Arizona Wildcats Get Creative With Their Football Field and 'Bear Down'

The Arizona Wildcats are the latest to join a growing trend in college football by putting their own unique stamp on their football field. They didn't go crazy and go with alternating red and blue turf down the length of the field or anything. It is a little more subtle than some of the things we've seen (like Wyoming's mountainous end zone).

At first thought you might think 'hey--aren't they the Wildcats? What's with the bear down thing?' But the slogan has nothing to do with any animal. It actually stem a pretty cool story from way, way back in 1926.

The student body president, John Salmon, had gotten in a car accident and would eventually die from his injuries (that's not the cool part). Before he passed he was able to speak with the football team's coach, Pop McKale.

As legend has it his final words were:

"Tell them.....tell the team to Bear Down."

And a slogan was born.

So no, it has nothing to do with their mascot, but is a reminder of what to do when the going gets tough--bear down, get tougher, and keep pushing and striving to win.

I'm not a big fan of all the different fields, but this one I like. Well done Wildcats.

[Pics from Lost Letterman]