Friday, November 23,at 8 p.m. the University of Arizona Wildcats will take on their rivals, the Arizona State University Sun Devils, at home in Arizona Stadium. The infamous Duel in the Desert has over the years proven to be a much-anticipated event for the Tucson community and football fans.
The Duel in the Desert is an annual competition in which the teams compete for the Territorial Cup, a trophy awarded to the winner of an American college rivalry game. As one of the oldest trophy rivalry games in the NCAA, both teams fight hard for the prized cup. U of A coach Rich Rodriquez will go head-to-head against ASU coach Todd Graham in the event.
Last year, the Wildcats took the Cup with a 31-27 victory against the then favored Sun Devils, a great redemption after a tough 2010 loss of 30-29. This year, the team wishes to take home the trophy once again. Many players and fans feel that the Duel in the Desert is the most important game to win, offering a year’s worth of bragging rights to the winning team.
U of A has the most wins in the history of the rivalry game, with 47 wins to ASU’s 37 wins. There has also been one tie in the history of the game. The U of A also holds the record for largest victory, with a 67-0 win in 1946. Finally, U of A holds the record for the longest streak, with 11 winning games from 1932 to 1948.
No matter the outcome, the game is sure to be a heated, passionate battle right through the last second. The game will be featured on ESPN for those who cannot attend. Don’t forget to tune in and hope for a Wildcat win!
