UA homecoming â already a time honored tradition â brings with it extra Wildcat pride this year, as the University of Arizona celebrates 100 years of Greek Life.
Kappa Sigma, the first recognized national organization, joined the university in 1915, ushering in a fraternity and sorority community that has churned out more than 50,000 Wildcat members.
This yearâs homecoming also marks the 50th reunion for the class of 1965 and is the 101st homecoming for the university.
Things have changed over the years, from popular music to swanky â and not so swanky â hangouts.
But since before the words âbear downâ were first uttered on the death bed of football player John Salmon of Sigma Nu in 1926, one thing has stayed the same â an undying and unmatched sense of school spirit.
Hereâs what the past several decades of UA life have looked like.
2015
University of Arizona fans Steve Wiberg, left, and Bill Ghormley, class of 1992, cheer with other fans, students and alumni gathered Saturday at HiFi Kitchen and Cocktails, to watch the UA football team beat Oregon State. Expect more cheering this weekend â itâs homecoming.
Homecoming theme: 100 Years of Greek Life.
Bonfire and pep rally: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, on the west side of Old Main.
Wildcat for Life Tailgate Party: Family-friendly event with a no-host bar, food trucks and the chance to hang out with friends from all eras. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24.
Parade: Oct. 24 at the UA Mall. 9 a.m.
Homecoming game: Oct. 24 against Washington State. 1 p.m.
Head football coach: Rich Rodriguez.
Whatâs in: Instagram, iPhones, smart watches.
Popular hangouts: Gentle Benâs, Frog & Firkin, Dirtbagâs, HiFi Kitchen & Cocktails and North Fourth Avenue.
Top three songs: âThe Hillsâ by The Weekend, âWhat Do You Meanâ by Justin Bieber and âCanât Feel My Faceâ by The Weekend.
Pop culture: This year weâve said goodbye to the late show with David Letterman, said hello to Caitlyn Jenner and grew tired of all things Kardashian.
Popular slang: On fleek, bae, basic and hella.
Movies: âMad Max: Fury Road,â âAvengers: Age of Ultron,â âJurassic World,â âFurious 7,â âInside Out.â
U.S. president: Barack Obama.
2005
Thousands of fans stormed the field at Arizona Stadium after Arizonaâs Homecoming victory over UCLA in 2005. UCLA came into the game undefeated and ranked No. 7 in the country.
Homecoming game: Nov. 5 with a 52-14 win over UCLA.
Homecoming theme: Roll out the Red and Blue.
Top Billboard single: âGold Diggerâ by Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx.
Head football coach: Mike Stoops.
Movies: âStar Wars III â Revenge of the Sith,â âWedding Crashers,â âSerenity,â âThe 40-Year-Old Virgin,â âHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.â
On television: âAmerican Idol,â âCSI,â âDesperate Housewives,â âGreyâs Anatomy.â
Pop culture: Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston divorce. Michael Jackson found not guilty on all 10 felony and all four misdemeanor charges in child-molestation case.
U.S. president: George W. Bush.
1995
UAâs Brandon Sanders tackles Oregon tailback Ricky Whittle during the homecoming game at Arizona Stadium on Nov. 11, 1995.
UA graduates say they got their first email accounts this year, but had to go to the computer lab to use it, and only one lab had âWorld Wide Webâ access.
Homecoming game: Nov. 11 against the Oregon Ducks. University of Oregon won 17-13.
Homecoming queen and king: Day Keller and Ruben Morales.
Homecoming theme: Wildcats Come Marching Home.
Popular hangouts: Fine Line, Wildcat House, Zacharyâs Pizza, Dirtbagâs, Gentle Benâs, Mikeâs Place.
Top Billboard single: âFantasyâ by Mariah Carey.
Big movies: âHackers,â âThe Usual Suspects,â âSe7en.â
On television: âFriends,â âSeinfeldâ and âMelrose Place.â
Head football coach: Dick Tomey.
U.S. president: Bill Clinton.
1985
A UCLA player makes a leap over the line of scrimmage to set up a touchdown during the Arizona homecoming football game in Tucson on Nov. 9, 1985. Arizona lost, 24-19.
