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CATCH UP ON THE COUNTDOWN BY VISITING: ARIZONA’S TOP 100 INDIVIDUAL RECORDS
Only 57 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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Drew Riggleman has Arizona’s highest average of punt yards (46.1) in over 40 punts in a season (76 in 2015).
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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. 57
Highest Average Per Punt, Season
(Min. 36 punts) 47.5 yards, Danny Baugher, 2005 (37 for 1,758 yards)
(Min. 40 punts) 46.0, Kyle Dugandzic, 2011 (40 for 1,840)
(Min. 50 punts) 45.3, Drew Riggleman, 2015 (52 for 2,357)
(Min. 75 punts) 46.1, Drew Riggleman, 2014 (76 for 3,501)
NCAA record: (Min. 36 punts) 50.3, Chad Kessler, LSU, 1997 (39 for 1,961)
(Min. 40 punts) 49.8, Reggie Roby, Iowa, 1981 (44 for 2,193)
(Min. 50 punts) 48.4, Todd Sauerbrun, West Virginia, 1994 (72 for 3,486)
(Min. 75 punts) 47.8, Austin Rehkow, Idaho, 2013 (75 for 3,587)
Danny Baugher is listed in the Arizona record book as the record-holder for best punting average in a season at 47.5 yards in 2005.
The Arizona record book and NCAA record book list punting average marks slightly differently.
The NCAA record book lists punting average records by number of punts — Minimum 36, 40, 50 and 75. The Arizona record book lists the record holder without a minimum and then those with at least 40 punts in a season.
Danny Baugher’s 47.5 yards a punt in 37 punts in 2005 stands as the Arizona record. The record for at least 40 punts in a season is 46.1 yards by Drew Riggleman in 2014 (76 punts).
Arizona has featured solid punters through the years such as Nick Folk (yes, he was a punter in addition to being a placekicker), Josh Miller, Sergio Vega, Ruben Rodriguez, Keenyn Crier and Mitch Hoopes.
None had as impressive numbers as Riggleman in 2014 and 2015. Baugher’s record 47.5 yards a punt was achieved in less than half the punts Riggleman booted in 2014 while achieving the 46.1-yard-a-punt mark.
ARIZONA PUNTING AVERAGE LEADERS
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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.
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