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A historic image of the Pride of Arizona performing and walking across the University of Arizona football fields.

“Bear Down, Arizona”

A flash of inspiration on a flight over the U of A campus gave us our fight song. Die-hard Wildcats may be found humming it in their sleep. 

A historic black-and-white image of the Pride of Arizona band forming an "A" on the University of Arizona football field.

Jack Lee’s Vision

In 1952, Jack K. Lee was flying into Tucson from Michigan to interview for a position as the U of A band director and saw the words BEAR DOWN painted on the top of the U of A gym. 

A historic black-and-white image of the Pride of Arizona marching band walking across the University of Arizona football field.

Our Fight Song

Seized by inspiration, Lee took out a pencil and notepad and wrote a set of lyrics for a song called “Bear Down, Arizona,” which he included in his application. He got the job — and we got our song.

An image of a Pride of Arizona tuba player smiling and holding up the University of Arizona wildcat (WC) hand sign.

The Pride of Arizona

Today, the Pride of Arizona Marching Band keeps the tradition of the song alive at games, celebrations and campus gatherings. (You’ll also hear a 1950s-era recording of the song playing across campus every day at noon, digitized from an old reel-to-reel tape.)

TRADITIONS  TERRITORIAL CUP