The 1999 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona as a member of the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1999 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by head coach Dick Tomey in his 13th season, the Wildcats finished with a 6–6 record (3–5 against Pac-10 opponents) and missed out on a bowl game.
After entering the year with high expectations after a dominant 1998 season, the Wildcats were outplayed and blown out by Penn State in the opener and never fully recovered. They were 5–2 and 6–3 at different points during the year, but would lose out, including a rivalry loss to Arizona State to end the season, which knocked them out of the postseason picture.
Schedule
Rankings
Before the season Arizona completed the 1998 season with a 12–1 record and defeated Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. Many fans have rated the season as the best in school history.
The team entered the 1999 season with many of their offensive starters returning and hoped to improve from the previous season and contend for the Pac-10 title and a chance to finally earn a spot for the Rose Bowl that has eluded them during the decade, as well as being contenders for a potential national championship.
Tomey brought in a top recruiting class to the program in an effort to help the team move one step closer to achieving its goals. By the preseason, the Wildcats were ranked third in the polls, which was the highest in team history to start a season.
Game summaries at No. 4 Penn State
Statistics ARIZPSU First downs 1619 Total yards 356504 Rushing yards 36–12444–262 Passing yards 232242 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–35–011–18–1 Time of possession 33:2426:36 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Keith Smith17/21, 128 yards Rushing Leo Mills9 carries, 54 yards, TD Receiving Dennis Northcutt8 receptions, 86 yardsPenn State Passing Kevin Thompson5/8, 135 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Chafie Fields3 carries, 110 yards, TD Receiving Chafie Fields3 receptions, 76 yards, TD
Arizona began the season with a trip to Penn State. It was the first ever meeting between the Wildcats and Nittany Lions. Due to the highly anticipated matchup between the top-5 teams (Arizona ranked third and Penn State fourth), ESPN's College GameDay came to State College the morning of the game. It was the first time that GameDay involved an Arizona game.
In the game, in front of a national television audience (broadcast on ABC), the Wildcats watched as they would be dominated by the Lions in all phases. The only bright spot for Arizona was a touchdown scored in the game's final minute that prevented a shutout. The blowout loss ended Arizona's chances for a national title and dropped out of the top ten polls.
After the game, Tomey said that the team was largely affected by the loud atmosphere at Penn State, turnovers, and poor coaching decisions. He also said that it was difficult to beat a team with a legendary coach and that the result would be different had the Wildcats played the Lions at home instead.
at TCU
Statistics ARIZTCU First downs 1716 Total yards 33757 Rushing yards 37–1447–224 Passing yards 232242 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–25–113–21–0 Time of possession 29:3630:24 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Keith Smith12/16, 174 yards, 2 TD Rushing Trung Canidate14 carries, 56 yards Receiving Dennis Northcutt10 receptions, 257 yards, 3 TDTCU Passing Pat Batteaux12/20, 50 yards, TD Rushing LaDainian Tomlinson28 carries, 170 yards, TD Receiving Terran Williams2 receptions, 13 yards
After being destroyed at Penn State, the Wildcats stayed on the road for their next game at TCU in another first-meeting matchup. In the first half, the story was the same for Arizona, as the Horned Frogs would lead 25-7 at halftime. By the second half, Arizona began coming back with touchdowns and took the lead late in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats would stop TCU on their final drive to complete the comeback victory, which may have saved the season for Arizona.
vs Middle Tennessee
Statistics MTSU ARIZ First downs 2119 Total yards 304400 Rushing yards 23–1288–265 Passing yards 176135 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 26–37–017–24–0 Time of possession 26:5633:04 Team Category Player StatisticsMiddle Tennessee Passing Wes Counts26/37, 176 yards, TD Rushing Jamison Palmer10 carries, 72 yards, TD Receiving Tyrone Calico9 receptions, 79 yardsArizona Passing Ortege Jenkins16/23, 118 yards, TD Rushing Trung Canidate16 carries, 102 yards Receiving Dennis Northcutt5 receptions, 40 yards
vs Stanford
Statistics STAN ARIZ First downs 2118 Total yards 578428 Rushing yards 39–21436–113 Passing yards 364315 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–35–020–36–3 Time of possession 28:5231:08 Team Category Player StatisticsStanford Passing Todd Husak21/35, 364 yards, TD Rushing Kerry Carter20 carries, 79 yards, 3 TD Receiving Troy Walters8 receptions, 168 yardsArizona Passing Ortege Jenkins15/23, 200 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Trung Canidate14 carries, 123 yards Receiving Dennis Northcutt8 receptions, 139 yards, 2 TD
After Arizona defeated Middle Tennessee in their home opener in yet another first-meeting game, they hosted Stanford. The Wildcats would score first, but would make mistakes that led to the Cardinal pulling away by halftime. Arizona made a comeback in the third quarter to cut into Stanford's lead. However, in the fourth quarter, the Cardinal broke the game open to give the Wildcats their second loss of the season and jeopardizing their Rose Bowl hopes. Also, it was Arizona's first loss to Stanford since 1990, snapping a six-game winning streak. Stanford would ultimately go on to appear in the Rose Bowl.
at Washington State
Statistics ARIZWSU First downs 2513 Total yards 500318 Rushing yards 60–24930–153 Passing yards 251165 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–33–015–24–0 Time of possession 38:2621:34 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Keith Smith12/25, 190 yards, TD Rushing Trung Canidate34 carries, 158 yards, 3 TD Receiving Dennis Northcutt5 receptions, 107 yardsWashington State Passing Steve Birnbaum12/19, 112 yards, TD Rushing Deon Burnett13 carries, 96 yards, 2 TD Receiving Leaf Hackett7 receptions, 97 yards
The Wildcats traveled to Washington State looking to get back into the win column. In a back and forth battle with the Cougars, the Wildcats drove to midfield in the final seconds. Quarterback Keith Smith threw a Hail Mary pass that was caught in the end zone by receiver Bobby Wade as time expired to give Arizona the wild victory. The winning play was known to fans as the "Hail Bobby".
