The Glory Days of Joe "Jackrabbit" Hernandez

The class of 1959 will be honored at Arizona Stadium on November 7th during the halftime show of the 2009 homecoming game -- a contest which will pit the Wildcats against the Washington State Cougars.

As far as Arizona football goes, I recall the Wildcats battled through a dismal '59 season, winning just four games. But, what I do remember very vividly... was what happened two years later. That's when a trio of backs and a crafty quarterback propelled Arizona to an 8-1-1 season and its first ever top-20 ranking. The trio of running-backs included Joe "Jackrabbit" Hernandez, Bobby Lee Thompson and Walter Mince. The QB was Arizona-bred Eddie Wilson of Chandler.

All four were drafted in the National Football League draft of 1962. Wilson played in the pros for five years. I was just 16 years old in 1961, but I'm sure it was that special season -- the Year of the Jackrabbit -- which transformed me into an Arizona Wildcat fan...forever.

By the way, Arizona tied Nebraska,14-14,in 1961 and finished the season with a 22-13 win over the Arizona State Sun Devils.