UA coach Dick Tomey, right, with help of his players, hoists the Holiday Bowl trophy after Arizona defeated Nebraska 23-20 Wednesday Dec. 30, 1998 in San Diego, Calif.

 Kvork Djansezian / AP

Clearly the best football team in school history, Dick Tomey’s club was 12-1 and was ranked No. 4 in the final AP poll after beating No. 14 Nebraska 23-20 at the Holiday Bowl. The UA was so balanced that it outgained its opponents by an average of 411 to 307 yards per game — a team that featured future NFL players Chris McAlister, Dennis Northcutt, Marcus Bell, Trung Canidate, Yusuf Scott and DaShon Polk. Included in the 12-1 season was the epic 31-28 rally to beat Washington in the “Leap By the Lake” game in Seattle. 

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Contact sports columnist Greg Hansen at 520-573-4362 or ghansen@tucson.com. On Twitter: @ghansen711