The 1899 Arizona football team was an American football team that represented the University of Arizona as an independent during the 1899 college football season. In its first season of football, the team compiled a 1–1–1 record and outscored all opponents, 24 to 16.^[1] The team was organized in January 1899 by Professor R. H. Forbes, but no games were played until the fall when a student committee raised $70 from merchants in the Old Pueblo to purchase uniforms.^[2] Stuart Forbes was the team's coach, George M. Parker was the manager and team captain.^[1][2][3] The team's colors during the 1899 season were sage green and silver.^[2][3]

American football in 1899 remained a variant of rugby, played with a virtually identical ball and sharing a fundamental prohibition of use of the forward pass to advance the ball.^[4] The game was played on a field 110 yards long and 53-1/3 yards wide, marked off with white lines parallel to the goal lines every five yards.^[5]

The game was played by teams of 11 players, aligned typically with 7 "rushers" or "forwards" at the line of scrimmage, and four "backs" behind them.^[6] These were a quarterback immediately behind the line, two halfbacks stationed a couple yards behind him, and a fullback or "goal tend," who stood deep behind the halfbacks.^[6] Duration of the game was 70 minutes, divided into two 35-minute halves, which could be shortened by mutual consent,^[7] with play regulated by three officials.^[8]

Teams were allowed three downs to either advance the ball 5 yards or retreat towards their own goal 20 yards via running or lateral pass, otherwise being forced to surrender the ball to the defenders at the last spot.^[9] All tackles had to be made above the knees.^[10] A pair of light sticks with a 5-yard length of stout cord or chain were used to measure the line-of-gain for a new first down.^[8] As with the modern game, teams typically did not turn over the ball on downs, since "if the prospects of completing the five-yard gain appear small, it is so manifestly politic to kick the ball as far as possible down the field..."^[11]

A dropkick or place-held field goal over the 10-foot crossbar and through the goalposts mounted at the goal line counted 5 points, as did a touchdown.^[11] Safeties counted as 2 points, as the case remains today.^[12]

The possibility of an extra (6th) point followed each touchdown, with the scoring team given the option of a place-kick from any point on the field parallel to where the touchdown crossed the goal line; or a "punt out," in which the scoring team punted the ball from the end zone to a fair-catching teammate, which (if successfully executed) would provide the spot for a drop kick for the extra point.^[13] The extra-point placekick was executed with the holder elevating the ball slightly above the ground as the defenders lined up at the goal line. The play began when the ball was touched to the ground, with a mad rush ensuing to block the kick.^[13]

Players played both offense and defense without substitution; those being replaced due to exhaustion or injury were forbidden from returning for the duration to the game.^[10] Coaching from the sideline was expressly prohibited.^[10]

On November 20, 1899, the University of Arizona football team played its first official football game, after an earlier practice game against a Tucson, Arizona, town team. The November 20 game, also played against a Tucson town team, ended in a scoreless tie.^[1][2]

On November 30, 1899, the team played its first intercollegiate football game against the Normal School of Arizona (later renamed Arizona State University). The inaugural meeting in the Arizona–Arizona State football rivalry ended in an 11–2 score in favor of the Tempe team. The game was played in front of an estimated 300 spectators at the Carillo Gardens amusement center near the Santa Cruz River in Tucson.^[2][14][15]

The team's third game was played on January 13, 1900, against the football team from the Tucson Indian School. The University team won that game by a 22 to 0 score.^[1][2]

The team's roster included the following players: Willard Morse Brown, Duncan Hugh Campbell, Rudolph Castaneda, Courtland F. Day, Frank Wakefield Fish, John Garnett Holmes, Thomas K. Marshall, William Thomas Olney, Charles P. Richmond, James Newton Robinson, Guy Lionel Rockwell, Ross M. Russell, Edward S. Stafford, and Benito G. Suarez.^[16] Another account lists players with the surnames French and Parker.^[2]