by Rynski on Nov.03, 2009, under animals, cats, life, ua news
Wilbur the Wildcat celebrates 50th birthday
University of Arizona’s mascot Wilbur the Wildcat, who made his costumed debut back in 1959, will be celebrating his birthday during this weekend’s homecoming festivities.
Wilbur the Wildcat turns 50/submitted image
UA’s homecoming weekend runs Nov. 5 to 8 and includes the homecoming football game where the Arizona Wildcats face the Washington State Cougars. Click here for full schedule of events.
There was no mention if Wilbur would get a birthday cake – or carcass – but he’ll be dancing in style. That’s what mascots do.
The original UA mascot actually dates back to 1915, according to the UA website, when a real, live bobcat was used. His name was Rufus Arizona, in honor of UA President Rufus von KleinSmid.
Live bobcats were used for some time, until people got wise that the desert denizens may not be enjoying the games much, and the practice was discontinued in the mid-1960s.
But costumed Wilbur, who even has a wife named Wilma, has been prancing about ever since.
While mascots are necessary additions to any team, they can also be pretty creepy.
You never know who may be lurking beneath that costume – or if the person is wearing any clothes.
UA lucked out as Wilbur is actually quite keen, but other college teams are stuck with some disturbing mascots, as listed on Bofa D’s Guide to Strange College Mascots.
Bofa D did note that wildcats in general are lame, since so many teams have them. He said Kansas State and Northwestern both have wildcats, although they are of the purple variety. At least Wilbur isn’t purple.
Some of the creepiest college mascots include:
The bright green mean thing: A boll weevil wobbles around the field at the University of Arkansas Monticello.
The pale yellow fat thing: A banana slug slings its gut at UC Santa Cruz.
The goofy gross grey thing: A malformed elephant named Big Al lumbers about to cheer on the Alabama Crimson Tide.
What do you think?
Is Wilbur the Wildcat the cat’s pajamas or a lame-o feline?
What would be an ideal mascot for any college team?
What is the coolest/creepiest mascot you recall?
27 Comments for this entry
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November 3rd, 2009 on 8:43 am
I like Wilber and Wilma. Sparky, (ASUgh) is lame as they come. Fork the devils.
The creepiest/weirdest mascot I’ve seen is the tree the Stanford Cardinal use.(used?…haven’t seen the thing in awhile)
A real rally killer.
November 3rd, 2009 on 8:49 am
hey! that tree was on Bofa D’s list!! i didn’t use it because there was too much confusion surrounding it – like why does it exist for a team called the CARDINALS?
also, sawyer likes to stick to animals rather than boring ole trees.
November 3rd, 2009 on 9:16 am
Rynski, sports buff,
the Cardinal, not cardinals, changed their name awhile back. Used to be the Stanford Indians-can’t have that.
“Cardinal” is some kind of giant sequoia, redwood or some damn thing…
November 3rd, 2009 on 9:24 am
what? the team is a singular thing – and not even a bird but a redwood? see? i TOLD you the whole thing had too much confusion surrounding it. hahaha.
go boll weevils.
November 3rd, 2009 on 9:47 am
I hear Sawyer loves trees…
November 3rd, 2009 on 9:49 am
he loves ripping the bark off the palm trees – or at least he used to until the only bark left that is chew-able is now too high for him to reach.
November 3rd, 2009 on 9:59 am
The more I hear about Sawyer, the less I’d like to meet him in a dark alley…you know how tough palm ‘bark’ is!??
Hey, I think I recall the Oregon duck and I believe the Ore.St. beaver gettin’ into it awhile back…think the duck kicked the beaver’s tail…what a hoot!…maybe it was Temple…
November 3rd, 2009 on 10:06 am
ha! mascot and bloody fighting – sawyer would love that, too!
November 3rd, 2009 on 8:44 am
Football sucks.
Growing up, my parents were all things football. My brother started playing football when he was nine in Pop Warner, and I started cheerleading when I was seven. We continued our football playing/cheerleading through high school. Our weekends were always filled with football, and if I wanted ‘Dad time’ I had to go to a UofA football game with him. Dad would take movies of my brother playing football, and in the evenings, we were all forced to sit around the movie screen Dad would drag out, fiddle forever with the movie projector and watch hours of my brother’s playing, with the occasional clip of me cheerleading. Dad, with good intentions of course, would stand next to the screen and critique my poor brother’s playing. YUCK
Now, my brother is rich thanks to football. He writes for Fox sports, was one of the original guys who started the Fantasy Football League, and has his own Fantasy Football Magazines he’s created, gets to interview football super stars, and for three years in a row, went to Vegas to be awarded sports writer of the year.
November 3rd, 2009 on 8:56 am
hahahah!
sorry to hear you were awash in football – sounds like torture! haha.
i bet your football rich brother has a wholly different take on the sport – impressed by his career and accolades.
when i was managing editor of the quay county sun in tucumcari, n.m., i covered EVERYTHING, even high school sports (college sports didn’t exist there) – high school sports are HUGE in smaller towns. i could see how people got into the games. I also noted how some would border on obsession. i was a very happy camper when football and basketball season ended.
