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CATCH UP ON THE COUNTDOWN BY VISITING: ARIZONA’S TOP 100 INDIVIDUAL RECORDS
Only 63 days separate us from the start of Rich Rodriguez’s fifth season, when the Arizona Wildcats football team plays Brigham Young on Sept. 3 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
As is customary on this Web site, we will count down the days with an interesting element associated with each day. This year the topic is the top 100 individual records in Arizona’s storied football past.
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Floyd Hudlow starred as a running back and return specialist at Arizona in 1963 and 1964 after transferring from Phoenix College
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Compiling the list was no easy task, but it was feasible to do with the information provided in the record books by the Arizona media relations department, and we appreciate that.
In past years, we have counted down the top games and highlighted players and some of the top plays in Arizona Wildcats football history. A couple of years ago in our top 100 countdown, we showcased the 1914 team that was responsible for Arizona becoming the “Wildcats”.
Back to this year’s countdown of the top 100 individual records in the 117 years of Arizona football:
No. 63
Kickoff Return Average, Career: 27.4 yards, Floyd Hudlow, 1963-64 (30 for 822)
NCAA record: 35.1, Anthony Davis, Southern California, 1972-74 (37 for 1,299)
Floyd Hudlow’s speed, versatility and instincts made Arizona coach Jim LaRue modify his offense around him to an “I” formation in Hudlow’s senior season of 1964
Most of Floyd Hudlow’s 30 kickoff returns in his brief two-year Arizona career were high caliber, breathtaking runs. Upon his arrival from Phoenix College in 1963, Hudlow instantly became a success, finishing seventh nationally in kickoff returns his first season averaging 32.5 yards per return (13 for 422 yards).
That mark was also a school record until Ricky Stevenson surpassed it with an average of 37.8 yards in nine returns five years later. Hudlow finished with an Arizona career-record of 27.4 yards in 30 returns for 822 yards.
Hudlow was an All-WAC selection his two seasons at Arizona as a running back. His speed and elusiveness was so pronounced that coach Jim LaRue changed the Wildcats’ offense from a winged-T formation to the “I” in 1964 to get the most out of Hudlow’s capability.
“Hudlow is the fastest man on our squad,” LaRue told the Tucson Citizen after the spring game in 1964. “We feel like the I formation gives us more flexibility and it will also let us make more use of Hudlow as a ball carrier.”
Hudlow, who went on to play three years in the NFL, is 72 and living in retirement in Ocean Springs, Miss.
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
