In a season overshadowed with tragedy, the UA football team managed to finish the season with its head above water. With their 6-5 record, the Wildcats finished over .500 for the fourth consecutive year.

And while its schedule featured opponents like Southern Cal, UCLA and Washington, Arizona's toughest obstacle was dealing with the death of senior tight end Damon Terrell, who collapsed during Camp Cochise after a conditioning drill on Aug. 10, was hospitalized for nearly a month and died on Sept. 7 at University Medical Center. He was diagnosed with dehydration and exertional rhabdomyolysis, a disease that entails the breakdown of skeletal muscle. An autopsy revealed Terrell died because of an air bubble that developed and blocked blood flow to his heart.

But in this tragedy-filled season, the Wildcats found a way to stay focused and end the year on a positive note by defeating state rival Arizona State at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe.

"I feel I can speak for the whole team as to where our motivation was, and that was the 'DT' on our jerseys and Damon in the sky," said UA senior defensive end Tedy Bruschi following the 31-28 win over ASU. "We've understood this from the beginning."

Bruschi helped continue Arizona's excellence on defense by earning All-America honors and Pacific 10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year with a career total of 52 sacks, tying the NCAA record set by Alabama linebacker Derrick Thomas.

Other key defensive performers exiting center stage were nose guard Chuck Osborne (19 sacks, 32 tackles for losses), strong safety Brandon Sanders (nine interceptions) and linebacker Charlie Camp (219 total tackles).

While the Wildcats' offense will not be hit quite as hard, it will lose one of Arizona's most successful quarterbacks ever in Dan White. White, a transfer from Penn State, finished with 5,723 yards and 43 touchdowns in his tenure as a Wildcat.

Arizona will be returning its leading rusher, top receiver and a talented duo of quarterbacks next season. Junior Gary Taylor averaged 65 yards a game with two touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Richard Dice suffered a major knee injury midway through the season, but still finished with 25 catches for 433 yards and six touchdowns.

"We have to be able to run the ball better and have one guy step up for us at tailback back next season," UA head coach Dick Tomey said. "We will also have some competition between Keith (Smith) and Brady (Batten) for the quarterback spot."

Arizona's successful finish was also echoed in the NFL draft with the selection of Bruschi, picked by New England, and Osborne, taken by St. Louis. While White was not selected in the draft, he was signed as a free agent just days later by the Houston Oilers.

"If you gauge (last) season by how you feel when it's over, I don't think there's been one better," Tomey said. "I've never been prouder of a team than I am with these guys."