Question:

When and why did the university colors change from green and silver to red and blue?

Answer:

All right, if it's a history lesson you want, it's a history lesson you'll get.

Once upon a time in 1899, before they were even called "Wildcats," the UA football team had "uniforms" that weren't more than "padded canvas pants, old shoes to which a local shoemaker attached cleats and shoulder pads made of old shirts stuffed under their shirts," according to the UA Web site. "Practice" meant getting up early and running to Fort Lowell and back, just in time for a quick shower before class. The original team was so hardcore it played without headgear whatsoever - never mind the fact that they couldn't afford the equipment anyway.

See, when Tucson got the UA in 1885, losing the state asylum to Phoenix, the city only received a $25,000 appropriation to fund the school. I can't imagine a lot of that went into the football team.

But a break came in 1900, when Quintas J. Anderson, UA student manager, was offered a great deal on football jerseys. There was a catch, however. They weren't dyed the university's signature sage green and silver. Instead, you guessed it; they were solid blue with red trim.

Was this a compromise between the budget and school spirit? Well, maybe, but I'm sure that everyone was figuring out that sickly green and off-white were passŽ anyway, what with the new school colors being welcomed so enthusiastically. Thus the university's official school colors became cardinal red and navy blue.

I couldn't find out if this was before or after we starting playing with helmets.

Case closed.

- Investigation by Detective Kris Cabulong

If you've got a UA-related mystery or conspiracy that needs cracking, e-mail your neighborhood campus detective at catcalls@wildcat.arizona.edu.