A look at the UA-ASU rivalry
- Updated
Naturally the University of Arizona football team wants to win every game; however, UA's rivalry with Arizona State University is fierce enough that if the Wildcats could win only one game in a particular season, they would want to defeat the ASU Sun Devils. The coveted Territorial Cup goes to the winner of the annual football game, but the rivalry extends to all sports.
Arizona State defensive tackle Will Sutton (90) parades the Territorial Cup trophy around the stadium following the Arizona State vs. University of Arizona college football game on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State won 58-21. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Sentinel Peak, also known locally as "A" Mountain. Students at the University of Arizona built and painted the "A," which is traditionally white. It has been painted ASU colors as a prank, green for St. Patrick's day, black by war protesters and in patriotic colors. The original "A" was completed March 4, 1916.
- Mamta Popat
A Mountain. September 21, 1957. A "T" and an Omega sign were mysteriously added to the "A" on Sentinal Peak during the night. Police were at a loss to explain how they got there. Both symbols were done in whitewash and there was more whitewash spilled around the base of the mountain. Favil West, house manager of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, said, "Gosh, I don't know" when asked if the fraternity knew anything about it.
- ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Dan Lucas, an ex-football player for Arizona State University paints over the words "Go Wildcats" that his wife Jennifer, a University of Arizona graduate, had painted over ASU's gold color in 2006. The Lucas' won The Home Depot's House Divided promotion for the state of Arizona leading to the Territorial Cup game between the two rival universities.Β
- JASON WISE/Courtesy of Home Depot
UA players and ASU players get into a brawl after the game as ASU star running back Delvon Flowers (8) gets caught up as well along with ASU and UA coaches, who were trying to break it up. The Wildcats won 34-21, Nov. 24, 2001, and a group of UA players danced on the Sun Devil logo on the field, prompting the skirmish.
- DAVID SANDERS
Arizona State's Sparky, left, and the University of Arizona's Wilbur Wildcat have a dance-off at McKale Center on March 9, 2013. The Wildcats beat the Sun Devils 73-58.Β
- Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
Wilbur and Sparky spar with each other as their respective teams battle it out for the Territorial Cup in the second half during a game at Arizona Stadium on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. Arizona won 42-35.Β
- Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona State defensive tackle Will Sutton (90) parades the Territorial Cup trophy around the stadium following the Arizona State vs. University of Arizona college football game on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State won 58-21. Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
- Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
The "A" on Tempe Butte near Arizona State University in Tempe got a paint job courtesy University of Arizona fans overnight Sunday, Nov 9, 2014. azcentral.com
- azcentral.com
"A'' Mountain in Tempe
- AZ Family 3 TV
Sentinel Peak, also known locally as "A" Mountain. Students at the University of Arizona built and painted the "A," which is traditionally white. It has been painted ASU colors as a prank, green for St. Patrick's day, black by war protesters and in patriotic colors. The original "A" was completed March 4, 1916.
- Mamta Popat
Yellow spray paint was used to vandalize a bronze sculpture on the University of Arizona campus.
- Photo courtesy of Kirk Sibley
Members of the Omega Delta Phi Fraternity paint the "A" on Sentinel Peak after ASU supporters painted the A in their school's colors the weekend of the UA vs ASU football game, Saturday December 7, 2002 in Tucson, Ariz.
- James S. Wood
Members of the Omega Delta Phi Fraternity paint the "A" on Sentinel Peak after ASU supporters painted the A in their school's colors the weekend of the UA vs ASU football game,Saturday December 7, 2002 in Tucson, Ariz.
- James S. Wood
Students prepare to whitewash the "A" on Sentinel Peak, also known as "A" Mountain, Sept. 19, 1954.
- Tucson Citizen photo
Wilbur with arm around girl, Sept. 25, 1963 SOURCE: Special Collections University of Arizona Libraries University of Arizona
- James Gregg
A photo of the Territorial Cup, given annually to the winner of the Arizona-Arizona State football game. It's the nation's oldest rivalry trophy, dating to 1899.
- ARIZONA DAILY STAR
UA football players douse head coach Mike Stoops, with ice water near the end of the game against Arizona State on Friday November 26, 2004 in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats beat ASU, 34-27, to take the Territorial Cup.
- BENJIE SANDERS
ASU students try to take down the south goal posts after the game after the Sun Devils beat the Wildcats. Photo taken Nov. 23, 1996.
- David Sanders
University of Arizona football coach Dick Tomey during UA vs ASU game 11-23-96.
- Brian Winter
Former Arizona football player Ricky Hunley with former UA Coach Larry Smith after a UA-ASU game in Tempe Nov. 26, 1983.
- Ron Medvescek
Whizzer White (l) and ASU football coach Ed Doherty. Undated Star file photo by Art Clark.
- Art Clark
UA vs. ASU
- Benjie Sanders
ASU basketball coach Bill Frieder during UA game. March. 11, 1995.
- Local:Staff
Wilbur, early 1970's. From UA Special Collections.
- ho
Frank Kush, ASU head football coach in 1962.
- handout
Lute Olson in ASU game 2/5/97.
- Bruce McClelland
Arizona Head coach Larry Smith gets carried off the field after an Arizona Victory. November 1985 file photo.
- ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Walter and Gerry Grassie graduated from ASU and have lived in Tucson for 30 years. On ASU game day they put a giant Sparky the Sun Devil in their front yard. Photo taken on 11-23-98.
- Sergey Shayevich
Undated file photo of Arizona head coach Jim La Rue, who once said he jokes that ASU is a dirty word.
- handout
Arizona's Wilbur the Wildcat gets in a tussle with ASU's Sparky the Sun Devil at Arizona Stadium Friday November 29, 2002. ASU beat UA 34-20.
- Aaron Latham
A Mountain. September 21, 1957. A "T" and an Omega sign were mysteriously added to the "A" on Sentinal Peak during the night. Police were at a loss to explain how they got there. Both symbols were done in whitewash and there was more whitewash spilled around the base of the mountain. Favil West, house manager of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, said, "Gosh, I don't know" when asked if the fraternity knew anything about it.
- ARIZONA DAILY STAR
"The Catch" by Arizona State University receiver John Jefferson during the 1975 ASU/UA football game. Courtesy ASU
- Submitted Photo
1950's football game between University of Arizona versus Arizona State University. 1958 is the year Arizona State college became Arizona State University.
- Citizen photo 12/22/58
Dan Lucas, an ex-football player for Arizona State University paints over the words "Go Wildcats" that his wife Jennifer, a University of Arizona graduate, had painted over ASU's gold color in 2006. The Lucas' won The Home Depot's House Divided promotion for the state of Arizona leading to the Territorial Cup game between the two rival universities.Β
- JASON WISE/Courtesy of Home Depot
UA players and ASU players get into a brawl after the game as ASU star running back Delvon Flowers (8) gets caught up as well along with ASU and UA coaches, who were trying to break it up. The Wildcats won 34-21, Nov. 24, 2001, and a group of UA players danced on the Sun Devil logo on the field, prompting the skirmish.
- DAVID SANDERS
The location of this ASU sticker tells what homeowners Curt and Connie Hansen think of the Sun Devils. The couple use their home for tailgating before each UA home game, as it is decorated with UA items throughout.
- DAVID SANDERS/ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Randy Hinojos, 9, climbs up A Mountain on Nov. 15, 1990, after it was painted maroon and gold (closer to yellow) by vandals before the annual ASU-UA football game. Photo by A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star
A Mountain is repainted on Nov. 19, 1986, after ASU students painted it ASU school colors before the ASU-UA football game. Photo by Bruce McClelland / Arizona Daily Star
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