Arizona Wildcats

Arizona Wildcats
University	University of Arizona
Conference(s)	Pacific-12 Conference
NCAA	Division I / FBS
Athletics director	Greg Byrne
Location	Tucson, AZ
Varsity teams	18
Football stadium	Arizona Stadium
Basketball arena	McKale Center
Baseball stadium	Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet Stadium
Mascot	Wilbur and Wilma
Nickname	Wildcats
Fight song	Fight! Wildcats! Fight! Bear Down
Colors	Cardinal Red and Navy Blue
Homepage	ArizonaWildcats.com

The athletic teams at the University of Arizona are known as the Arizona Wildcats.

Athletic program

The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific-12 Conference Arizona participates in the conference's South Division, along with Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah.^[1] Arizona joined the Pac-8 in 1978 along with Arizona State University, bringing the conference to 10 teams and the new name of the Pac-10 (the conference became the Pac-12 with the additions of Colorado and Utah in 2011). The school colors are cardinal red and navy blue, and the official fight song is "Fight! Wildcats! Fight!", though "Bear Down, Arizona!" is more commonly used and "Bear Down" is the university's motto.

History

The Wildcats name derived from a 1914 football game with then California champions Occidental College, where the L.A. Times asserted that Arizona "showed the fight of wildcats."

• The first sport to bring national recognition to UA was Polo. The 1924 UA Polo Team captured the Western Collegiate Championship, and traveled to the east coast to present U.S. President Calvin Coolidge with a cowboy hat. The UA Polo team faced Princeton University for the intercollegiate title and lost 6–2 and 8–0. With the onset of World War II, the UA was unable to continue sponsoring a Polo team.^[2]

Mascot

The University mascots are anthropomorphized wildcats named Wilbur and Wilma. The identities of Wilbur and Wilma are kept secret through the year as the mascots appear only in costume, except typically until the last home basketball game of the year. Then, at halftime, Wilbur and Wilma are exposed. In 1986, Wilbur and Wilma, a longtime couple, were married. Together, Wilbur and Wilma appear along with the cheerleading squad at most Wildcat sporting events.

Arizona's first mascot was a real desert bobcat named "Rufus Arizona", introduced in 1915 and named after the university's president at the time, Rufus B. von KleinSmid.

Rivalries

A strong athletic rivalry exists between the University of Arizona Wildcats and Arizona State University Sun Devils, the state's only two Division I-FBS teams. The rivalry has been recognized as one of the most bitter rivalries in college sports.^[3] Both schools compete in the State Farm Territorial Cup Series, a head to head competition in 18 different sports. The football rivalry, nicknamed "The Duel in the Desert," is one of the oldest trophy rivalry games in college football. The trophy awarded after each football game is the Territorial Cup as the teams first played in 1899, while the Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States.

Rivalries have also been created with other Pac-12 teams, especially University of California, Los Angeles which has been a consistent softball rival and was Arizona's main basketball rival in the early and mid-1990s. With UCLA's 2006 Final Four appearance, the rivalry was revitalized.

Outside of the Pac-12, Arizona has two dormant rivalries with two other former Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association members, the New Mexico Lobos and Texas Tech Red Raiders. Although Arizona remained in the Border Conference until it folded in 1961, New Mexico and Texas Tech withdrew from the Border Conference in 1952 and 1956 respectively. Both football programs remained on Arizona's schedule annually until the late 1970s, even though Texas Tech was a member of the Southwest Conference and New Mexico was a member of the Skyline Eight. In 1962, Arizona and New Mexico once again became conference rivals as charter members of the Western Athletic Conference. The Kit Carson Rifle was a traveling trophy exchanged between the Wildcats and Lobos from 1938 though 1990. Prior to the 1997 Insight.com Bowl, two schools announced the Kit Carson Rifle would not be awarded to the bowl game's winner because the trophy may have been used against Native Americans.^[4]

Sports

Men's Ice Hockey

Arizona IceCats (1979-2011)

University of Arizona Hockey was first established in 1979 by Head Coach and General Manager Leo Golembiewski as a Division-1 non-varsity hockey team, and originally played under the name of the Arizona IceCats. With Coach Golembiewski's help, the Icecats were a founding member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA, est. 1991).

In their 32 seasons of play ending with the 2010-2011 season, the Arizona IceCats had an overall record of 634-217-23. They won a National Tournament (1985), appeared in eight Final Fours (’84, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’91, ’93, ’94, ’97) and ten Elite Eights.

