Arizona Wildcats Mascot History:

"The Arizona men showed the fight of Wildcats..." reported Bill Henry, student writer for the Los Angeles Times, while covering a 1914 U of A football game. Since then, Arizona athletics have been known as the Wildcats, with the first live wildcat mascot, officially named Rufus Arizona, arriving on campus in 1915. In 1959, the costumed Wilbur the Wildcat made his debut. Rufus shared the mascot spotlight with Wilbur till 1966, when Rufus was retired to the Reid Park Zoo. Ever since, Wilbur remains the #1 Cat for the University of Arizona.