FOLLOW @JAVIERJMORALES ON TWITTER!
[rps-paypal]
[ezcol_1half id=”” class=”” style=””]
CATCH UP ON THE COUNTDOWN BY VISITING: ARIZONA’S TOP 100 INDIVIDUAL RECORDS
Only 16 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.
[/ezcol_1half]
[ezcol_1half_end id=”” class=”” style=””]
Arizona tackle Ken Giovando is the only defensive lineman in school history to achieve two interceptions in one game, which occurred against BYU on Sept. 26, 1964.
[/ezcol_1half_end]
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. 16
Most Interceptions by Defensive Lineman, Game: 2, Ken Giovando, vs. BYU, Sept. 26, 1964
Lightning struck twice at the same spot, Arizona Stadium (then called Varsity Stadium) in 1964: Two top 20 Arizona individual records achieved on the same night against BYU in the season opener that year.
Ken Giovando
Yesterday in this countdown, Floyd Hudlow’s exploits were documented at No. 17 in the ranking. He is the only Wildcat to return two punts for a touchdown in one game, including a 69-yard return in which he broke free from nine BYU tacklers who got a hand on him.
Also against the Cougars on that fateful night (Arizona also opens against BYU this season), Ken Giovando became the only Wildcat defensive lineman to intercept two passes in one game.
Giovando, a 213-pound tackle from Globe, often played off the line because of his size and versatility. He resembled a linebacker, tracking down two screen passes for interceptions thrown by BYU quarterback Virgil Carter in the 39-6 victory for the Wildcats.
After graduating in 1965, Giovando began his coaching career as the offensive line coach for Arizona’s freshman team. He then coached both the offensive and defensive lines at Amphi High School before becoming the defensive coordinator at Salpointe.
His first collegiate coaching assignment came in 1970 as the defensive coordinator at Towson State. Three years later, he was hired as the offensive coordinator at Scottsdale Community College. In 2001, he was named head coach of the Artichokes. Three years later, he guided them to a conference title and a No. 2 national ranking.
He was replaced as head coach following the 2005 season but remained at the school as a physical education professor. He is in his 44th year at Scottsdale, now serving as coach emeritus.
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.
Recommended for you