Since the 1980-81 season, IceCat home games were played at the 6,400 seat Tucson Convention Center Arena, affectionately known as “The Madhouse on Main Street," where the IceCats were consistently one of the University's top draws. (Last season's attendance: 70,000+) During their tenure, they also ranked near the top in attendance for all of College Hockey, both ACHA and NCAA. The Tucson Convention Center is a staple of University of Arizona Hockey.

IceCats games were also broadcast on ESPN radio and the worldwide web on FastHockey.com

Arizona Wildcats (2011- )

As of April 2011, University of Arizona hockey has begun a new tradition, which includes a name change to the school's official 'Wildcats' name, managerial changes throughout the whole organization, coaching staff changes, and most importantly the financial backing of the school, which they have never had in their history under former Head Coach and General Manager Leo Golembiewski.

After 32 years of service to the game of Hockey in Tucson,AZ it became clear that Coach Golembiewski had lost touch with the modern game of hockey, as shown most apparently by only one National Tournament appearance since the streak of twenty-one straight national tournament appearances ended in 2004, and concluding with two seasons going winless against Arizona State University. Along with a grocery list of other reasons, including financial mismanagement and mistreatment of players, he was officially relieved of his duties with the organization April 22, 2011 via a press-release put out by the University.

The new Wildcat hockey team is organized under the auspices of the Campus Recreation Department, will continue to play their home games on Friday and Saturday nights at "The Madhouse", as well as being broadcast on FastHockey.com, with new Head Coach Sean Hogan taking former Coach Leo Golembiewski's place behind the bench. Hogan was officially hired on July 18, 2011 and announced as the new Head Coach via press release on July 19.

Varsity teams

The University of Arizona fields 18 intercollegiate varsity teams that compete in the NCAA. These teams include:

• Baseball, Men's & Women's Basketball, Men's & Women's Cross Country, Football, Men's & Women's Golf, Gymnastics, Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's & Women's Swimming/Diving, Men's & Women's Tennis, Men's & Women's Track & Field, and Women's Volleyball

Men's Basketball

Main article: Arizona Wildcats men's basketball

The men's basketball team has been one of the nation's most successful programs since Lute Olson was hired as head coach in 1983 and was known as a national powerhouse in Division I-A men's basketball. As of 2008, the team had amassed 21 consecutive 20-win seasons, and reached the NCAA Tournament 25 consecutive years. The Wildcats have reached the Final Four of the NCAA tournament in 1988, 1994, 1997, and 2001. In 1997, Arizona defeated the University of Kentucky, the defending national champions, to win the NCAA National Championship. Their championship team was led by future NBA players Mike Bibby and Michael Dickerson, as well as Final Four MVP Miles Simon. Bennett Davison and A.J. Bramlett rounded out the starting five. Other team members include Jason Terry, the Cats' sixth man who went on to a solid NBA career, John Ash, Eugene Edgerson, Donnell Harris, Jason Lee, Josh Pastner, Jason Stewart, Quynn Tebbs and Justin Wessel. To this date, they are the only team to defeat three number one seeds in the same tournament: Kansas (Sweet 16); North Carolina (Final 4); and Kentucky in the Championship Game. They won a thriller game in the Elite Eight in double overtime to take them to the Final Four (NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship).

Arizona also has a history of first round upset losses in the NCAA tournament, including being one of only four teams in history to lose a game as a 2 seed (to Santa Clara, in 1993), one of only fourteen 3 seeds to lose a game (to East Tennessee State, in 1992), and one of twenty 4 seeds to lose a game (to Oklahoma, in 1999).

After 25 years of coaching Arizona, Lute Olson retired shortly before the 2008–2009 season, largely due to on-going health issues. After several years of coaching by interim head coaches, Arizona named Sean Miller, formerly the head coach of Xavier, as the next Wildcats head coach. In the 2011 NCAA Tournament, Sean Miller lead the Wildcats to an Elite Eight.

