UA homecoming β€” already a time honored tradition β€” 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 year’s 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 β€” and not so swanky β€” hangouts.

But since before the words β€œbear down” were first uttered on the death bed of football player John Salmon of Sigma Nu in 1926, one thing has stayed the same β€” an undying and unmatched sense of school spirit.

Here’s 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 β€” it’s 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.

What’s in: Instagram, iPhones, smart watches.

Popular hangouts: Gentle Ben’s, Frog & Firkin, Dirtbag’s, HiFi Kitchen & Cocktails and North Fourth Avenue.

Top three songs: β€œThe Hills” by The Weekend, β€œWhat Do You Mean” by Justin Bieber and β€œCan’t Feel My Face” by The Weekend.

Pop culture: This year we’ve 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: β€œMad Max: Fury Road,” β€œAvengers: Age of Ultron,” β€œJurassic World,” β€œFurious 7,” β€œInside Out.”

U.S. president: Barack Obama.

2005

Thousands of fans stormed the field at Arizona Stadium after Arizona’s Homecoming victory over UCLA in 2005. UCLA came into the game undefeated and ranked No. 7 in the country.

HomecomingΒ game: Nov. 5 with a 52-14 win over UCLA.

Homecoming theme: Roll out the Red and Blue.

Top Billboard single: β€œGold Digger” by Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx.

Head football coach: Mike Stoops.

Movies: β€œStar Wars III β€” Revenge of the Sith,” β€œWedding Crashers,” β€œSerenity,” β€œThe 40-Year-Old Virgin,” β€œHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”

On television: β€œAmerican Idol,” β€œCSI,” β€œDesperate Housewives,” β€œGrey’s Anatomy.”

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

UA’s 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 theΒ computer lab to use it, and only one lab had β€œWorld Wide Web” 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, Zachary’s Pizza, Dirtbag’s, Gentle Ben’s, Mike’s Place.

Top Billboard single: β€œFantasy” by Mariah Carey.

Big movies: β€œHackers,” β€œThe Usual Suspects,” β€œSe7en.”

On television: β€œFriends,” β€œSeinfeld” and β€œMelrose Place.”

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 β€œTents on the Mall” for that year’s homecoming.

Popular hangouts: Wildcat House, Bum Steer, Dirtbag’s, The Green Dolphin, Fine Line and Carlos Murphy’s, The Gallagher Theater β€” with ticket prices at $1.50.

Fashion: Mini skirts, Bermuda shorts, new wave and preppy. And let’s not forget leg warmers and sweats.

Big movies: β€œBack to the Future,” β€œCocoon,” β€œThe Jewel of the Nile,” β€œThe Color Purple” and β€œThe Goonies.”

On TV: β€œMiami Vice,” β€œThe Cosby Show.”

U.S. president: Ronald Reagan.

Favorite student restaurants: Greasy Tony’s, Domino’s Pizza, Tucson Frozen Yogurt, Mama’s 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 America’s 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-Choo’s, The Bum Steer and Gentle Ben’s.

Favorite bands: Grover Washington, Eagles, BTO, Seals and Crofts, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Cool and the Gang.

Popular movies: β€œJaws.”

Home trend: Macrame art.

Facial hair: Mustaches.

Sweet Spot: Student Union Palace of Sweets, Swensen’s and Baskin-Robbins.

Dance: Country swing became popular.

Women’s 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 Women’s 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 β€œ74 Years of Sugar, Spice N’ Everything Nice,” float in the 1965 UA Homecoming Parade.

This year set a record for the UA’s largest student enrollment with 4,000 freshmen and 2,000 transfer students. Fifteen hundred of them participated in the 50th annual β€œA” day by whitewashing the β€œA” on β€œA” Mountain.

The β€œA” 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: β€œSeventy-four years with the Right Women.”

Popular getaways: Sabino Canyon, Mount Lemmon and Mexico beaches.

Movies: β€œDoctor Zhivago,” β€œThunderball,” β€œThe Sons of Katie Elder,” β€œThe Sound of Music.”

New TV shows: β€œDays of Our Lives,” β€œI Dream of Jeannie,” β€œLost in Space,” β€œGreen Acres,” β€œGet Smart,” β€œGidget.”

Top three Billboard songs: β€œWooly Bully” by Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs, β€œI Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” by Four Tops and β€œ(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by Rolling Stones.

U.S. president: Lyndon B. Johnson.


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