Former University of Arizona football coach Larry Smith, the architect of “The Streak” against Arizona State, died Monday. He was 68.

The Wildcat coach from 1980-86 passed away after a battle with leukemia and lymphoma, family members said.

Wow. This is unexpected.

I wouldn’t be an Arizona fan if it weren’t for Larry Smith. Even before Lute’s rise, Coach Smith brought an exciting, irresistible brand of root-for-the-underdog football to the Pac-10.

He laid the groundwork not just for the Streak–ten consecutive years of no defeats to rival Arizona State–but also for the hard-hitting, tough Desert Swarm Ds of the Tomey years. His memorable blue-collar battlers up and down the line along both sides of the ball were countless.

Byron Evans. Ricky Hunley. Lamonte Hunley. Joe Tofflemire. Dana Wells. Kevin Singleton. Chris Singleton. Boomer Gibson. And these were just the headliners.

His final game as an Arizona coach was the Wildcats’ first bowl win: a 28-16 victory over North Carolina in the 1986 Aloha Bowl.

And I was always a fan of Larry Smith, even through his controversial departure for USC. If he had stayed to develop Rodney Peete, Arizona would have unquestionably gone to a Rose Bowl. Smith was that close…a solid passing QB away.

He was also an enthusiastic, warm public speaker with a real grasp for the true spirit of college football. And his players responded–with fire and blazing warrior hearts.

Arizona football owes everything good and lasting about it today to Larry Smith. When he was hired, former coach Tony Mason and probation had left the program at its second-lowest point to the John Mackovic years.

No TV appearances for three seasons. Reduced scholarships available. No bowl eligibility.

Larry Smith turned it all around and made Arizona a consistent winner in the Pac-10. I would go so far as to dedicate the football field in his memory.

RIP Coach. You were a role model to this kid.

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