerque, as the Wildcats would regain it the following season and would hold possession of it until the rifle's retirement in 1997.Arizona, New Mexico to retire Kit Carson Rifle Arizona Daily Star December 20, 1997 Arizona State In the state's annual rivalry game, Arizona looked to get revenge on Arizona State after the Sun Devils defeated the Wildcats in the previous year to capture the WAC title. In this season, Arizona State (who was struggling all season long) would outplay a depleted Wildcat squad to earn yet another rivalry win and kept bragging rights for the state.Devils earn another win against Wildcats The Arizona Republic November 28, 1976 The loss ended the Wildcats’ season. Personnel 1976 Arizona Wildcats y Sr Keith Hartwig WR y Jr Tom Gallagher S Jr Lee Pistor K Jim Young After the season Days after losing the season finale to ASU, Young was hired by Purdue to become their new head coach, as Purdue was struggling to win games and Young wanting more money.Young hired by Purdue; Cats look for successor Tucson Daily Citizen December 1, 1976 It marked a return to the Big Ten for Young, as he had ties to the conference by coaching the defense at Michigan prior to being hired at Arizona in 1973. Arizona would hire Cincinnati coach Tony Mason to take over the program in 1977.Cats hire Cincinnati's Mason as football coach Arizona Daily Star December 16, 1976 Season notes Arizona's season was mostly impacted by several injuries to players, which affected the team's chances of contending for the WAC championship and led to only five wins. The 63 points scored against UTEP were the most in a game for the Wildcats under Young. The Wildcats lost to both of their rivals (Arizona State and New Mexico) for the second season in a row. This season was the last in which Arizona wore helmets with “UA” on them that looked like a snake. The Wildcats introduced red helmets with a blue “A” on them in 1977. This was Young's first and only losing season with the Wildcats. Arizona had winning records in Young's first three seasons. Had there been more bowl games back then, Arizona would have made three bowl appearances under Young. References Arizona Category:Arizona Wildcats football seasons Arizona Wildcats football