vs No. 22 USC
Statistics USC ARIZ First downs 1723 Total yards 271550 Rushing yards 29– -2052–307 Passing yards 291243 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–41–115–24–0 Time of possession 24:3035:30 Team Category Player StatisticsUSC Passing Mike Van Raaphorst23/41, 291 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Chad Morton14 carries, 28 yards Receiving Windrell Hayes9 receptions, 115 yards, TDArizona Passing Keith Smith15/23, 243 yards, TD Rushing Trung Canidate31 carries, 194 yards, TD Receiving Dennis Northcutt8 receptions, 121 yards, TD
Arizona hosted USC (ranked 22nd) in their next game. With Trung Canidate and Dennis Northcutt leading the way, the Wildcats took control of the game and seemed to seal it on a fumble return for a touchdown. However, the Trojans scored in the final minute to cut Arizona's lead to seven, but an onside kick attempt would go out of bounds, and the Wildcats held on for the win. This would be Arizona's last home win over the Trojans until 2012.
vs UTEP
Statistics UTEP ARIZ First downs 1921 Total yards 381553 Rushing yards 32–11552–396 Passing yards 266157 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–30–111–19–1 Time of possession 26:5533:05 Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Rocky Perez17/23, 233 yards, 2 TD Rushing Paul Smith20 carries, 63 yards Receiving Lee Mays9 receptions, 127 yards, 2 TDArizona Passing Ortege Jenkins10/17, 113 yards, TD, INT Rushing Trung Canidate27 carries, 202 yards, TD Receiving Dennis Northcutt4 receptions, 76 yards
vs Oregon
Statistics ORE ARIZ First downs 2619 Total yards 435552 Rushing yards 53–22334–328 Passing yards 239270 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–35–217–35–1 Time of possession 34:3425:26 Team Category Player StatisticsOregon Passing Joey Harrington6/11, 144 yards, TD, INT Rushing Reuben Droughns45 carries, 202 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tony Hartley6 receptions, 135 yards, TDArizona Passing Keith Smith14/28, 225 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Trung Canidate20 carries, 104 yards, TD Receiving Dennis Northcutt9 receptions, 140 yards, TD
The Wildcats would welcome Oregon for another big test. Arizona would compete with the Ducks all game long, with both teams trading scores, with Northcutt keeping the Wildcats in it with a pair of touchdowns. Oregon took the lead with over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter and the Wildcats had one final chance. Arizona would get into Oregon territory and ultimately miss a potential tying field goal to lose. The loss would end all chances that Arizona had to earn a Pac-10 title and Rose Bowl bid.
The Wildcats' kicker, Mark McDonald, who missed the field goal, received insults and death threats by fans, and would ultimately leave the team. He had been 1 for 10 in field goal tries, with his only make in the win over USC (McDonald had winning kicks against San Diego State and California in 1997 and was part of the Wildcats' memorable 1998 team).
at UCLA
Statistics ARIZUCLA First downs 2517 Total yards 588234 Rushing yards 49–30730– -31 Passing yards 281265 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–31–216–39–0 Time of possession 31:3928:21 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Keith Smith17/29, 281 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Trung Canidate25 carries, 148 yards, 2 TD Receiving Dennis Northcutt7 receptions, 121 yardsUCLA Passing Cory Paus13/27, 230 yards, TD Rushing Keith Brown8 carries, 20 yards Receiving Freddie Mitchell4 receptions, 42 yards
Arizona went to the Rose Bowl to face UCLA, who dealt the Wildcats their only loss in the previous season that prevented them from playing the actual Rose Bowl game. The Wildcats had a new kicker, Sean Keel, who was the backup to McDonald. Keel became the full-time kicker after McDonald decided to leave the program after missing a late game-tying field goal in the loss to Oregon and being threatened by fans. Keel would eventually be the Wildcats' primary kicker for the rest of his career.
The Wildcats would give up an early score before bouncing back with Keel making his first field goal and Canidate rushed for two touchdowns. Northcutt led the receiving corps and Arizona avenged their loss to the Bruins from the 1997-98 seasons and gave them their sixth win of the year. It was the Wildcats' first win in Pasadena since 1990 and their first sweep of the Los Angeles teams since the same year.
vs Washington
Statistics WASH ARIZ First downs 2217 Total yards 350417 Rushing yards 46–14227–137 Passing yards 208280 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–28–017–32–3 Time of possession 34:4825:12 Team Category Player StatisticsWashington Passing Marques Tuiasosopo16/28, 208 yards, 2 TD Rushing Maurice Shaw29 carries, 75 yards Receiving Gerald Harris5 receptions, 92 yards, TDArizona Passing Ortege Jenkins12/18, 198 yards, TD, INT Rushing Trung Canidate11 carries, 105 yards, TD Receiving Dennis Northcutt8 receptions, 112 yards
On homecoming day (and the home finale), the Wildcats hosted Washington, looking for a chance to clinch a bowl berth with a seventh victory. Unfortunately, mistakes would cost the Wildcats which would lead to points by the Huskies. Arizona tried to come back late, but would fall short as the Huskies got revenge on Ortege Jenkins and the Wildcats (who beat Washington the previous year on Jenkins' somersault touchdown) and officially ended Arizona's Rose Bowl hopes for good.
at Oregon State