Football

Main article: Arizona Wildcats football

The football team began at the University of Arizona in 1899 under the nickname "Varsity" (a name kept until the 1914 season when the team earned the name "Wildcats"). The football team was notably successful in the 1990s under head coach Dick Tomey and his "Desert Swarm" defense that was characterized by tough, hard-nosed tactics. In 1993, the team had its first 10-win season and drubbed the powerhouse Miami Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl by a score of 29–0. In 1998, the team posted a school-record 12–1 season and made the Holiday Bowl in which it defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Arizona ended that season ranked 3rd nationally and 2nd in several publications. Despite a stellar season, Arizona's single loss to UCLA caused the team to finish second in the Pac-10. From 1999–2007 Arizona has had a mix of unsuccessful seasons without any bowl appearances. Then in 2008 Arizona returned to prominence with a successful season and a bowl win against BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl. Arizona has started to build up its old time success with a 6–2 record, and an appearance in the BCS standings ranked #18. This is the first time they have been ranked in the BCS poll since 1998. After their win against Washington State, Arizona was bowl eligible for the 3rd time in 4 years. After a win against USC, Arizona along with Nebraska was invited to the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. It was the first time since 1998 that Arizona had played in the Holiday Bowl and the second time both schools have meet each other at the bowl game.

Baseball

Main article: Arizona Wildcats baseball

The baseball team is consistently one of the top teams in the country and has captured three national championship titles in 1976, 1980, and 1986. Arizona baseball teams have appeared in the NCAA College World Series a total of 15 times, including 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1986, 2004 (College World Series). The team is currently coached by Head coach Andy Lopez, Assistant Coach Jeff Casper, Assistant Coach Mark Wasikowski, and Volunteer Assistant Coach Keith Francis.

Softball

Main article: Arizona Wildcats softball

The Arizona softball program has arguably been the best college softball program over the last 20 years. The softball team has won eight NCAA Women's College World Series titles, in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006 and 2007 under head coach Mike Candrea (NCAA Softball Championship). The team has appeared in the NCAA National Championship in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2010, a feat second only to UCLA. Mike Candrea also led the 2004 U.S. Olympic softball team to a gold medal in Athens, Greece.

ARIZONA WILDCATS SOFTBALL
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 1991	NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 1993	NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 1994	NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 1996	NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 1997	NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2001	NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2006	NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2007

RETIRED SOFTBALL JERSEYS
JENNY DALTON 16	NANCY EVANS 13	JENNIE FINCH 27	SUSIE PARRA 1	JULIE REITAN 10

Men's and Women's Golf

The university's golf teams have also been notably successful. The men's team won a national championship in 1992 (NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships), while the women's team won national championships in 1996 and 2000 (NCAA Women's Golf Championship). Annika Sörenstam won an individual national title in 1991, and Lorena Ochoa was NCAA Women's Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002 before leaving UA early to turn pro. Jim Furyk, the 2003 U.S. Open Champion attended the University of Arizona prior to turning professional in 1992.

Other

Three championships for synchronized swimming were won in 1980, 1981, and 1984, though these championships were in the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, and not the NCAA.

The women's swimming & diving team won their first national championship in 2008.

Men's Lacrosse

The lacrosse team is affectionately known as the “Laxcats” currently competes in the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) at the MCLA Division I level in the Southwestern Lacrosse Conference. Lacrosse at U of A has existed since the mid-sixties, and is saturated with a rich tradition of success. In the 1960s, Arizona was a Division I Varsity program, coached by the legendary Carl Runk, an Arizona graduate and football player. In 1998 Carl retired after twenty-eight years at Towson University in Maryland. The most well known player to graduate from that era was Geraldo Rivera, who played goalie. During that Varsity era, the team rose as high as number 3 in the Nation.

In the early 70’s Craig Hassell, a transplanted Long Island lacrosse fanatic, stepped up and kept the tradition alive. The 70’s rosters were packed with the types of free spirited players that typified the era. Predominately from Long Island and Maryland, these free spirits had little cares other than their dedication to the game. In 1976, the timing was right for yet another transplanted Long Islander to assume the responsibility for the stability of the University of Arizona Program. Mickey-Miles Felton, at the age of 30, had begun his Arizona career as a defenseman, was named the Head Coach.

The Laxcats have claimed only one Conference Title, occurring in 1990. In 1997, the Laxcats were ranked Number 1 heading into the National Tournament but were upset early by Brigham Young University in the second round of the Tournament. Following the 2001 season Mickey-Miles Felton stepped down with 278 career wins to assume the role of General Manager. Assistant Coach Adam Hopkins, of New York Institute of Technology, was elevated to the top spot and the Tradition continued. Following the 2003 season, Hopkins left and his assistant Ken Broschart was moved into the Head Coaching position. Broschart brought in Matt Hunter, and the following year Tim Spruyt as the NYIT pipeline continued. Hopkins, Broschart, and Hunter were all All Americans while at NYIT.

