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The 1990 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the

Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season.In their

fourth season under head coach Dick Tomey, the Wildcats compiled a 7–5 record (5–4

against Pac-10 opponents), finished in fifth place in the Pac-10, were shut out in the 1990

Aloha Bowl by Syracuse, and were outscored by their opponents, 311 to 267.The team

played its home games in Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona.The team's statistical leaders

included George Malauulu with 726 passing yards, Art Greathouse with 482 rushing yards,

and Terry Vaughn with 431 receiving yards.Safety Jeff Hammerschmidt led the team with

78 tackles.Cornerback Darryll Lewis intercepted seven passes and returned two of them for

touchdowns.Arizona played all nine other Pac-10 schools in the season for the first time

since they joined the conference in 1978.This feat would not be accomplished again until

2006.Also, the Wildcats only had four passing touchdowns all season, as most of their

offensive touchdowns were on rushing plays (the team's offensive scheme at the time was a

wishbone offense, which was mostly an option attack).== Before the season ==

Arizona concluded the 1989 season with a 8–4 record and a victory over NC State in the

Copper Bowl that was held at their home field.The season ended a decade of resurgence for

the football program and entered 1990 with hopes of continuing its winning ways.The

Wildcats were ranked 23rd at the start of the preseason.Beginning this season, the Wildcats’

helmets featured the school's “Block ‘A’” logo, which is still in use as of today.The logo

resembled Arizona’s growing stance as a university, and the previous logo, a red “A”,
continued to be seen on the top of Arizona Stadium scoreboard until the end of the 1992

season.== Schedule ==

== Game summaries ==

=== Illinois ===

Arizona began the new decade at home with a showdown against 11th-ranked Illinois.The

defense held the Illini in check to earn a big victory.=== New Mexico ===

Arizona traveled to Albuquerque and to visit old rival New Mexico.The Wildcats would

outplay the Lobos yet again with a big second half to earn the victory.This was the final time

that the Kit Carson Rifle was awarded, as it been theorized that using a rifle as a rivalry

trophy advocates violence at that the rifle itself may have used to target Native

Americans.As a result, the rifle was retired when the Wildcats and Lobos next met in the

Insight Bowl in 1997.The rifle currently resides in Tucson at Arizona's football facilities.A

small wooden replica of the rifle is on display at New Mexico's campus in Albuquerque.===

Oregon ===

The Wildcats faced Oregon at home in their Pac-10 opener.Arizona's defense stymied the

Ducks’ offense for most of the game.Wildcat cornerback Darryll Lewis had a pair of

interceptions, with one returned for a touchdown.Oregon had a chance to win on the game's

final play, but the Wildcats stopped them at the goal line to hold on for the victory.=== UCLA

===

Against UCLA at the Rose Bowl, both the Wildcats and Bruins went in a back and forth battle
before Lewis intercepted a UCLA pass and returned it for yet another touchdown to give

Arizona the lead late in the fourth quarter.UCLA missed a chance for a tie or win after

appearing to score a touchdown as time expired, but was penalized due to their quarterback

crossing the line of scrimmage while he threw the ball toward the end zone, and the

Wildcats escaped with the win.=== Oregon State ===

After narrowly edging UCLA, Arizona stayed on the road and went to Corvallis to face

Oregon State.The Beavers, who were winless entering the game, pulled of an unlikely upset

of the Wildcats.The loss to the Beavers turned out to be Oregon State's only win of the

season.=== USC ===

The Wildcats returned to southern California and took on 15th-ranked USC, who was led by

former Arizona coach Larry Smith, who Tomey succeeded as Arizona coach in 1987.Both

teams would battle back and forth early on in the game.Later, a memorable moment

occurred when Arizona used a trick play on offense and nearly scored a touchdown on it

(the play, known as a “Fumblerooski”, was later outlawed by the NCAA in

1993).Nevertheless, the Wildcats put up enough points on the board to hold off the Trojans

on its way to an upset win and Tomey finally defeated Smith in his fourth try.This was the

first time that Tomey defeated his predecessor and was also only Arizona's second ever win

over USC and first since 1981 (when, coincidentally, Smith was the Arizona coach).It was

also the first time in program history that Arizona defeated USC and UCLA in the same

season (both occurring on the road).=== Washington ===

On the road in Seattle, Arizona visited seventh-ranked Washington.The Wildcats did not

have a chance against the Huskies’ dominant offense, and gave up over 50 points in an ugly

defeat.Washington went on to ultimately win both the Pac-10 title and Rose Bowl.===

Arizona State ===

their reign of dominance in the rivalry.Early in the game, the Sun Devils attempted a punt in

which the ball sailed over the punter's head and Arizona recovered it in the end zone for a

touchdown.ASU recovered afterwards and led 17–14 after three quarters.