Bear Down, University motto in Tucson, Arizona, US
Bear Down is the official motto of the University of Arizona Wildcats, displayed across campus in paintings, sculptures, and inscriptions. The phrase appears on the football field between the 15-yard lines and marks a central part of campus identity.
The motto originated in 1926 when a dying student leader spoke the words before succumbing to injuries from an accident. This moment became foundational to the university's identity.
The motto shapes daily campus life and appears beyond just sports, painted on buildings and sung in university fight songs at events.
The motto is visible throughout campus and easy to spot, especially when visiting sports facilities and the stadium. Many visitors touch the bronze bust near the football stadium entrance as part of the local tradition.
The motto is engraved on the artificial turf between the 15-yard lines on the football field, added during a 2013 stadium renovation. This hidden detail surprises many visitors walking across the playing surface.
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