ASU @ Arizona Saturday 11/30 1:30p

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
118,952
Reaction score
59,493
Some history on the vitriolic rivalry between ASU and Arizona by Chris Karpman:


https://x.com/ChrisKarpman
Chris Karpman
https://x.com/ChrisKarpman
@ChrisKarpman

Anyone who has experienced the Territorial Cup understands that it is especially vitriolic, but why is it that way?

In 1958, Arizona State College received its long sought-after name change to Arizona State University when Proposition 200 passed by a 2-1 margin, but not before the referendum was vigorously campaigned against by supporters of the University of Arizona, who wanted that school to remain the lone university in the state, just as it had been for 73 years.

When ASU opened Sun Devil Stadium in the fall of 1958 and the vote looming, vandals broke into the venue before the team’s first game of the year and burned “No on 200” into the grass.

It was legendary Frank Kush’s first year as ASU's head coach.

Prop 200 was passed overwhelmingly in large part to the regional visibility of head coach Dan Devine’s team the previous season, which went 10-0 and coincided with school president Dr. Grady Gammage’s public campaign to get the initiative on the state ballet the following year.

The measure was defeated in just one county, Pima, where Tucson is located. Historians say ASU and UA officials followed each other around the state waging battle for and against Prop 200, which significantly ramped up the animosity felt between the two schools.

ASU’s success in 1957 helped justify a $115,000 expenditure made late that year to purchase land north of the campus to build a stadium that would eventually replace 15,000 seat Goodwin Stadium, which was on campus.

In its final season at Goodwin Stadium before moving to the then-30,000-seat Sun Devil Stadium, the Devine-led squad not only went undefeated but also led the nation in total offense and scoring, with an average of 39.7 points per game.

ASU shut out four of the teams it faced in that campaign and held four others to seven or fewer points. Its closest margin of victory was nine points in a 35-26 win over Hardin-Simmons of Abilene, Texas. The Sun Devils finished the season ranked No. 11 nationally, inside of the Top 20 for the first time in school history.

That season and the ensuing referendum battle ushered in Kush, ASU’s most celebrated coach, a new stadium, and for many, a true hatred of their rival in Tucson.


2:42 PM · Nov 25, 2024
 

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
118,952
Reaction score
59,493
What I remember most that stirred the rivalry is what became known as the "Ultimatum Bowl."

It later helped give birth to the Fiesta Bowl.

See below:

By Douglas Towne November 28, 2020, Phoenix Magazine:

It was 1968, and a lot was riding on the Territorial Cup. UA and ASU, then members of the Western Athletic Conference, had 8-1 and 7-2 records, respectively. The victor would receive a berth to the Sun Bowl, the first postseason bid for either squad since 1951. But UA snatched the football away from ASU at the last second, as Lucy had so often done to Charlie Brown.

A few days before the game, UA football coach Darrell Mudra – worried about losing to ASU, and for good reason – demanded the Sun Bowl extend an invitation to his team, win or lose, or they would refuse a subsequent offer. The power play worked, and the Wildcats were invited to the El Paso game. In response, ASU played the Territorial Cup game with a vengeance, routing UA 30-7 in Tucson, in what became known as the “Ultimatum Bowl.” ASU head coach Frank Kush called the victory “probably my most satisfying ever.” (The Sun Bowl was not obligated to take the WAC champion, which turned out to be Wyoming.)


 

Brian in Mesa

Advocatus Diaboli
Super Moderator
Moderator
Supporting Member
Joined
May 13, 2002
Posts
73,048
Reaction score
24,856
Location
Killjoy Central
Just heard Burns and Gambo discussing the rivalry and expanding on some stuff Dillingham said in preparation for rivalry week. They are having a crash course for the players on the rivalry this week and will eventually expand it to have an offseason educational discussion about the rivalry (to players). The reason for this is because student athletes no longer follow the old path of - go to a school and play all 4 years there. Used to be you could ask any player - "How did you do vs. Arizona?" and you'd get an answer of anything from 4-0 to 2-2 or 0-4. The players hated the other team and kept track of how they did against them. It meant something. Now a player comes in on the portal and has no built-in hatred for Arizona, has never played them before, etc. Sad, really.
 

AZCB34

ASFN Icon
Joined
Sep 23, 2002
Posts
14,817
Reaction score
7,060
Location
Mesa, AZ
Tucson AZ (AP) A seven-year old boy was at the center of a Pima County courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him.

The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulation requiring that family unity be maintained to the highest degree possible. The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her.

When the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried and said they also beat him. After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him.

After two recesses to check legal references and confirm with the child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the Arizona Wildcats whom the boy firmly believes are incapable of beating anyone.
 
Last edited:

PDXChris

All In!
Supporting Member
Banned from P+R
Joined
Mar 28, 2003
Posts
31,535
Reaction score
28,328
Location
Nowhere
I am sooooo happy still get to finish the season with Arizona. In Oregon, everyone hates that the Oregon/Oregon State game is so early now.
 

mjb21aztd

ASFN Icon
Joined
Nov 1, 2005
Posts
16,067
Reaction score
8,294
My 1st fav ncaa team w dawgs crazyyy 8 ot gm vs yellowjackets born in marriata georgia not a bandwagon dawgs fan lol

Hope asu makes it team num 2 w vs wildcats

hopin right cam and asu def shows up
 

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
118,952
Reaction score
59,493
The Arizona left tackle Jonah Savaiinaea may not play.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
 

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
118,952
Reaction score
59,493
Michigan and Ohio State players appeared to be fighting after the game. Senseless.
 

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
118,952
Reaction score
59,493
ASU has to win, but here are the tiebreaker scenarios if they do.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
 

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
555,287
Posts
5,425,337
Members
6,329
Latest member
cardinals2025
Top