Dave Heeke reveals the origin of the Arizona Wildcats hand symbol

[DWIZZ]

"Football season is coming up very soon. That's going to be an exciting time across campus. And then there's basketball and baseball and softball— so many sports to get involved in," he said. "The school spirit and the dedication: you'll be able to feel it on campus. Hopefully with all your support we can win more football games than we did last year!"

UA Athletic Director Dave Heeke also tapped into the global wildcat spirit during an event at Gallagher Theater, explaining the "Bear Down" chant, the wildcat nickname and the famous hand symbol.

"Interestingly enough, that symbol was created by an international student: one of our swimmers from England, so it is something maybe all of you can identify with," said Heeke. "This is a world-class university with people from all over the world, and we're excited that we all share in these traditions"