November 3rd, 2009 on 9:14 am
My brother is in New Mexico…Albuquerque.
I always thought most (but not all) sports heroes were one step away from prison time (Michael Vick types, Mike Tyson) but luckily they found sports where they can pound on each other and make a great living! LOL
It’s a big yawner for me.
November 3rd, 2009 on 9:24 am
at least you weren’t stuck at a redwood tree game!
November 3rd, 2009 on 9:32 am
Or a yellow banana-slug game. lol
November 3rd, 2009 on 5:40 pm
Boooo az! I live for this time of year! Chill in the air,(93 today) tailgaiting,(nothing like watching somebody relieve themselves in the UofA parking lot)the fans,(shouting obscenities that would make a sailor cringe)…maybe you’re right az.
…but I still love football.
November 3rd, 2009 on 6:01 pm
Well Maxxie, enjoy it, with my blessing.
Personally, I’d rather have ol’ leatherface hang me on his big metal meathook, crank up the chainsaw and call it a day.
November 3rd, 2009 on 7:36 pm
Haha! My current lady keeps me quite busy these days, so I don’t miss it as much as I normally would.(she’s quite indifferent to sports)
I bet you would be a great date for a game though.
Try to keep an open mind about ‘em, they can be a blast!
November 3rd, 2009 on 9:39 am
I definitely think most mascots are creepy. First there is someone who ENJOYS being in a big, hot, sweaty suit . . . anonymously. This puts them in the same category with clowns whom I also find to be creepy.
The oddest mascot I’ve ever seen is the Scottsdale (AZ) Community College ‘Fighting Artichoke’!
http://www.scottsdalecc.edu/about_scc/why_the_artichoke.html
November 3rd, 2009 on 9:48 am
yes, yes, yes, creepy, creepy, creepy – also good point about the hot sweaty costume – and think how the inside of that thing must SMELL!!! i remember hearing about a guy who made his living as a mascot for some pro team. even i would rather wear i corporate suit, i think…maybe….
fighting artichoke has got to be one of the worst – thanks for the link to learn more about this atrocity (haha).
November 3rd, 2009 on 9:52 am
I loved it when Wilma the wildcat was in San Diego on the wharf and she stepped back and fell into the ocean. She had to take off the mask to keep from drowning and we all got to see who it was.
AzMouse , do you still have the Cheerleaders outfit? any Pics?
loudspeakers scruggs
November 3rd, 2009 on 10:03 am
Oh Farley…….
My parents might have one or two of my high school cheerleading outfits somewhere, but I’m honestly not sure.
I do have a ton of cheerleading pictures!
November 3rd, 2009 on 10:04 am
In the words of Rick James, “You’re Super Freaky, Yow”!
November 3rd, 2009 on 10:05 am
was wilma a woman or man underneath? did the furry garb weigh wilma down enough to gasp for air? did the mask float?
November 3rd, 2009 on 10:23 am
Yes, a woman. Who would don a female mascot outfit, Ryn? it goes against all reasoning, eww. The mask did float and I’m sure there’s a video somewhere. It broke the tradition of anoniminity, animinty, anonamousy, anaminity of who was inside, sorry.
station droopy?
November 3rd, 2009 on 10:41 am
dear station droopy,
i KNEW the mask would float.
and how would I know who wants to dress as a woman mascot – i’m only up on serial killers dressed as clowns – you can’t be too careful these days….
November 3rd, 2009 on 1:02 pm
Ryn,Ryn,Ryn: Stepping into the realm of sports now, you are a multi tasking, universal reporter.
Coolies, ok well as for Wilbur and Wilmas identity’s, they usually are not a well kept nuclear secret per say. In fact at the end of the season at the basketball games during senior night, if Wilbur and Wilma arein fact seniors at that time, they are introduced and awarded whatever awards mascots receive, ( i have no idea what that is) and at that point they both usually go without the large over sized heads on. It appears both are gymnasts and can do flips, jumps, flying acts that most normal people cannot due with there bodies, at least at certain ages as we get older.
So are they creepy, mysterious? Nah, i think maybe just some kids having a good time. Here is the ultimate question are they wearing any clothes under those large bulky heavy suits?
November 3rd, 2009 on 3:20 pm
hahaha! thanks, oldwest2 – but i shan’t be making a habit of dabbling in the realm of sports. unless, of course, something incredibly bloody, frightful or criminal happens at one of the games. hhaha.
thanks, too, for the fine tale of wilbur and wilma the acrobats. you make them sound so un-creepy and even kind of fun. it is also fun to hear that mascots actually get awards. it may even be enough to counter suffering in the costumes.
and yes, we’ll forever wonder about what lies beneath the suit – but maybe it’s better just to wonder.
November 7th, 2009 on 2:38 pm
I think Wilbur IS the sexiest gorgous mascot we have.
I’m proud to have him representing our school.
I think us WILDCATS are Wilbur and Wilma’s adopted kittys.
HAPPY GOLDEN BIRTHDAY WILBUR!
MANY HAPPY RETURN ON BEING THE BIG 5-0!
MAY ALL YOUR WISHES COMES TRUE WILBUR!