Postseason Bowl Games are one of the determining factors of a team’s success during a season. Arizona Football has played in one during 5 of the last seven years, and they hope to add another this season. Let’s take a look at the past 5 Bowl Games.
Despite a lackluster 47-43 overall record for since the 2010 season, the last full season that former coach Mike Stoops would man the sideline. The Arizona football team has enjoyed many bowl games over the past few years. They have experienced all the highs, and the lows, that any program undergoing some major change expects to go through.
When Mike Stoops was fired six games into the 2011 season, Tim Kish took over. Kish was the Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers coach. Safe to say, he didn’t provide much inspiration.
Arizona Wildcats Football
After the season, Rich Rodriguez was hired as the newest head football coach. In 6 years as the coach of the Wildcats, Rich Rod led the team to 10 wins in the 2014 season; the most wins the team had gotten since the 1998 season.
The Wildcats finished that season with a 12-1 record. In 2016, Rich Rod & Co finished with an extremely disappointing 3-9 record. Despite this awful season in the books, things are starting to look up for the Arizona Wildcats.
The Pac 12 will be much better this year, with preseason Heisman contenders leading teams, Josh Rosen (UCLA) Sam Darnold (USC). Arizona will still hope to finish the season with at least six wins to get an invitation to a bowl game. With that being said, let’s take a look at the previous five bowl games that the Arizona football team has been apart of.
2010 ALAMO BOWL
Game: Oklahoma State vs. Arizona
Result: OSU 36 – Arizona 10
Notable Players: Dan Bailey (OSU), Brandon Weeden (OSU), Nick Foles (UA), Justin Blackmon (OSU), Ricky Elmore (UA)
After finishing the season with a 7-6 record, the Arizona football team was invited to play in the 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl against the 10-2 Oklahoma State team. In a game that was expected to be one of the highest scoring bowl games of the season, it wound up being somewhat of a letdown. Oklahoma State did most of the scoring. The game did not feature much rushing, only 171 yards combined between the two teams.
Of course, the game featuring two future NFL starting QB’s had something to do with the nonexistent ground game. Brandon Weeden and Nick Foles each threw for over 200 yards, 240 and 280 respectively. Foles may have had more yards, but he also had three Interceptions to none for Weeden.
The Cowboys had All American Justin Blackmon making outstanding catches all game long, finishing the game with nine catches for 117 yards.
Brandon Weeden would win the MVP of the game award with a final line of 25-41, 2 TDs, 240 Yards.
Current NFL Players: Dan Bailey (Cowboys), Nick Foles (Eagles), Marquis Flowers (Bengals)
2012 NEW MEXICO BOWL
Game: Arizona vs. Nevada
Result: Arizona 49 – Nevada 48
Notable Players: Matt Scott (AU), Ka’Deem Carey (AU), Stephon Jefferson (Nevada)
Coming into the 2012 season, first-year coach Rich Rodriguez had the college football world buzzing about Arizona Football, something the team had not experienced in many years.
At the beginning the season Arizona stood at 3-0 with a win over then No. 18 Oklahoma State. Then in the 4th week of the season, Arizona suffered a devastating loss. Oregon demolished the Wildcats beating Arizona 59-0. The loss took the air out of Rodriguez’s program for a bit, after winning their first three games. After three consecutive losses, the team would rebound with a win against Washington, and a win against No. 10 USC the following week.
Suddenly, hope was restored.
After finishing the season at 7-5, Arizona accepted the invitation to play in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl on December 15th. Yet another Wildcat Bowl Game was expected to be a high scoring, high-intensity game. This time, unlike 2010, the hype lived up to its name. The game ended up being the 9th highest scoring bowl game, at the time of it being played.
Arizona QB Matt Scott was named the games MVP, after throwing for 369 total yards and 3 TDs. Including leading the team down the field twice in the final two minutes of the game for a miraculous comeback.
