Hackett encountered a quarterback controversy from Day 1 (Mike Van Raaphorst
vs. blue - chipper Carson Palmer), and while there were missteps — a 34 - 17 loss to No. 3 UCLA, 30 - 10 to No. 10 Florida State, 32 - 31 to a pretty bad California
team — the
team rallied to finish 8 - 4 before a disappointing Sun Bowl loss to
unranked TCU.