In the 50 days leading up to Arizona’s season-opener against Toledo, on Sept. 1 at Arizona Stadium, TucsonCitizen.com and its affiliate WildAboutAZCats.net will rank the Top 50 games in the history of the football program. The ranking is at No. 6 as the kickoff to the Wildcats’ season — and the start of the Rich Rodriguez era — is only six days away.
SCORE: Arizona Wildcats 28, No. 6 ASU Sun Devils 18
DATE: November 27, 1982
SITE: Arizona Stadium, 58,515 in attendance (record at the time)
WHY IT MADE THE LIST: ASU was so confident about winning this game that it showed up to Arizona Stadium with its maroon jerseys, which the Sun Devils wear in the comforts of Sun Devil Stadium. Arizona warmed up in its blue jerseys but was forced to wear its road white jerseys because of what ASU reportedly called a communication error.
Given the circumstance of ASU’s dominance in the series at that point and the Wildcats’ struggles, the Sun Devils probably felt like they could do just about anything.
The Wildcats had no business winning this game or keeping it close. They were 5-4-1 overall, coming off one of the worst losses in the program’s history — a 14-7 loss the previous week at winless Oregon in which junior quarterback Tom Tunnicliffe was intercepted five times.
ASU (9-1) needed a victory to make its first Rose Bowl despite being in the Pac-10 only five years after leaving the Western Athletic Conference with Arizona. The Sun Devils were ranked No. 6 with the nation’s top-rated defense, anchored by menacing linebacker Vernon Maxwell.
ASU was also on a 15-2 run against Arizona. In the Sun Devils’ previous game in Tucson in 1980, coach Larry Smith’s first year, they routed the Wildcats 44-7 on a blistery cold night. That was the only game Arizona All-American linebacker Ricky Hunley, out because of a broken thumb, missed in his illustrious UA career.
The late Larry Smith called Arizona’s 1982 upset over No. 6 ASU the most important win in his coaching career
“It was bad. It was really bad,” Hunley told John Moredich of the Tucson Citizen in a 2007 article. “They rubbed it in. They were beating us down. My picture was on the program, and I didn’t play. It hurt.”
Longtime Tucson Citizen sports columnist Corky Simpson recalled in an obituary written about Smith, after his passing in 2008, that Smith made a vow after that embarrassing 44-7 loss to the Sun Devils.
“He said, ‘They’re not going to beat us again,’” Simpson told ESPN.
The Sun Devils won the following season in Tempe but never beat Arizona again in five games afterward with Smith coaching the Wildcats, starting with this 28-18 upset in front of a record crowd of 58,515 at Arizona Stadium. Smith’s teams prevented ASU from smelling the roses in this game and in 1985 at Sun Devil Stadium behind the kicking of Max Zendejas, who also converted a game-winner in 1983 at ASU.
In Smith’s last win over ASU in 1986, the Wildcats routed the Rose Bowl-bound Sun Devils 34-17 at Arizona Stadium.
Smith told The Arizona Daily Star’s Greg Hansen in a 1996 column that the 1982 victory over ASU — which started “The Streak” of nine consecutive games without a loss to the Sun Devils – was his most important win as coach of the Wildcats.
“People always asked me what my greatest victory was, and after we beat Notre Dame (in ’82) I had a game ball painted with `The Greatest Win’ put on the side,” Smith told Hansen. “That was the most prestigious win we had at Arizona, but the most important win was that ’82 game against Arizona State.
“That turned the tide within the state, something that had been a negative factor in Arizona football for 20 or 30 years. And it wasn’t just a one-game thing. We were able to maintain our edge from that game and keep it. In terms of how valuable a game was, that was the one. I can still see old Brian Holland running down the field.”
With the game scoreless early in the second quarter, Holland, a junior tailback, and Tunnicliffe hooked up in one of the most memorable pass receptions in the program’s history.
