University of Arizona

School Info:

The University of Arizona (UA) is a premier, public research university. The National Science Foundation ranks the UA No.24 in research and development expenditures among public and private universities and colleges and No.16 among public universities and colleges.

How U of A Ranks:

U.S. News ranks the UA among America’s Best Colleges and the Princeton Review lists the UA as one of “The Best Western Colleges.” Globally, the Center for World-Class Universities at Shanghai Jiao Tong University ranks the UA No. 77 in the world and No. 48 in the U.S. The UA is one of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright Scholars.

The University of Arizona is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), one of 63 leading public and private research universities in the United States and Canada and the only AAU member in Arizona. Membership in AAU is by invitation and is based on the high quality of programs of academic research and scholarship and undergraduate, graduate, and professional education, as well as general recognition that a university is outstanding by reason of the excellence of its research and education programs. In areas as diverse as astronomy, medicine, optics, entrepreneurship and dance, UA faculty and programs are among the nation’s best. (http://www.arizona.edu/about/highlights-rankings)

How the Wildcats got their name:

The Wildcats got their name after a hard fought football game against the Occidental College Tigers on November 7, 1914. A Los Angeles Times columnist wrote that the Arizona team “Showed the fight of Wildcats.” (http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sports/w-cheer/spec-rel/033109aaa.html)

The History of “Wilbur” the Wildcat:

Wilbur the Wildcat Mascot

• The University of Arizona’s original mascot was actually a live bobcat, purchased by the freshman football team from army blacksmith F.W. Fawkins, for $9.41. The team presented the bobcat, then called Tom Easter, as a gift to the student body, to whom he was first introduced at an assembly on October 18, 1915.

• Shortly thereafter he was officially named Rufus Arizona, after then UA President Rufus Bernard Von KleinSmid.

• Rufus Arizona had an untimely death on April 17, 1916. As reported by the Arizona Wildcat, “while endeavoring to perform gymnastics stunts in the limbs of a tree to which he was tied, Rufus Arizona . . . fell and was hung.” The original Rufus passed on, but successors followed. (Live mascots were used off and on between the early 1900′s and the late 1950′s.)

• Decades later, UA students Richard Heller, ’62, and John Paquette, ’60 presented the idea for a costumed human mascot. On November 7, 1959, Wilbur the Wildcat was “born,” making his first appearance at the UA vs. Texas Tech football game. He was an immediate hit.

• The original costume was head-to-toe fur with an American flag patch on the left shoulder. This costume was very “cartoony.” It had big rounded eyes, a button nose and a curved black line for a mouth.

• A few years later, in an attempt to take on a more humanistic look, an upgraded version of Wilbur eliminated the fur body and replaced it with an Arizona sweater and pair of slacks. This look lasted until the 1970′s, during which Wilbur underwent a “Rhinestone Cowboy” phase. He had an oversized, paper mache head, and donned blue jeans, a vest, cowboy boots and a holster and gun.

• This look lasted until 1982, when Wilbur re-acquired his fur. Since then, the concept of a mascot head and a furry body has been maintained through various style changes.

• Today, Wilbur is part of the Spirit Program at the University of Arizona, which also includes Wilma The Wildcat and the Cheerleaders. As part of the Spirit Program, Wilbur is not only at virtually every UA home game, but he is also very involved in the Tucson community doing appearances and spending time with kids of all ages.

Wildcat Football Homepage: http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sports/m-footbl/ariz-m-footbl-body.html

2011 Wildcat Football Schedule: http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/ariz-m-footbl-sched.html