ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Kit Carson Rifle never belonged to Kit Carson, nor to Geronimo.
Now, though it may still be gathering dust and rust somewhere on the University of Arizona campus, it really belongs to nobody.
For almost 70 years, with multiple interruptions, the winner of the college football game between Arizona and New Mexico was awarded a vintage Springfield rifle as a trophy. That practice was discontinued before the two teams met in the 1997 Insight.com Bowl. It will not be in play Dec. 19, when the Wildcats and the Lobos meet in the 10th annual Gildan New Mexico Bowl.