By Chris Richards
Arizona Daily Wildcat
December 10, 1997

Fired up

Chris Richards Arizona Daily Wildcat Besides bragging rights of being the first Insight.com Bowl champion, Arizona and New Mexico will battle for possession of the Kit Carson Rifle.

Since 1938, the score of each contest between these two schools has been carved into the stock of the Springfield rifle and retained by the winning team. According to the media guide, the rifle, which is named after the legendary frontiersman, was obtained by UA and UNM athletic directors Pop McKale and Roy Johnson "in a rumored trade with Apache chieftain Geronimo." Other than Arizona State, Arizona has played New Mexico more times than any other school. The series began in 1908, and the Wildcats lead the series 42-18-3. The rifle has been in Arizona's possession the last seven years, since UA's 25-10 win in Albuquerque in 1990.