Arizona raised the legal drinking age to 21 from 19.
The west end of the Mall between Cherry and Campbell avenues became the scene of âTents on the Mallâ for that yearâs homecoming.
Popular hangouts: Wildcat House, Bum Steer, Dirtbagâs, The Green Dolphin, Fine Line and Carlos Murphyâs, The Gallagher Theater â with ticket prices at $1.50.
Fashion: Mini skirts, Bermuda shorts, new wave and preppy. And letâs not forget leg warmers and sweats.
Big movies: âBack to the Future,â âCocoon,â âThe Jewel of the Nile,â âThe Color Purpleâ and âThe Goonies.â
On TV: âMiami Vice,â âThe Cosby Show.â
U.S. president: Ronald Reagan.
Favorite student restaurants: Greasy Tonyâs, Dominoâs Pizza, Tucson Frozen Yogurt, Mamaâs Pizza and Noodles and Crust.
Homecoming queen and king: Kellie Doyle and Scott Whyte.
Head football coach: Larry Smith.
Homecoming game: Lost to UCLA 19-24.
1975
An Aggie receiver makes a leaping catch during the New Mexico at Arizona homecoming football game in Tucson on Oct. 25, 1975. Arizona lost, 44-34.
Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first historically black Greek sorority, was established.
The UA yearbook for the 1975-76 school year featured a section dedicated to the 200th year of Americaâs independence, which included timelines of Tucson and the UA.
Manzanita-Mohave became the first co-ed dorm at UA.
The Wildcats were ranked in the national Top 20 every week of football season.
Homecoming game: The Wildcats lost to the New Mexico Lobos 44-34.
Head football coach: Jim Young.
North Fourth Avenue: Shops include How Sweet it Was, Glass by Jeiber, Morningstar Traders, The Clay Hut, The Catalyst, The Backpacker and the Glass Eye.
Night life: Stumble Inn, Choo-Chooâs, The Bum Steer and Gentle Benâs.
Favorite bands: Grover Washington, Eagles, BTO, Seals and Crofts, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Cool and the Gang.
Popular movies: âJaws.â
Home trend: Macrame art.
Facial hair: Mustaches.
Sweet Spot: Student Union Palace of Sweets, Swensenâs and Baskin-Robbins.
Dance: Country swing became popular.
Womenâs rights: Women at the UA joined forces to combat sex discrimination at Pima College after 18 employees there filed complaints and were fired. A new Womenâs Drop-In Center set up by ASUA (Associated Students of the University of Arizona) in the basement of the Student Union served as a space for those coordinating those efforts. It was also a place for women to get together for support and to exchange ideas.
1965
The â74 Years of Sugar, Spice Nâ Everything Nice,â float in the 1965 UA Homecoming Parade.
This year set a record for the UAâs largest student enrollment with 4,000 freshmen and 2,000 transfer students. Fifteen hundred of them participated in the 50th annual âAâ day by whitewashing the âAâ on âAâ Mountain.
The âAâ on the mountain was also rebuilt.
Sorority membership averaged in the 70s, fraternity membership ranged between 80-100.
The homecoming celebration was attended by 15,000 alumni.
The float parade took place in downtown Tucson before the game. Homecoming royalty was presented during half time.
Homecoming rival team: Air Force Academy Falcons won the game 34-7.
Head football coach: Jim LaRue.
Homecoming queen: Emily Sult.
Homecoming theme: âSeventy-four years with the Right Women.â
Popular getaways: Sabino Canyon, Mount Lemmon and Mexico beaches.
Movies: âDoctor Zhivago,â âThunderball,â âThe Sons of Katie Elder,â âThe Sound of Music.â
New TV shows: âDays of Our Lives,â âI Dream of Jeannie,â âLost in Space,â âGreen Acres,â âGet Smart,â âGidget.â
Top three Billboard songs: âWooly Bullyâ by Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs, âI Canât Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)â by Four Tops and â(I Canât Get No) Satisfactionâ by Rolling Stones.
U.S. president: Lyndon B. Johnson.



