In 1915, the school's first mascot, a live desert bobcat named "Tom Easter" was brought to campus.

However, in 1959, Wilbur, the costumed version of the live bobcat mascots, began appearing at football games.

[2] Originally, in honor of Arizona's Old West heritage, Wilbur wore a blue flat-topped cowboy hat, a blue vest, a cardinal bandana scarf around his neck and a holster with two pistols.

However, the hat remains on Wilbur, and Wilma wears a cardinal-colored bow.

The identities of the students portraying Wilbur and Wilma are kept confidential until the final home basketball game of the season.