INAUGURAL STUDENT-ATHLETE CONVOCATION SET FOR MAY 12

We're excited to announce a new addition to the Arizona Athletics schedule of events. On Thursday, May 12, we'll be hosting the inaugural C.A.T.S. Academics Student-Athlete Convocation. The event will be held in the McKale Center starting at 10:30 a.m., and we'd like to invite the public to come celebrate our 91 Spring, Summer and Fall '16 graduating student-athletes along with their family and friends. In case you were wondering, admission is free and the clear bag policy for athletics events will be in effect.

The program will include addresses from keynote speaker Ernie Durazo, who is graduating this May as part of our 'Cats Forever' program, athletics department Valedictorian Sheaffer Skadsen from soccer, members of the campus community, and I'll probably say a few words. In addition, each member of the graduating class will be announced, and have the opportunity to cross the stage and be 'sashed' by their head coach. We think this will be a wonderful event and we're really looking forward to honoring the young men and women for this tremendous achievement.

Parking will be available in the Cherry Garage next to the McKale Center at the standard hourly rate as well as metered parking on Enke Dr. Please enter McKale via the doors adjacent to the McKale Ticket Office.

PHOENIX IS WILDCAT COUNTRY

Adia Barnes, Sean Miller, Rich Rodriguez and I will be in the Valley tomorrow (May 5) to kick off our 2016 Road Tour. We're looking forward to spending some time with our fans from the Phoenix area at Culinary Dropout from 5-7 p.m. If you're interested in joining us, you can find all the info you need at arizonawildcats.com/roadtour.

We say it all the time. We're not the University of Tucson, we are the University of Arizona and it is important that we have a presence in the Valley. In that same fashion, it's important that our fans, alumni and donors from the Phoenix area support us when they have the opportunity.

Fortunately, we have just that opportunity to start the football season. We're about four months away from the Cactus Kickoff vs. BYU. As of today, a little over 20,000 tickets have been sold. If you already have tickets, encourage your friends to join us. If you don't have them yet, you can find information on the game, including the Ticketmaster link to buy tickets, by visiting ArizonaWildcats.com/cactuskickoff.

SAND CATS HEADED TO NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

After making an appearance in the finals of the Pac-12 Championships, our sand volleyball team was rewarded for its fantastic season by being named one of eight teams that will appear at the inaugural NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships May 6-8 in Gulf Shores, Ala. We'll enter the double-elimination tournament as the six seed and will open the tournament on Friday at 10 a.m. MST against No. 3 Pepperdine.

TruTV will air coverage of the championships on Friday and Saturday from Noon-3 p.m. MST, while TBS will air the championship match on Sunday at 11 a.m. Live streaming coverage of every court in each match of the tournament will be available on NCAA.com. If you'd like more information, you can visit ncaa.com/beachvolleyball.



 

BRANDON HONORED AT WOODEN CITIZENSHIP CUP DINNER

Last Wednesday, I had the pleasure of accompanying swimming's Bonnie Brandon and her family at the Wooden Citizenship Cup awards dinner in Atlanta. Bonnie was one of five finalists for the award that goes to a student-athlete based on character and leadership both on and off the field, along with contributions to sport and society. Although she did not win the award, it was hard to walk away from that event without feeling like everyone won. What a great group of young men and women and what great representatives of their institutions and collegiate athletics as a whole.

Sometimes, there can be so much attention paid to the negatives of college athletics that we forget there are overwhelmingly more positives taking place on a day-to-day basis and those five finalists represent the thousands of student-athletes who are bettering not only their lives, but the lives of others, through their effort and example.

We applaud Bonnie and all the student-athletes who embody the characteristics the Wooden Cup seeks to recognize. Your contributions are truly appreciated.

If you'd like to learn more about Bonnie (pictured below with her parents Dave and Teresa), you can read our full release by clicking HERE.



 

SOFTBALL LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK VS. THE BEAVERS

Softball returns home to beautiful Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium this weekend to host the Oregon State Beavers. The action starts this Friday, May 6 at 5 p.m., and will continue on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at noon. Arrive early on Saturday for your chance to receive a pair of Arizona softball sunglasses. Tickets are still available and only $8 when purchased in advance. Click HERE to purchase today.

BASEBALL HOSTS OREGON STATE IN PIVOTAL PAC-12 SERIES

Coach Johnson and the baseball team returns to Hi Corbett Field as they host an important three-game series against Oregon State beginning Friday, May 6 at 7 p.m. The Cats will continue their series at 7 p.m. on Saturday as they celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1976 National Championship and the first 400 fans in attendance will receive a 1976 pennant. The series finale will be at Noon on Sunday, with all mothers receiving a free in-stadium massage and water bottle in honor of Mother's Day. Don't forget, it's also Sunday Fun Day, so select concession items will be 50% off and kids will be able to run the bases after the game. For tickets or more information, call (520) 621-CATS or click HERE.



 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

To review the list of upcoming events, broadcast information, start times and stat links, click HERE. (Note: All times are listed as Mountain Standard Time, i.e. Tucson time.)

To purchase tickets for home events, click HERE.

To access live stats from your desktop or mobile device, visit ArizonaLiveStats.com.

WEAR THE COLORS – SHARE THE PHOTOS

Thank you for wearing the colors and sharing your Arizona pride! If your photo submission did not make this week's edition of the Wildcat Wednesday, please check our "Wildcat Wednesday" album at facebook.com/ArizonaAthletics.

NOTE: Please submit photos for Wildcat Wednesday with an original email touofaad@arizona.edu using the subject line 'Wildcat Wednesday photo.' Also, please ensure all submissions are clear and properly lit. We also ask that you identify everyone in the photo so we can highlight them accordingly.





 

Continue to do what you can to help Arizona Athletics and:
1. Accept the Bear Down Challenge
2. Buy Season Tickets
3. Wear the Colors (Especially on Friday)
4. Get Others to do the Same

Bear Down with Pride,

Greg Byrne
Vice President for Athletics
The University of Arizona
uofaad@arizona.edu