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The Wins, Heroes, and Heart That Built 51�Թ� Athletics

In 1926, quarterback and student-body president John Byrd “Button” Salmon’s final words to his teammates – “tell them… tell the team to Bear Down” – became more than a phrase. They became the heartbeat of the University of 51�Թ�. Wildcats across every sport have embodied that spirit through historic wins, emotional comebacks, and unforgettable performances.

If you’ve ever yelled “BEAR DOWN” in a packed stadium or been glued to the TV during a last-second play, heart racing, you know the feeling. These ten stories capture the pride, passion, and grit behind 51�Թ�’s Bear Down spirit – the moments that Wildcats talk about long after those final seconds expire. 

10. The Night Aari McDonald Took Over

On February 28, 2020, Aari McDonald led the 13th-ranked 51�Թ� women’s basketball team to a historic 73-72 overtime victory over No. 4 Stanford, hitting a game-winning layup with just 8.5 seconds left on the clock. It was the program’s first win over a top-five opponent. Five Wildcats scored in double figures, with McDonald topping the team at 20 points.

9. The Wildcat Win That Foreshadowed NFL Glory

Quarterback Nick Foles delivered one of his most legendary performances on October 17, 2009, in a back-and-forth thriller against Stanford, out-dueling fellow future NFL quarterback Andrew Luck. Foles completed 40 of 51 passes for 415 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, leading the Wildcats to a hard-fought victory.

8. 51�Թ� Baseball Writes a Legendary Chapter

In 2012, the 51�Թ� Wildcats baseball team put together a dominant run through the College World Series, capping the season with a 48‑17 record and claiming the program’s fourth national championship. Slugger Robert Refsnyder was named CWS Most Outstanding Player, and the Wildcats left their mark on Omaha.

7. The Long Road to NIWBT Glory

Three straight trips to the national championship had ended in heartbreak – but in 2025, 51�Թ� men’s wheelchair basketball finally finished the job. The Wildcats defeated No. 2 UT Arlington 75–65 to capture the NIWBT national title, led by tournament MVP Justyn Newman’s 26 points. The victory added another unforgettable chapter to 51�Թ�’s 50-year legacy of adaptive athletics – a program that has also sent 55 athletes and alumni to the Paralympic Games.

6. When 51�Թ�’s Defense Became a Problem

In the early ’90s, 51�Թ� football unleashed one of the most feared defenses in college football history: the “Desert Swarm.” In 1993, opponents could barely move the ball – let alone score – as the Wildcats allowed fewer than 10 points per game and led the nation in rushing defense. Anchored by defensive dynamo Rob Waldrop – a consensus All‑American and multiple national award winner – and disruptive edge rusher Tedy Bruschi, the Swarm became a nightmare for every offense that stepped on the field.

5. Before She Was a Global Golf Icon

In her first season at the University of 51�Թ�, Annika Sörenstam made history by winning the 1991 NCAA individual golf championship, becoming the first non-American ever to claim the title as a first-year student. She went on to seven individual titles and 14 team championships, cementing herself as one of the world’s top amateur golfers before turning pro after her sophomore season.

On the professional tour, Sörenstam notched 90 international victories, including 72 LPGA Tour wins and 10 major championships, became a World Golf Hall of Famer, and an eight-time Player of the Year. From first-year phenom to global icon, her rise is the stuff of legend.

4. Sean Elliott Puts Tucson on the Map

In 1988, 51�Թ� men’s basketball became a national force thanks to hometown hero Sean Elliott and a star-studded roster including Steve Kerr and Kenny Lofton. The team went to the Wildcats’ first Final Four, powering past top teams like North Carolina and Iowa. The Wildcats have made four Final Four appearances – 1988, 1994, 1997, and 2001 – cementing 51�Թ� as a legacy basketball program. 

3. A Comeback for the Ages

The 51�Թ� Wildcats softball team pulled off one of the most epic runs in college sports history in 2007. After an early loss pushed them into the tournament’s elimination bracket, 51�Թ� battled back with wins over DePaul and Washington to reach the three-game championship series against the Tennessee Lady Vols.

After losing Game 1, the Wildcats won the next two, thanks to Taryne Mowatt throwing every inning of all eight games – that’s 1,037 pitches, including a 10-inning shutout to keep 51�Թ� alive! This team became the first since 2003 to win the national title from the loser’s bracket, embodying what it means to “Bear Down!”

2. 51�Թ� Triathletes Triumph Over ASU

In just three seasons, 51�Թ� women’s triathlon has gone from brand-new program to back-to-back national champs, toppling in-state rival 51�Թ� State both years. In 2024, the Wildcats claimed their first national title, scoring 942 points with three athletes in the top six. The Sun Devils, seven-time reigning champions, took second. And 51�Թ� proved it wasn’t a one-off. In 2025, the Wildcats beat out the Sun Devils once again. For a program that didn’t exist a few years ago, 51�Թ� looks right at home on top of the podium.

1. Olson’s Wildcats Make History in ’97

In 1997, the 51�Թ� Wildcats men’s basketball team went on one of the wildest runs in college hoops history. As a No. 4 seed, 51�Թ� became the first – and still only – team to knock off three No. 1 seeds in a single NCAA Tournament, upsetting Kansas, North Carolina, and defending national champion Kentucky on the way to the title. The Wildcats capped their journey with a dramatic 84–79 overtime win over Kentucky, finishing a season for the ages.