Arizona tailback Brian Holland runs for a school-record 92-yard score after catching a pass from Tom Tunnicliffe in the second quarter of the UA’s 28-18 win over ASU in 1982 (Tucson Citizen photo)
Arizona faced a third-and-8 at its own 8 against ASU’s blitzing defense. UA offensive coordinator Steve Axman called for a quick drop by Tunnicliffe, with Holland going against man coverage against linebacker Mark Hicks. Tunnicliffe successfully read a safety blitz, released the ball before getting hit by two defenders, and hit Holland on stride over the middle at the 25.
Holland ran untouched to the endzone and the Wildcats led 7-0. The 92-yard touchdown pass tied the Arizona record, set in 1972 when Bill Demory connected with Charlie McKee in a 1972 game against BYU. Tunnicliffe also became the school’s career passing leader in the game. He increased his career passing yards to 5,144.
“All the things we planned worked,” Tunnicliffe is quoted as saying by Hansen. “Quick reads, quick throws. … There was no part of their defense I couldn’t figure out. I mean, I wasn’t sacked, was I?”
Smith was concerned about how those plans would work against ASU. In the week leading up to the game, Smith was discouraged by how Arizona practiced. Moreover, ASU was coming off a bye and had two weeks to prepare for the Wildcats.
“I thought we had an average week of practice, but we had a deep-seat of emotion and that was the difference,” Smith was quoted as saying by the UPI after the game. “Our whole attack was to run right at them and slow down their defense … then mix in a high percentage pass or two.”
An ASU player reacts to Arizona’s dominance in the the Wildcats’ upset victory over the Sun Devils (Tucson Citizen photo)
By the middle of the third quarter Arizona used that strategy — and shut down ASU defensively — to build a 26-0 lead against the stunned Sun Devils.
Arizona scored the first of two safeties 15 seconds into the third quarter as running back Darryl Clack was pulled down in the end zone by nose guard Joe Drake. The sizable and formidable Drake, who played at 6-2 and 300 pounds with the Wildcats, recorded another safety in the fourth quarter.
Drake, who passed away from a heart attack at 31 in 1994, had another significant tackle against ASU the following season in Tempe, stopping ASU quarterback Todd Hons one yard from the goal-line on a two-point conversion try. The play kept ASU’s lead at 15-14 and provided the opportunity for Zendejas to convert his 45-yard game-winning field goal as time expired.
In the 1982 game, Tunnicliffe frustrated ASU’s blitzing defense again and exposed its man coverage in the secondary with a 65-yard touchdown pass to Brad Anderson, who made a leaping, juggling catch before racing into the end zone. The Wildcats scored again three minutes later on a 1-yard run by Holland after the Wildcats recovered a fumble at the ASU 29.
The Sun Devils rallied to close the gap to 28-18 on two touchdown runs by Clack. The freshman tailback scored on runs of 3- and 1-yard and ASU added a field goal and a 2-point conversion, but Arizona’s lead — and its will to win — was too large to overcome.
“The U of A kicked our tails pretty good,” ASU coach Darryl Rogers was quoted as saying by the UPI after the game. “From the first half on, they did pretty much what they had to do. We did not pass protect. We did not run protect. The U of A just flat out kicked our tail and whipped us on the lines.”
ASU’s loss paved the way for UCLA to play in the Rose Bowl. The Sun Devils played Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Arizona stayed home but it cherished its third win against ASU in 18 seasons. The Wildcats did not realize it at the time but the victory also started a nine-year unbeaten run against ASU in which Arizona re-established itself in the series. The Frank Kush dominance in the series became a distant memory.
“You never forget the ASU games, never,” Hunley told Moredich in the 2007 interview. “Once we got that first one, it was big. That gives you a chance. You have to get the first one.”
