RIP Jim LaRue
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ghostwhitehorse
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Re: RIP Jim LaRue
Coached the secondary for the '85 Bears too.
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Merkin
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Re: RIP Jim LaRue
Had a pretty good QB too:
http://archive.azcentral.com/sports/ua/ ... ilson.html
Why he made our list: Wilson, a graduate of Chandler High, remains the only UA quarterback to pick up any sort of AP All-America mention, making the 1961 third team. He led UA to an 8-1-1 record that season, pairing with “Touchdown Twins” Bobby Lee Thompson and Joe Hernandez to form one of college football’s better backfields of the day.
The overall statistical offensive numbers from more than a half-century ago can’t compare with modern college football, but Wilson was fifth nationally in 1961 with his 1,377 total yards. He also played defensive back, was a standout punter and handled place-kicking during his career, booting a 30-yard field goal with 14 seconds left to beat Idaho 16-14 in 1959.
UA was 14-1-1 in his last 16 starts, including a program-best 11-gameunbeaten streak. The tie came in a 14-14 game at Nebraska, which was favored by two touchdowns.
The 1961 team became known as the “Cardiac Cats” for several crazy finishes. That included the New Mexico game, when the Lobos fumbled at the UA 4-yard line with 2:59 left before Wilson led a 96-yard touchdown drive. UA, not wanting another tie on its record, went for the 2-point conversion, with Wilson passing to Thompson for a 22-21 victory.
Wilson’s late 32-yard touchdown pass to Thompson beat nationally ranked Wyoming 20-15. A 1995 column in the Arizona Daily Star included a 1961 quote about Wilson from Wyoming coach Bob Devaney: “He’s a better quarterback than either Roman Gabriel or John Hadl. That’s right, I regard Eddie Wilson as better than either one.”
And then there was Wilson’s final game as a Wildcat. Arizona trailed ASU 13-3 at halftime, but Wilson ignited a 19-0 blitz with a touchdown pass to Walter Mince, and Thompson produced a tackle-shredding 67-yard run, as UA went on to upset 20th-ranked ASU 22-13.
http://archive.azcentral.com/sports/ua/ ... ilson.html
Why he made our list: Wilson, a graduate of Chandler High, remains the only UA quarterback to pick up any sort of AP All-America mention, making the 1961 third team. He led UA to an 8-1-1 record that season, pairing with “Touchdown Twins” Bobby Lee Thompson and Joe Hernandez to form one of college football’s better backfields of the day.
The overall statistical offensive numbers from more than a half-century ago can’t compare with modern college football, but Wilson was fifth nationally in 1961 with his 1,377 total yards. He also played defensive back, was a standout punter and handled place-kicking during his career, booting a 30-yard field goal with 14 seconds left to beat Idaho 16-14 in 1959.
UA was 14-1-1 in his last 16 starts, including a program-best 11-gameunbeaten streak. The tie came in a 14-14 game at Nebraska, which was favored by two touchdowns.
The 1961 team became known as the “Cardiac Cats” for several crazy finishes. That included the New Mexico game, when the Lobos fumbled at the UA 4-yard line with 2:59 left before Wilson led a 96-yard touchdown drive. UA, not wanting another tie on its record, went for the 2-point conversion, with Wilson passing to Thompson for a 22-21 victory.
Wilson’s late 32-yard touchdown pass to Thompson beat nationally ranked Wyoming 20-15. A 1995 column in the Arizona Daily Star included a 1961 quote about Wilson from Wyoming coach Bob Devaney: “He’s a better quarterback than either Roman Gabriel or John Hadl. That’s right, I regard Eddie Wilson as better than either one.”
And then there was Wilson’s final game as a Wildcat. Arizona trailed ASU 13-3 at halftime, but Wilson ignited a 19-0 blitz with a touchdown pass to Walter Mince, and Thompson produced a tackle-shredding 67-yard run, as UA went on to upset 20th-ranked ASU 22-13.