Not only did the 1961 Arizona Wildcats have a great year on the field (8-1-1 record, a final #17 ranking), but their turned in one of my favorite program designs ever. Here is a sample of the winning Wildcat cover formula for the ’61 season, from their November 11 home game against Idaho:
Everything about this is superb. The design elements still have a very late ’50s feel about them, especially the typeface for “Arizona Grid Review.” What could’ve been a very stilted, blocky design is made effective due to the use of varying shapes and colors. Both the cheerleaders and band get some love, but of course the team is front and center.
Each Arizona program for the 1961 season used this same layout, with the players in the center changing each game. Interestingly, the player photo is the only one in black and white.
I don’t know… something about this just screams “college football joy” to me.
