1979 Arizona Wildcats football team

The 1979 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third and final season under head coach Tony Mason, the Wildcats compiled a 6–5–1 record (4–3 in Pac-10, third), lost to Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl,[2] and outscored their opponents, 244 to 243.[3][4] The team played its home games on campus at Arizona Stadium in Tucson.

1979 Arizona Wildcats football
Fiesta Bowl, L 10–16 vs. Pittsburgh
ConferencePacific-10 Conference
1979 record6–5–1 (4–3 Pac-10)
Head coach
Home stadiumArizona Stadium
1979 Pacific-10 Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 2 USC $ 6 –0 –1  11 –0 –1
No. 11 Washington 5 –2 –0  9 –3 –0
Arizona 4 –3 –0  6 –5 –1
Oregon 4 –3 –0  6 –5 –0
California 5 –4 –0  6 –6 –0
Stanford 3 –3 –1  5 –5 –1
Arizona State † 3 –4 –0  6 –6 –0
UCLA 3 –4 –0  5 –6 –0
Washington State 2 –6 –0  3 –8 –0
Oregon State 1 –7 –0  1 –10 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • † – Arizona State later forfeited 5 wins (3 in conference) due to NCAA sanctions[1]
Rankings from AP Poll

Arizona's statistical leaders included Jim Krohn with 1,094 passing yards, Hubert Oliver with 1,021 rushing yards, and Tim Holmes with 319 receiving yards.[5] Linebacker Sam Giangardella led the team with 112 total tackles.[6]

Mason was dismissed in April 1980 in the wake of an alleged corruption scandal involving the program.[7][8][9]

Personnel
1979 Arizona Wildcats football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB 5 Jim Krohn (C) Sr
  Hubert Oliver
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K Brett Weber
K Bill Zivic
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Game summaries

at Arizona State

Brett Weber kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired to give the Wildcats their first win in Tempe since 1961.[10] Weber’s kick was known to Wildcat fans as “The Kick”.[11]

vs. Pittsburgh (Fiesta Bowl)
See also: 1979 Fiesta Bowl

In their first bowl game since 1968, Arizona attempted a late rally against Pittsburgh, but ultimately came up short.[12] The Wildcats would not return to the Fiesta Bowl again until 1994.

Season notes
  • This season included Mason’s only win against ASU and his only bowl appearance as Arizona coach.
  • Arizona’s win over Arizona State was the second and final win against the Sun Devils during the 1970s.
  • After losing the Fiesta Bowl, the Wildcats would finally win their first bowl in 1986.

References
  1. "2017 Media Guide" (PDF). thesundevils.com. ASU Athletics. p. 127. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  2. "'Cats come up short in Fiesta Bowl". Arizona Daily Star. December 26, 1979.
  3. "1979 Arizona Wildcats Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  4. "Arizona Football 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). University of Arizona. 2016. p. 107. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  5. "1979 Arizona Wildcats Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  6. 2016 Media Guide, p. 86.
  7. "Grid coach at Arizona forced out". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire service reports. April 7, 1980. p. 1C.
  8. "Mason resigns from Arizona post". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. April 8, 1980. p. 19.
  9. "Mason out as UA football coach in wake of alleged fraud scandal". Arizona Daily Star. April 15, 1980.
  10. "Last second FG lifts 'Cats over ASU". Arizona Daily Star. November 25, 1979.
  11. "The Kick: Wildcats sink Sun Devils with field goal on final play". Arizona Daily Wildcat. November 26, 1979.
  12. "No Fiesta for Wildcats in bowl loss to Pittsburgh". Arizona Daily Wildcat. January 14, 1980.
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