The 2002 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona during the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. They were coached by John Mackovic in his second season with the Wildcats. Arizona ended the season with a record of 4–8 (1–7 against Pac-10 opponents) and finished tied for last place in the Pac-10 standings.
After starting the season 3–1, the Wildcats would continue to struggle in conference play, winning only a single game at California. Late in the season, Mackovic would become embroiled in controversy as a result of mistreatment of players. The team would not recover and ended the year with another losing record.
Schedule
Before the season Arizona completed the 2001 season in Mackovic’s first year with the program with a 5–6 record and a victory over rival Arizona State. The team would rebuild during the offseason and hoped to improve on their record for 2002. With receiver Bobby Wade and linebacker Lance Briggs returning for their final season for one last crack at a bowl game appearance, the Wildcats looked to contend for a winning season and fulfill Mackovic’s promise of reaching the Rose Bowl.
Game summaries vs Northern Arizona
Statistics NAU ARIZ First downs 925 Total yards 202510 Rushing yards 28–11541–103 Passing yards 87407 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–25–123–41–0 Time of possession 25:5334:07 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Arizona Passing Clint Womack11/25, 87 yards, INT Rushing Brian Bingham7 carries, 73 yards Receiving Raufeem Jackson1 reception, 32 yardsArizona Passing Jason Johnson20/36, 381 yards, 3 TD Rushing Mike Bell13 carries, 59 yards Receiving Bobby Wade8 receptions, 133 yards, 2 TD
The Wildcats began the season by hosting in-state foe Northern Arizona from Flagstaff. It was the first meeting between the two since 1945. The Wildcats would dominate the Lumberjacks from the start for an easy win.
vs Utah
Statistics UTAH ARIZ First downs 1123 Total yards 204459 Rushing yards 22–3244–43 Passing yards 172416 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–38–024–35–1 Time of possession 23:2836:32 Team Category Player StatisticsUtah Passing Lance Rice18/38, 172 yards, 2 TD Rushing J.R. Peroulis9 carries, 18 yards Receiving Devin Houston4 receptions, 62 yardsArizona Passing Jason Johnson24/35, 416 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Clarence Farmer33 carries, 79 yards Receiving Bobby Wade40 receptions, 175 yards, TD
In their next game against Utah, Arizona started off hot with a Wade touchdown catch. The Wildcats would add to their lead with a pair of field goals before halftime. In the second half, Arizona increased their lead after a Briggs forced fumble which turned into another field goal.
By the fourth quarter, the Utes would rally to cut the Arizona lead to a single score. In the final minute, they threatened to possibly win it by entering Wildcat territory. They would be denied a touchdown when a Utah receiver stepped out of bounds after a catch, though replays showed that he may have had a foot in bounds, which became controversial among Utah fans. A few plays later, the Wildcats would stop the Utes short of the goal line on fourth down, and Arizona survived move to 2–0 for the second consecutive season under Mackovic. Arizona’s defense shut down Utah’s rushing offense (which was ranked second at the time), limiting them to only 36 yards.
at No. 22 Wisconsin
Statistics ARIZWIS First downs 1321 Total yards 292425 Rushing yards 30–15447–260 Passing yards 138165 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–32–215–22–0 Time of possession 26:0633:54 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Jason Johnson13/27, 129 yards, INT Rushing Clarence Farmer20 carries, 136 yards, TD Receiving Bobby Wade7 receptions, 85 yardsWisconsin Passing Brooks Bollinger13/19, 127 yards, TD Rushing Anthony Davis16 carries, 110 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jonathan Orr7 receptions, 90 yards, TD
Arizona traveled to Wisconsin to play the #22 Badgers in the first ever meeting between the two teams. After a scoreless first quarter, Wisconsin broke it open with 24 points, drawing comparisons to Arizona’s embarrassing loss to Penn State in 1999. The Wildcats would play better in the second half, but the big halftime deficit would be too much for them to overcome and lost for the first time in the season. Arizona’s dominant offense fell silent against the Badgers and Mackovic lost his first non-conference game as Wildcat coach.
vs North Texas
Statistics UNT ARIZ First downs 2120 Total yards 431310 Rushing yards 60–28235–121 Passing yards 431310 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–18–116–27–0 Time of possession 31:2128:39 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Texas Passing Andrew Smith12/18, 149 yards, INT Rushing Kevin Galbreath22 carries, 104 yards Receiving George Marshall6 receptions, 82 yardsArizona Passing Jason Johnson16/27, 189 yards Rushing Clarence Farmer15 carries, 70 yards Receiving Bobby Wade4 receptions, 37 yards
vs No. 8 Oregon
Statistics ORE ARIZ First downs 2116 Total yards 432332 Rushing yards 43–18827–30 Passing yards 244302 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–27–023–41–1 Time of possession 30:4029:20 Team Category Player StatisticsOregon Passing Jason Fife18/26, 244 yards, 2 TD Rushing Onterrio Smith28 carries, 145 yards, 2 TD Receiving Keenan Howry2 receptions, 49 yards, TDArizona Passing Jason Johnson23/41, 302 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Mike Bell21 carries, 54 yards Receiving Bobby Wade12 receptions, 151 yards, TD
After a close win over North Texas (which featured Arizona’s blocked field goal return for a touchdown before halftime), the Wildcats hosted Oregon yet again. Arizona looked great early, leading 14-7 after the opening quarter. However, the eighth-ranked Ducks would take control of the game and shut out the Wildcats the rest of the way. Despite the loss, Wade had a career-high 12 receptions, including a touchdown.
