Universities of Arizona
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University of Arizona
Founded in 1885, by money loaned by professional gamblers, the U of A started with one building and 32 full time students. Today the U of A has become a premiere research university with over 36,000 students.
In 1926 UA quarterback and student body president John "Button" Salmon died from injuries sustained in a car wreck. His final words, spoken to coach "Pop" McKale, are: "Tell them.....tell the team to Bear Down." Soon thereafter, the UA student body adopts "Bear Down" as the school's athletic motto.
AZ athletic teams are nicknamed the Wildcats, a name derived from a 1914 football game with then California champions Occidental College, where the L.A. Times asserted that, "the Arizona men showed the fight of wildcats." The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific Ten Conference, which it joined in 1978.
McKale Center
1 National Championship Drive
Tucson, AZ 85721-0096
(520) 621-2200
QUICK FACTS
Location: Tucson, AZ 85721
Founded/Enrollment: 1885/35,500
Colors: Cardinal & Navy
President: Dr. Peter Likins
Faculty Rep: Jory Hancock
Athletic Director: Jim Livengood
Associate Athletic Director (SWA): Rocky LaRose
Arizona State University
Established in 1885, ASU has 1,732 freshmen from the top 10 percent of their high school classes, more than Harvard, Yale, Princeton or Stanford. Today ASU is comprehensive public metropolitan research university enrolling more than 60,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on four campuses.
The original nickname for the Normal School of Arizona, ASU’s original name, athletic teams was the Owls. Athletics other than Sunday hikes and lawn tennis were not part of the early curriculum.
During President Matthews’ tenure, some team competition began. The Tempe Bulldogs saw some interesting and rough competition with the University of Arizona Wildcats. In the 1940s, the college’s teams became the Sun Devils. In 1979, the university joined the Pacific-10 Conference. In 1987, ASU became the first Arizona football team to play in the Rose Bowl, defeating the University of Michigan Wolverines 22-15. ASU made its second appearance in 1997 against Ohio State.
Carson Student-Athlete Center
500 East Veteran's Way
Tempe, AZ 85287-2505
(480) 965-6360
QUICK FACTS
Location: Tempe, AZ 85287-2505
Founded/Enrollment: 1885/45,693
Colors: Maroon & Gold
President: Dr. Michael Crow
Faculty Rep: Prof. Myles Lynk
Athletic Director: Lisa Love
Associate Athletic Director (SWA): Dawn Rogers
