The Arizona was commissioned to honor the admittance of the State of Arizona into the United States.  The battleship was a Pennsylvania-class "super-dreadnought".  Launched on June 19, 1915, the ship served state-side during WWI and is now the most famous victim of the Dec 7, 1941 sneak attack on Pearl Harbor where she lies at the bottom, a silent tomb for 1,177 sailors, many of whom made up the Arizona's football team.

The 1919 team was surprised in an 18-0 thrashing by the USS Pennsylvania in what amounted to a playoff game for the Eastern Naval Yards championship.  The Arizona was a heavy favorite after defeating Holy Name on a Scripper touchdown and tying Columbia University.

The ship relocated to the west coast between 1920 and 1921 and played as part of a double header with the USC Trojans.  The Arizona was crushed in Game One 62-0 while the USS New York was also shut out 35-0 in Game Two on Oct 1, 1921.  The Trojans would finish 10-1 with eight shut outs.

A bounty of $100 was placed for the first touchdown scored during the 1926 Battle Fleet season.  According to a report in the News-Pilot, the hapless Arizona team had gone 4 seasons without a touchdown in fleet games.  The reward was cashed in on September 22nd in a 6-30 loss to the USS Nevada when reserve back Chatterton crossed the goal line at the final gun.  Godfrey would cash in on the $100 bounty and 30-day leave the following year when he scored a touchdown against the Base Force on September 25, 1927  The ship would leave for the Puget Sound Naval yard in November.  While stationed in Bremerton, Washington the "Jack Tars" played Seattle-area semi-pro teams like West Seattle and Jefferson Park posting a 14-13 win over the 'Jackets after falling 26-0 the week before.

In an upset, the Oklahoma shut out the 1931 Arizonans and knocked them out of the Battle Fleet tournament.

After a couple of years of frustrating defeats, the USS Arizona under coaches Fleck and McCrea began drills earlier than any other fleet squad with workouts in May of 1933 and drawing 46 candidates vying for spots in the September kickoff.
 
Players on the Arizona football team were accorded special privileges, including help in advancement and rating, so they would remain happy and stay with the ship.  The big year for football was 1935.  All-American Buzz Borries really put the finishing touch on a team that was talented already.  Enlisted men such as Carl Gleason, Charles Rourk, and John Hostinksky had been on the squad since the ship went back into service in 1931.  The coach was Lt. Hank Hardwick who later coached the Naval Academy.  Red Livingston and Buzz Borries scored three touchdowns apiece in shellacking the USS Lexington on the eve of leaving port in California.

1935 Team Photo

Top L-R: Coach Hank Hardwick, Fleck, Slade Cutter (borrowed from the USS Idaho), Furnarri (77), Buzz Borries, John Hotinsky (14), Banks, Carl Gleason (30), Charles Rourk (90), Bundy, Post (40).  Middle Row: Pharmacists Mate Jacobs, Oklham (18), Belvins (66), Benson (70), Keith (13), Paul Nye (11), Leinen (24), W.J. Stromquist, Smith (33), Kruk (44), Bottom Row: Boehm (16), Bull Sperandio (12), Frizzell (17), Charlton (22) Parker (20), Buccini (27), and Red Livingston (55).

After coaching the USS Arizona for two seasons (1935 & 1936) Harry "Hank" Hardwick was promoted to coach the Naval Academy for the 1937 and 1938 seasons posting a 8-7-3 record with the Midshipmen.

The sailors opened the 1940 season against the semi-pro Bremerton Red Raiders on November 17th, one of the latest starts in team history. Bremerton would defeat the Wildcats as well as the Keystoners from the USS Pennsylvania in non-league games. 

Players from the USS Pennsylvania and Arizona were gearing up for their Battle Fleet Championship on the morning of December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor.  Mickey Ganitch, aboard the Pennsylvania was putting on his pads below deck when he felt the dreadnaught shudder.  The Japanese attack on Battleship Row was commencing.

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