The 2003 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona during the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by John Mackovic in his third season with the Wildcats. Arizona completed the season with a record of 2–10 (1–7 against Pac-10 opponents) and finished in last place in the Pac-10 standings.
After starting the year 1–4, Mackovic was fired and defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz coached the team on an interim basis for the rest of the season.
Schedule
Before the season Arizona concluded the 2002 season with a 4–8 record, in yet another losing season under Mackovic. The last part of the season became a part of controversy that involved Mackovic mistreating players, which led to the team reporting to the school about the coach's behavior toward them. Mackovic would later apologize for his actions and promised to fix his mistakes.
During the offseason, Mackovic fired both of his coordinators to rebuild the program back to its winning ways. Several players on the team threatened to leave the roster or transfer to other schools unless Mackovic changed his attitude. Also, the Wildcats brought in a weak recruiting class, perhaps due to the Mackovic fallout. Fewer fans would attend the team's annual spring game in April as a result.
By the offseason, Mackovic would be placed on the hot seat and was favored by football analysts to be the first coach fired during the year, and that the Wildcats needed to win more games to save Mackovic's job. Arizona was picked to finish last in the Pac-10, as many believed that Arizona would not win more with Mackovic in charge.
Game summaries vs UTEP
Statistics UTEP ARIZ First downs 1818 Total yards 275446 Rushing yards 33–7143–217 Passing yards 204229 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–43–114–26–2 Time of possession 28:5331:07 Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Orlando Cruz13/25, 121 yards, INT Rushing Matt Austin8 carries, 38 yards Receiving Johnnie Lee Higgins Jr.4 receptions, 43 yardsArizona Passing Ryan O'Hara8/16, 119 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Mike Bell13 carries, 119 yards, TD Receiving Lance Relford3 receptions, 88 yards, TD
Arizona opened the season by hosting UTEP. In their first meeting against the Miners since 1999, the Wildcats would dominate on all phases and cruised to a victory. UTEP's only score was an interception return early in the fourth quarter after Arizona brought in backup players with the game already out of reach. Also, the game featured Arizona Stadium having the smallest attendance for a home opener since 1997, as fewer fans attended as a result of a lack of interest due to Mackovic still being the Wildcats coach to start the season.
vs No. 13 LSU
Statistics LSU ARIZ First downs 2810 Total yards 481182 Rushing yards 56–18227–91 Passing yards 29991 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–25–110–32–2 Time of possession 36:1323:47 Team Category Player StatisticsLSU Passing Marcus Randall10/15, 162 yards, TD, INT Rushing Joseph Addai18 carries, 86 yards, 2 TD Receiving Michael Clayton6 receptions, 109 yards, TDArizona Passing Ryan O'Hara7/20, 70 yards, INT Rushing Clarence Farmer8 carries, 61 yards, TD Receiving Sean Jones3 receptions, 27 yards
The Wildcats hosted LSU in their next game in the first meeting between the two since 1984. Unfortunately for Arizona, the 13th-ranked Tigers would score early and would break the game open by halftime with a 38–0 lead as Arizona's fans began to head for the exits. The Wildcats would finally score in the fourth quarter to break up a shutout bid, but their big halftime deficit would be too much for them and their record evened to 1–1. Fans chanted for Mackovic to be fired near the end of the game, as they wanted the team to move on from the embattled coach.
vs Oregon
Statistics ORE ARIZ First downs 2611 Total yards 493180 Rushing yards 56–21025–34 Passing yards 283146 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–32–016–36–0 Time of possession 34:2325:37 Team Category Player StatisticsOregon Passing Kellen Clemens11/17, 168 yards, 2 TD Rushing Chris Vincent21 carries, 77 yards Receiving Demetrius Williams5 receptions, 139 yards, 3 TDArizona Passing Ryan O'Hara11/27, 113 yards, TD Rushing Clarence Farmer11 carries, 42 yards Receiving Biren Ealy7 receptions, 90 yards, TD
Arizona opened Pac-10 play against Oregon. It was the third consecutive year that the Wildcats played a home game against the Ducks.
Hours before the game started, a plane with a banner that read “Hey U of A, Please Fire Mackovic” flew over the Arizona campus, as many in the Tucson community beyond Wildcat fans demanded that Mackovic be fired as coach and have the program be in a new direction.
In the game, the Wildcats would again struggle as the Ducks would dominate on both sides of the ball as Arizona was blown out again. Chants of “Fire Mackovic” would ring through the Arizona student section in the game's final minutes.
After the game, Mackovic, angry after another blowout loss, would lose his temper and trashed his office after ending postgame interviews.
at No. 25 Purdue
Statistics ARIZPUR First downs 1228 Total yards 174580 Rushing yards 31–6652–292 Passing yards 108288 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–31–219–31–1 Time of possession 25:1634:44 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Kris Heavner5/12, 55 yards, TD, INT Rushing Nic Costa3 carries, 47 yards Receiving Biren Ealy7 receptions, 84 yards, TDPurdue Passing Kyle Orton16/28, 261 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Jerome Brooks21 carries, 122 yards, 2 TD Receiving John Standeford4 receptions, 111 yards, TD
Arizona went on the road for the first time in the season by traveling to Purdue. It was the very first meeting between the two teams. The Boilermakers would be too much for the Wildcats in yet another blowout loss for Arizona. It was the third straight game that Arizona gave up over 40 points to its opponents.
