Craig Patterson
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patterwho.bsky.social
Craig Patterson
@patterwho.bsky.social
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AZ Wildcat, Central Iowan, McCain Republican - Fiscal Conservative, Social Liberal. I miss bipartisanship.
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historicalmarker.bsky.social
University of Arizona football had a Win-One-For-The-Gipper story in 1926, 2 years before Knute Rockne’s George Gipp pep talk at Notre Dame, yet we did not have Ronald Reagan star as the doomed John “Button” Salmon in “Pop McKale, All-American” tucson.com/article_afd8...
Bust of John “Button” Salmon outside Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona. Arizona football players touch the bust before each game. The marker tells the story of how Salmon’s plea for his Arizona football teammates in 1926 has remained a Wildcats rallying cry ever since. Marker on the John “Button” Salmon bust outside Arizona Stadium. It reads: JOHN BYRD "BUTTON" SALMON 1903-1926 The University of Arizona’s most enduting tradition is the slogan and battle cry. "Bear Down." In October of 1926. John “Button” Salmon, University of Arizona student body President, football quarterback and baseball catcher, was fatally injured in an automobile acident. His last words spoken to coach F. "Pop. McKale were "Tell them. Tell the team to Bear Down." A University memorial service was held for Button and was followed by a funeral procession almost three miles long. A year later the student body Voted to make "Bear Down" the official slogan of all UA Athletic teams, and the words were painted on the foof of the new UA gymnasium which soon became known as Bear Down gym. In 1952 band director Jack Lee observed Button's rooftop message from an airplane and was inspired to write the music and lyrics to "Bear Down, Arizona,” which shortly thereafter was adopted as UA's fight song. Button Salmon died generations ago but his message still echoes across avary un athletic venue, in every corner and through every building on campus, and in thoughts of tens of thousands of Wildcat supporters past, present and future. BEAR DOWN In honor of all Wildcat Letterwinners Bear Down sculpture on the University of Arizona campus erected in honor of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Marker on large Bear Down sculpture on the University of Arizona campus. It reads: BEAR DOWN TWO SIMPLE, POWERFUL WORDS In 1926, Arizona student body president and quarterback John "Button" Salmon's last words to his teammates echoed throughout the campus community. "DETERMINATION", one of our core values, is the essence of that rallying cry. Our Wildcat spirit moves forward in the face of adversity, compelling us to lead in a quickly changing world. Wherever we are around the globe, we are connected. We recognize and acknowledge the bold determination within each other, with a unifying exchange of two simple, yet powerful words. Dedicated November 6, 2021, in tribute to the campus community's COVID-19 pandemic response
December 1, 2024 at 1:18 AM