As a result of a student correspondent's article in 1914, THE WILDCATS' NICKNAME became part of Arizona tradition. Bill Henry, a Los Angeles Times student correspondent, penned the phrase, "The Arizona men showed the fight of wildcats." following the Arizona-Occidental football game at Occidental. Students in Tucson decided to call Arizona athletic teams the Wildcats from now on after reading the article.

Sage green and silver were the school colors until 1899. That year, Quintus J. Anderson, the student manager of the football team, negotiated a favorable deal with a local merchant for blue sweaters with red trim. Since then, cardinal and navy blue have remained the school's colors.