105-point swing from routing S.C. State to losing to Oregon sets Arizona record
by Javier Morales on Sep. 23, 2012, under SportsNOTE: This is an example of what Javier Morales has to offer at his Web site WildAboutAZCats.net
ARIZONA AFTER GETTING SHUTOUT IN PAC-10/PAC-12 ERA
–1991, lost to Washington 54-0, then lost to UCLA 54-14
–2003, lost to Southern Cal 45-0, then lost to ASU 28-7
–2004, lost to California 38-0, then lost to Oregon State 28-14
–2005, lost to California 28-0, then lost to Southern Cal 42-21
–2012, lost to Oregon 49-0, outcome vs. Oregon State to be determined
How will Ka’Deem Carey and Arizona hold up against Oregon State after getting shut out by Oregon? (USPresswire photo/Scott Olmos)
The fallout from Arizona’s 49-0 loss at Oregon, following a 56-0 rout of South Carolina State is of historic proportions (I burned the midnight oil researching these facts last night):
–The 105-point margin swing from one game to the next in the same season is the largest dip in Arizona history. The previous high was 104 points in 1916 when Arizona beat visiting New Mexico State 73-0 but then lost the following week at Rice 47-16. The largest margin swing in Arizona’s favor was 111 points in 1928 when the Wildcats followed a 78-7 loss at USC with a 40-0 victory over New Mexico State at home.
–Arizona must produce a significant turnaround like the 1928 team in order to beat Oregon State on Saturday at Arizona Stadium. The Wildcats, however, have not fared well historically after getting blanked, especially in the Pac-10 and Pac-12 era (1978 to present). The Wildcats are 0-4 in such scenarios (see accompanying graphic). The average score in those four games after the Wildcats were held scoreless: Opponent 38, Arizona 14. Oregon State is 2-0 and should be ranked after beating Wisconsin and UCLA. The Beavers have also won five consecutive games in Tucson.
–You have to go all the way back to 1969 to when Arizona won a game following a shutout loss. The catch to that stat is Arizona was not shut out from the start of the 1972 season until the end of the 1990 season, when the Wildcats lost 28-0 to Syracuse in the Aloha Bowl. That was a school-record span of 214 games without getting shutout. In 1969, the Wildcats followed a 23-0 loss at Syracuse — yes the UA never scored against the Orangemen in two encounters — with a 17-16 win over No. 16 Utah at Arizona Stadium.
–In 1970, Arizona was blanked by Utah 24-0 and followed that with a 23-20 loss to Air Force. Add that outcome to the Wildcats’ current four-game losing streak in the Pac-10 and Pac-12 era, that means the UA has lost five straight in this scenario over a 42-year stretch.
–Arizona’s 49-0 loss to Oregon after beating South Carolina State 56-0 was historic for another reason. Harry S. Truman was the President the last time the Wildcats shut out an opponent and were blanked the next game in the same season. That occurred in 1953 when the UA defeated visiting New Mexico 20-0 and then lost at Marquette 14-0.
–If Arizona beats Oregon State on Saturday, that would mean at least a 50-point margin swing would take place from the Oregon game. The highest victory margin swing in the Pac-10 and Pac-12 era for Arizona is 60 points in 2006. The Wildcats followed a 45-3 loss at LSU with a 28-10 win over visiting Stephen F. Austin. The highest losing margin swing in the Pac-10/Pac-12 era before the 105 points between the South Carolina State and Oregon games was 81 points in 2003 when the Wildcats followed a 42-7 season-opening win against visiting UTEP with a 59-13 loss at home against No. 13 LSU and coach Nick Saban.
Morales is an Arizona Press Club award winner
