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Territorial Cup Countdown: Controversy #4

It’s not the only post-game scuffle in Duel in the Desert history. But it was the nastiest.

In 2001, 102 years after its creation, the Territorial Cup was set to be presented to the winner of the annual ASU-UA football game via an on-field presentation. But thanks to a shoving match due to some unsportsmanlike actions by several Arizona Wildcat players, the ceremony never took place.

The Wildcats were putting the finishing touches on a 34-21 victory over the Sun Devils in Tempe. As the final seconds ticked off the game clock, UA running back Clarence Farmer led his team by running onto the middle of the field and dancing on the likeness of Sparky, ASU’s long-time mascot.

Needless to say, many Sun Devil players didn’t take kindly to the display, and they headed to midfield to get in the faces of the dancing Wildcats. The incident led to punches being thrown in an altercation that lasted several minutes.

The on-field trophy presentation was called off, and both schools scrapped any future plans for a public post-game ceremony with the Cup.

The Oldest Trophy in College Football

Territorial quotes:

“Everyone’s talking about Sparky this, Sparky that. Well, you know, screw that. I didn’t have any regard toward ASU and what they stood for.”

-UA running back Clarence Farmer (2000-02)

“In my opinion, at that time, that was inviting a fight. That’s how you tell someone, ‘I want to fight you’ – not, ‘I just beat you on the scoreboard,’ but, ‘I’m going to rub it in now.’”

-ASU safety Riccardo Stewart (2000-04)

Shane Dale is the author “Territorial: The History of the Duel in the Desert.“