Mackovic, still frustrated after yet another blowout loss, would have another postgame meltdown in the locker room, as he would toss footballs against lockers that nearly hit players as well as yelling obscenities and insulting them. He also threw a Gatorade cooler, a trash can, and a chair against the wall. The players would report the incidents to the university as well as their families who then became angered with Mackovic. The Pac-10 would later reprimand him for his actions and he apologized to the players, the university, and fans. The issues surrounding Mackovic and the team's losses would become speculation that the Wildcats would soon make a coaching change.
vs No. 19 TCU
Statistics TCU ARIZ First downs 1910 Total yards 452309 Rushing yards 56–20629–33 Passing yards 246276 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–24–014–30–4 Time of possession 35:0324:57 Team Category Player StatisticsTCU Passing Brandon Hassell12/24, 246 yards, TD Rushing Robert Merrill31 carries, 148 yards Receiving Reggie Harrell4 receptions, 127 yards, TDArizona Passing Kris Heavner14/29, 276 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Clarence Farmer13 carries, 32 yards Receiving Ricky Williams5 receptions, 131 yards
Arizona went back home and faced TCU in a rematch of the teams’ meeting from 1999 (when Arizona came back to win that game). Both teams would rely on defense which led to a low scoring game. The Wildcats led 10–7 in the fourth quarter before the Horned Frogs forced overtime with a field goal. In the first overtime period, Arizona would commit a turnover with an interception which gave the Frogs a chance at the win. TCU would convert on a field goal to win it 13-10 and handed the Wildcats yet another loss as fans chanted “Fire Mackovic” one last time. Both teams have not met since.
Mackovic’s firing The day after Arizona's loss to TCU, Mackovic was fired as coach and that Hankwitz, the team's defensive coordinator, would take over as interim coach for the remainder of the season. Mackovic finished his Arizona tenure with a 10–18 record, and was 3–14 against Pac-10 foes.
In a press conference, Arizona announced that Mackovic's dismissal was due to the following reasons: Wins and losses, especially those against ranked opponents as well as Pac-10 teams A poor relationship with players and fans The inability to build a winning culture for the program and make bowl game appearances Failure to meet expectations by contending for a Rose Bowl Weak recruiting, especially before the season as the team was ranked near the bottom of the Pac-10 in terms of player commitments The controversies from both the previous season and this one as a result of abusing and insulting players, including the postgame locker room meltdown after the loss to Purdue The failure to win Pac-10 games at home and having losing streaks during the two-and-a-half-season span
At the time, the Wildcats were outscored in their losses, 179–40 after their win over UTEP in the season opener. During the losses, fans chanted for Mackovic to be fired and fans held signs that referenced his firing, including one that had his name in front of a fire blaze and another with the Terminator saying “Hey Mackovic, You Are Terminated!” (likely as a reference to the third Terminator film being released in the summer prior to the start of the season), and rejoiced after hearing the news of him being fired. When Mackovic was seen leaving the Arizona campus, a group of fans chanted “You’ve been fired” at him and sang “Na na, hey hey, goodbye” and “Hit the Road, Jack” as he departed the campus for good.
Hankwitz, who was previously on the Arizona coaching staff in the 1970s along with Mackovic under former coach Jim Young, was formerly the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M before being hired at Arizona this season. He would take over the program and attempted to fix the team's problems caused by Mackovic and promised to bring the team back to its winning ways.
at No. 14 Washington State
Statistics ARIZWSU First downs 924 Total yards 198513 Rushing yards 21–6542–161 Passing yards 133352 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–36–122–37–1 Time of possession 26:1933:41 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Kris Heavner18/35, 128 yards, INT Rushing Mike Bell10 carries, 40 yards Receiving Lance Relford4 receptions, 39 yardsWashington State Passing Matt Kegel18/32, 315 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jonathan Smith20 carries, 83 yards Receiving Devard Darling2 receptions, 98 yards, TD
The Wildcats visited Washington State in their first game after Mackovic was fired. Under Hankwitz, Arizona would keep close with the Cougars, but their offense continued to struggle and would lose again.
vs UCLA
Statistics UCLA ARIZ First downs 1621 Total yards 333519 Rushing yards 34–10342–276 Passing yards 230243 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–30–217–31–4 Time of possession 28:4431:16 Team Category Player StatisticsUCLA Passing Drew Olson15/22, 189 yards, INT Rushing Tyler Ebell14 carries, 61 yards, TD Receiving Craig Bragg6 receptions, 105 yardsArizona Passing Kris Heavner13/20, 187 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Clarence Farmer25 carries, 122 yards Receiving Biren Ealy5 receptions, 100 yards, TD
However, the Bruins got back in the game and a fourth-quarter interception return touchdown gave them the lead. Arizona tried to respond, but committed crucial mistakes, including a missed field goal in the final few minutes, that would ultimately cost them and UCLA gave the Wildcats yet another tough defeat and Arizona dropped to 1–6.
at California
Statistics ARIZCAL First downs 1925 Total yards 402444 Rushing yards 28–20159–327 Passing yards 201117 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–34–211–18–0 Time of possession 24:1235:48 Team Category Player StatisticsArizona Passing Kris Heavner17/31, 186 yards, TD, INT Rushing Mike Bell19 carries, 182 yards, TD Receiving Ricky Williams6 receptions, 79 yardsCalifornia Passing Aaron Rodgers9/16, 93 yards Rushing Adimchinobe Echemandu30 carries, 201 yards, 3 TD Receiving Geoff McArthur4 receptions, 54 yards
at Oregon State