THE COUNTDOWN:
No. 7 — “Leap by the Lake” most amazing individual play in UA history gives Cats win over Huskies (WildAboutAZCats.com)
No. 8 — UA loses heartbreaker to ASU wondering: “The Catch” really a catch? (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 9 — Arizona (12-1) achieves best record, highest ranking to end season with 1998 win over Nebraska (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 10 — UA wins 1926 game after McKale delivers Salmon’s “Bear Down” line (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 11 — The Desert Swarm is born in 1992 near-upset of top-ranked Miami at the Orange Bowl (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 12 — Zendejas’ 57-yard FG ties UA record, keeps ASU out of Rose Bowl again (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 13 — Arizona blows 20-point lead and shot at the Rose Bowl with 1993 collapse at California (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 14 — UA upsets No. 2 UCLA in 1980 when Bruins appeared ready to be No. 1 (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 15 — L.A. Times reporter: Arizona shows “fight of wildcats” in 1914 game vs. Occidental (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 16 — UA leads UCLA late in third quarter but loses big in 12-1 season (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 17 — Unranked Arizona upsets Ohio State, Woody Hayes in Buckeyes’ 1967 opener in Columbus (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 18 — Arizona and hasty coach Mudra lose Ultimatum Bowl to ASU in 1968 (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 19 — Arizona keeps “The Streak” without loss to ASU alive in ’87 with bizarre finish that ends in tie (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 20 — Arizona fit to be tied with Cal despite leading 26-3 in third quarter (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 21 — Zendejas’ last-second 45-yard FG vs. ASU generates momentum for “The Streak” to endure (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 22 — Arizona wins its first bowl behind “Heat-seeking Missile” Chuck Cecil (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 23 — Collapse vs. Utah after leading 27-0 in fourth quarter changed the face of UA football (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 24 — UA shuts out ASU, Kush during dominating run for Sun Devils coach (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 25 — Arizona’s defense and Doug Pfaff’s last-second FG enough to upset sixth-ranked Oklahoma (WildAboutAZCats.com)
No. 26 — UA upsets ASU from Fiesta Bowl consideration in program’s best stretch (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 27 — Trung Canidate rushes for record 288 yards and three long TDs in ’98 shootout against ASU (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 28 — UA dominates No. 3 SMU, highest ranked non-conference foe to lose to Cats (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 29 — Arizona stuns second-ranked Oregon in most significant victory in Mike Stoops era (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 30 — Arizona win on last-second FG over ASU ends Kush dominance in series (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 31 — Arizona reaches its zenith under Stoops with victory over Brigham Young in Las Vegas Bowl (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 32 — Arizona owed Cal a couple, knock Bears out of BCS title, Rose Bowl run (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 33 — Arizona’s 10-9 loss at Oregon in 1994, derailing its Rose Bowl hopes, still hurts (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 34 — ASU ripe for picking in banana uniforms for “The Streak” to reach eight (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 35 — Arizona tries risky fake PAT to beat California but loses in epic 4 overtime game (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 36 — Veal to Hill “Hail Mary” pass highlights “The Streak” reaching seven games against ASU (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 37 — USC outlasts Arizona 48-41 in one of most wild games played in Tucson (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 38 — Arizona shows signs of life under Stoops with rout over No. 7 UCLA (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 39 — Art Luppino “The Cactus Comet” rockets toward 38 yards per carry and five touchdowns (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 40 — Fumblerooski enables Arizona to sweep USC, UCLA in L.A. for first time (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 41 — Sun Devil nemesis Dan White quarterbacks Arizona into Fiesta Bowl with win over ASU (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 42 — Struggling UA gets improbable win against ’83 Pac-10 champ UCLA (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 43 — Closing chapter of “The Streak” includes Arizona’s dramatic fourth-quarter heroics (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 44 — Arizona overcomes rival Texas Tech with unfathomable late-game rally (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 45 — Dick Tomey, the Desert Fox, does a number on UCLA by changing offense in midseason (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 46 — “The Streak” reaches three games, UA achieves best Pac-10 finish (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 47 — Arizona’s first game at Arizona Stadium in 1929, a 35-0 win over Cal Tech (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 48 — Underdog Arizona’s 2011 thriller over arch-rival Arizona State (TucsonCitizen.com)
No. 49 — Arizona’s first win over arch-rival Arizona State, then known as Territorial Normal (WildAboutAZCats.net)
No. 50 — Arizona’s first win in program’s history: 22-5 over Tucson Indians (TucsonCitizen.com)
