Arizona Wildcats go retro permanently with new football uniforms

Arizona Wildcats head football coach Jedd Fisch has tapped into his program’s past amid his cultural rebuild.

That’s reflected in the team’s new uniforms revealed on Wednesday.

The Wildcats are going retro, calling back to the Desert Swarm teams of the 1990s.

New Year, New Threads.#DesertRising #ItsPersonal #BearDown pic.twitter.com/Be3ZZ9Dq82

— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) August 4, 2021

Inspired by the Past, Built for the Future.#DesertRising #ItsPersonal #BearDown pic.twitter.com/p3HOUeIcc6

— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) August 4, 2021

There had been hints that this was coming. Recent recruits had posted images of themselves suited up in the old school jerseys and helmets, and Fisch hinted that the Wildcats could be going with a cleaner, simpler look.

The Wildcats had similar retro uniforms installed as an option in 2019, but they will now be permanent.

“I think I’m going to tell you the same thing I tell the recruits: Don’t worry about the uniforms,” he said at Pac-12 media day on July 27. “We got to play well. Hopefully, these uniforms will look good on them. I think everybody will be happy with the way they look.

“But I do believe in tradition. I do believe in basics. I believe in being able to wear the same helmet for every game.”

The jerseys and pants come in white and navy; the white jerseys have navy numbering with red piping, while the navy jerseys have white numbering and also come with red piping.

The sleeves and mid-stripe on the helmets feature striping of the three main colors.

Additionally, “Cats” embroidery appears on the side of the pants.