Addressing all your most important questions and concerns.

Question: How did "Bear Down" get to be painted on the roof of Bear Down Gym?

Answer: Traditions are always fun mysteries to solve! After searching the Wildcat archives, I came across the famous story behind our team's motto. Bear Down Gymnasium, built in 1926, was originally the men's gym, and was used as barracks for cadets attending the Naval Training School during World War II. The Department of Campus Recreation now utilizes Bear Down for intramurals, activity classes and camps, and as a general recreation facility for the university community.

But why the name "Bear Down" Gymnasium? In October 1926, quarterback John "Button" Salmon, a popular student-athlete and student body president, was injured in an automobile accident following the first football game of the season. He died shortly after in the hospital. When visited by Athletics Director J.F. "Pops" McKale and asked if he had any message for the team, Button is reported to have said, "Tell the team to bear down." Those are the six most beloved words in the history of UA athletics.

A year later, the student body voted to make it the official slogan of UA sports, and two years later the men's junior honorary organization, Chain Gang, sponsored a fundraising dance to paint "Bear Down" on the roof of the gymnasium.

And, just in case you were wondering, I also discovered the story behind the origin of the fight song. One day in 1952, Jack K. Lee, an applicant for the UA's band directorship, was leaving Tucson by air following an interview with university administration. From his airplane window, Lee observed the huge letters on the roof of the gymnasium. Inspired, he began to scribble down the music and lyrics to an up-tempo song. By the time his plane landed, he had virtually finished it. A few weeks later Lee was named the university's band director, and, in September of that year, the UA band performed "Bear Down, Arizona!" in public for the first time. Soon thereafter "Bear Down, Arizona!" became accepted as the UA's fight song.

If you can believe it, "Bear Down Arizona!" is so famous I found it on my cell phone as a downloadable ring! Hearing the fight song every time grandma calls, now that's school spirit!

I hope you all enjoyed my little history lesson! Now, if I could only get the fight song out of my head...

Do you have a burning question keeping you up tossing and turning at night? Send it to the campus detective! E-mail her at catcalls@wildcat.arizona.edu