Notable athletic venues

• McKale Center, opened in 1973, is currently used by men's and women's basketball, women's gymnastics, and women's volleyball. The official capacity has changed often. The largest crowd to see a game in McKale was 15,176 in 1976 for a game against the University of New Mexico, a main rival during that period. In 2000, the floor in McKale was dubbed Lute Olson Court, for the basketball program's winningest coach. During a memorial service in 2001 for Lute's wife, Bobbi, who died earlier that year after a battle with ovarian cancer, the floor was renamed Lute and Bobbi Olson Court. In addition to the playing surface, McKale Center is host to the offices of the UA athletic department. McKale Center is named after J.F. Pop McKale, who was athletic director and coach from 1914 through 1957.

• Arizona Stadium, built in 1928, seats over 56,000 patrons. It's the home for the University of Arizona Wildcats football team, and has also been used for university graduations. The turf is bermuda grass, taken from the local Tucson National Golf Club. Arizona football's home record is 258–139–12. The largest crowd ever in Arizona Stadium was 59,920 in 1996 for a game against Arizona State University.

• Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet Stadium hosts baseball games.

• Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium hosts softball games.

• The Tucson Convention Center ("The Madhouse on Main St.") hosts hockey games

Traditions

• At the beginning of each school year, freshmen repaint the "A" on "A" Mountain, a Tucson and Wildcat landmark just west of campus.

• One of the two bells rescued from the USS Arizona after the attack on Pearl Harbor has a permanent home in the clock tower of the Student Union Memorial Center on campus. The bell first arrived on campus in July 1946. The bell is rung seven times on the third Wednesday of every month at 12:07 p.m. to honor the achievements of the UA, as well as after football victories over all schools located outside of Arizona.

• The University of Arizona marching band, named The Pride of Arizona, played at the halftime of the first Super Bowl. The band plays at most of the university's athletic events.

History of Bear Down, Arizona!

In 1952 Jack K. Lee, an applicant for the UA's band directorship, departed Tucson by air following an interview with UA administration. From his airplane window, Lee observed the huge letters on the roof of the UA gymnasium reading "BEAR DOWN". Inspired, Lee scribbled down what was at first a poem, but later turned into a song. By the time his plane landed, he had virtually finished it. A few weeks later Lee was named the UA band director, and in September 1952, the UA band performed "Bear Down, Arizona!" in public for the first time. Soon thereafter, "Bear Down, Arizona!" became accepted as UA's fight song despite the fact that the Chicago Bears fight song, "Bear Down, Chicago Bears", was introduced in 1941.

History behind the motto Bear Down

The battle cry was created by a popular student athlete, John "Button" Salmon, who was the student body president, as well as the starting quarterback for the Wildcat football team and the catcher for the Wildcat baseball team.

The day before the first game of the 1926 football season, Salmon and three friends were involved in an automobile accident and their vehicle flipped over a ravine. Although Salmon's friends were not injured, Salmon suffered a severe spinal cord injury.

In the aftermath of the accident, football coach Pop McKale visited him in the hospital every day. During McKale's last visit, Salmon's last message to his teammates was, "Tell them...tell the team to bear down." John Salmon died on October 18, 1926.

The following year, the University of Arizona student body approved that "Bear Down" would be the new slogan for all Wildcat athletic teams. In 1939, the Arizona state legislature issued a decree that "Bear Down" would be the exclusive property of the University of Arizona. (Bear Down)

Fight! Wildcats! Fight!

Hail Arizona Wildcats
Fighting for old UA
A raging team of Wildcats
Growling for the fray
There's not a team that can stop them
When the ball goes into play
So Fight! Team!
Fight with all your might
And win today!

Fight, Wildcats, Fight for Arizona
We're with you ever staunch and true
This day we hail you and we cheer you
They can't defeat the Red and Blue
Circle the ends and crash through the center
Hit hard and gain on ev'ry play
Fight Wildcats
Fight! Fight! Fight!
We'll win today!

Notes

1. ^ http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sports/inside-athletics/spec-rel/102110aaa.html
2. ^ "Polo Team". UA History. Arizona Board of Regents. 2005. Archived from the original on August 18, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060818171155/http://www.arizona.edu/tours/history/history13.php. Retrieved March 29, 2006. 
3. ^ "Sun Devils' run adds spice to rivalry with Wildcats". ESPN. 2005. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3347660. Retrieved January 17, 2009. 
4. ^ December 27, 1997 Albuquerque Journal

1. University of Arizona History & Traditions "History & Traditions"
2. Unofficial U of A sports blog maintained by alumni "The Beardown"