at No. 22 Washington
Statistics ARIZWASH First downs 2624 Total yards 467427 Rushing yards 29–2438–96 Passing yards 443345 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 29–41–125–35–0 Time of possession 26:5733:02 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Jason Johnson29/41, 443 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Mike Bell19 carries, 54 yards Receiving Bobby Wade10 receptions, 155 yards, 2 TDWashington Passing Cody Pickett25/35, 345 yards, 3 TD Rushing Rich Alexis23 carries, 56 yards, TD Receiving Reggie Williams8 receptions, 184 yards, 3 TD
The Wildcats visited Washington for the third straight season. Arizona would lead in the fourth quarter, only to see the #22 Huskies come back with a long touchdown catch and run past their secondary and gave the Wildcats another stunning loss for the third year in a row.
at Stanford
Statistics ARIZSTAN First downs 1424 Total yards 266372 Rushing yards 23–2249–175 Passing yards 244197 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–31–321–37–1 Time of possession 23:1836:42 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Jason Johnson19/30, 244 yards, 3 INT Rushing Beau Carr9 carries, 44 yards Receiving Bobby Wade8 receptions, 121 yardsStanford Passing Chris Lewis14/27, 126 yards, TD Rushing Kerry Carter27 carries, 98 yards Receiving Alex Smith8 receptions, 120 yards, TD
vs No. 9 Washington State
Statistics WSU ARIZ First downs 2414 Total yards 424207 Rushing yards 46–14921– -17 Passing yards 275224 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–35–022–46–2 Time of possession 32:5327:07 Team Category Player StatisticsWashington State Passing Jason Gesser20/35, 275 yards, TD Rushing Jermaine Green29 carries, 119 yards, TD Receiving Troy Bienemann3 receptions, 66 yardsArizona Passing Jason Johnson22/46, 224 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Mike Bell7 carries, 25 yards Receiving Andrae Thurman7 receptions, 89 yards
Arizona returned home and played against ninth-ranked Washington State, who ironically, was the team that the Wildcats beat for their last Pac-10 home win in 2000 (when they still had Dick Tomey as coach before hiring Mackovic). The defense, led by Briggs, would keep the Wildcats in it, but the offense sputtered, mostly due to being blitzed by the Cougars. Arizona would make crucial mistakes in the final quarter after having chances to come back, and would lead to another loss.
at Oregon State
Statistics ARIZOSU First downs 1220 Total yards 93457 Rushing yards 25– -2348–193 Passing yards 116264 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–33–014–31–0 Time of possession 28:1531:45 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Jason Johnson14/28, 105 yards Rushing Beau Carr11 carries, 36 yards Receiving Andrae Thurman5 receptions, 45 yardsOregon State Passing Derek Anderson12/28, 239 yards, TD Rushing Steven Jackson27 carries, 134 yards, 2 TD Receiving James Newson6 receptions, 121 yards, TD
vs UCLA
Statistics UCLA ARIZ First downs 219 Total yards 443249 Rushing yards 51–24228–12 Passing yards 201237 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–20–013–27–0 Time of possession 33:3426:26 Team Category Player StatisticsUCLA Passing Drew Olson7/12, 111 yards, TD Rushing Tyler Ebell22 carries, 124 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tab Perry3 receptions, 89 yardsArizona Passing Jason Johnson11/23, 133 yards Rushing Gainus Scott8 carries, 32 yards Receiving Andrae Thurman5 receptions, 118 yards, TD
On homecoming day, the Wildcats hosted UCLA. Arizona’s offense continued to struggle, and only scored on a long catch and run for a touchdown that would prevent a shutout. The defense was hurt by penalties and poor tackling, leading to the Bruins scoring over 30 points. The Wildcats would go on to drop their sixth consecutive loss of the year.
Mackovic controversy Controversy erupted days after the loss, when Mackovic told one of his players that his poor blocking during the game made him a “disgrace to his family”, which hurt his feelings, as well as his teammates. Led by Briggs, the players reported the incident to both the Arizona president and athletic director, and discussed about a series of abuses by Mackovic, including one where Mackovic made a meltdown to the team after the loss to Wisconsin earlier in the season. The news made headlines around the Arizona campus as well as Tucson. In a press conference, Mackovic issued an apology to the program and the community and promised to treat respect to the team. Despite fans calling for his firing for both his behavior and the team’s losses, Mackovic would remain the coach through the end of the season.
at California
Statistics ARIZCAL First downs 2320 Total yards 487356 Rushing yards 32– -527–58 Passing yards 492298 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 31–45–122–45–2 Time of possession 32:3930:33 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Jason Johnson31/45, 492 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Gilbert Harris27 carries, 165 yards Receiving Bobby Wade11 receptions, 222 yards, TDCalifornia Passing Kyle Boller22/45, 298 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Joe Igber19 carries, 90 yards, TD Receiving Tom Swoboda7 receptions, 83 yards, TD
After moving on from the Mackovic fiasco, Arizona visited California, looking to break their losing streak. The Wildcats would dominate on offense, throwing for nearly 500 yards. Wade had over 200 yards receiving and tight end Justin Levasseur, who was the player that Mackovic mistreated which started the controversy, caught a touchdown pass to give Arizona the lead for good. The Wildcats’ defense would play poor, but their offensive performance was just enough for them to get past the Golden Bears to end their slump for their first Pac-10 win in a high-scoring match. It was the second consecutive year that Mackovic won his first conference game at California.
vs Arizona State
Statistics ASU ARIZ First downs 2720 Total yards 461331 Rushing yards 49–16625–62 Passing yards 295269 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–35–217–31–3 Time of possession 36:0024:00 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona State Passing Andrew Walter25/35, 295 yards, 2 INT Rushing Mike Williams40 carries, 162 yards, 4 TD Receiving Mike Pinkard6 receptions, 80 yardsArizona Passing Jason Johnson17/31, 269 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Mike Bell12 carries, 70 yards Receiving Bobby Wade6 receptions, 109 yards