Current NFL Players: Ka’Deem Carey (Bears), Trey Griffey (Dolphins), Reggie Gilbert (Green Bay), Marquis Flowers (Bengals)
2013 ADVOCARE V100 BOWL
Game: Arizona vs. Boston College
Result: Arizona 42 – Boston College 19
Notable Players: Ka’Deem Carey (UA), Andre Williams (BC)
Coming off of the schools first bowl game win in four years, Arizona football was thought of like a sneaky team, and one of many experts chose to take the next step forward. Ka’Deem Carey was once again one of the top rushers in the entire country throughout the season, finishing with over 2,000 total yards from scrimmage and 20 touchdowns.
In a stunner, during the final home game of the season, the Wildcats beat No. 5 Oregon and Heisman Hopeful Marcus Mariota, thus ending their championship hopes. The Arizona team parlayed that victory, along with a 7-5 record to gain entry into the Advocare Bowl, to be hosted in Louisiana on New Year’s Eve.
BJ Denker was named the MVP of the game with a final line of 17-24, 275 yds, 2 TDs
Current NFL Players: Ka’Deem Carey (Bears), Reggie Gilbert (Green Bay)
2014 FIESTA BOWL
Game: Boise State vs Arizona
Result: Boise State 38 – Arizona 30
Notable Players: Jay Ajayi (Boise St), Scooby Wright (UA), Anu Solomon (UA)
Heading into the 2014 season, off of two consecutive bowl game wins. Rich Rodriguez was hoping for more from his team this time around, he got just that. Arizona captured the Pac-12 South Championship.
Starting the 2014 season on a five game win streak. That streak included a win over No. 2 ranked, and eventual national champion runner up, Oregon Ducks. can would be the second straight year that the Arizona football team had beaten Marcus Mariota and the Ducks. Quite an accomplishment. You can thank Scooby Wright III for that win!
The Wildcats would go on to finish the season 10-3, good enough to earn them an invite to the Fiesta Bowl, played on New Year’s Eve. The second straight season that the Wildcats had been good enough to play on that day.
Thomas Sperbeck and Tanner Valejjo would win Co-MVPs for the game.
Current NFL Players: Scooby Wright III (Cardinals), Jay Ajayi (Dolphins), Reggie Gilbert (Green Bay), Cayleb Jones (Vikings), Shaquille Richardson (Calgary Stampede, drafted by Steelers)
2015 FIESTA BOWL
Game: Arizona vs. New Mexico
Result: Arizona 45 – New Mexico 37
Notable Players: Anu Solomon (AU), Scooby Wright (AU),
With another top 10 recruiting class, coming off a 10-4 record, and an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl. Albeit a loss to Boise State, Arizona football was back. Or so we thought.
During the 2015 season, Arizona had a very so-so year. They won the games they were supposed to win. They lost the games they were expected to lose. Nothing jumped out. Outside of a win against No. 10 Utah, one could say it was a boring year. Major injuries to the MLB position, Scooby Wright III, then Cody Ippolito, Nick Wilson (RB), Anu Solomon (QB) and more plagued the team.
After an uninspiring 7-6 finish to the season, Arizona barely squeaked by. Receiving an invitation to play in the New Mexico Bowl, against who? New Mexico. In what was basically a home game for the Lobos, Arizona decisively won.
Behind the arm of Anu Solomon, and the hands of WR Cayleb Jones, the Wildcats would win the game by 8.
Current NFL Players: Scooby Wright (Cardinals), Reggie Gilbert (Green Bay), Cayleb Jones (Vikings)
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Fast Forward: After missing out on a bowl game last season, the Arizona football team is expecting to get back to the promised land of playing football in December, or January. Even if the team finishes 7-6 yet again, it may just be enough to make a bowl game. However, at Zona Zealots we are extremely hopeful and wishing the team has the opportunity to play in a major bowl game this time around. BEAR DOWN.
Note: If we missed an NFL Player/Wildcat please let us know