Athletics Director Greg Byrne's weekly email discussing Wildcat Athletics
February 22, 2012
RED OUT THIS SATURDAY - WEAR RED
Saturday's men's basketball game vs. UCLA is a RED OUT! Our team is going to be fired up for this game in their special Nike Hyper Elite Platinum ZONA uniforms. It's also Senior Day. Kyle Fogg, Alex Jacobson, Brendon Lavender, Jesse Perry, and Dondre Wise will be honored in a special postgame ceremony. Help make this a day to remember for our seniors by cheering loud, staying for the ceremony after the game, and wearing RED!
THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT
I'd like to extend our gratitude to all the fans who helped make our home openers in baseballand softball a success last week. We drew a total of 16,379 spectators to six games at Hi Corbett and Rita Hillenbrand, and that is outstanding. Keep it up and attend the home baseball games this Friday & Saturday vs. Auburn at Hi Corbett! Fans with a ticket from the men's basketball game vs. UCLA can purchase Saturday baseball tickets at the Hi Corbett Field box office for half off (adult tickets only).
Too, our other home events in women's basketball, gymnastics and men's and women's tennis also were successful. Please, watch the Cats in person whenever you can - it means a lot to our student-athletes. The `Wag the Tail' event in McKale Center for women's basketball on Sunday - fans could bring their dogs - was particularly amazing.
30 PRIZES IN 30 DAYS WRAPPING UP
Football season tickets renewals continue to outpace last year's numbers. We are very appreciative of those of you who have renewed early and online. Fans still have a week to renew football season tickets early to take advantage of the early online renewal incentives: $10 service fee waived, $10 store credit to BearDownShop.com (with minimum purchase), and entry in the 30 Prizes in 30 Days drawing. The early renewal deadline is February 29.
There still are some great prizes to be given away including a VIP package to the 2013 Fiesta Bowl (includes two tickets, hospitality and parking), the opportunity to call a play from the sidelines at the April 14 Spring Football Game, and Twitter lessons with me (who knows, you might be able to teach me something!). You can check out the prizes and list of winners by clicking here. Get your football season tickets renewed so you're eligible to win. If you have already renewed you are automatically entered.
There is a lot of excitement around the football program right now thanks to Coach Rodriguez's arrival, the construction of the North End Zone project, and next year's 8-game home schedule. If you don't have season tickets, now is the time to jump in and help us pull the rope.
ON THE DECK IN SEATTLE
Our women's swimming and divingteam headed to the Seattle area today for the Pac-12 Championships in Federal Way, Wash. The No. 9 Wildcats have a number of highly competitive swimmers and divers to contend for league titles as well as continue preparations for nationals next month. The diving competition also will include the men's sidetomorrow. It's another event in the State Farm Territorial Cup Series between the Cats and Sun Devils. (UA currently leads, 4.5 to 2.5 points, with basketball showdowns coming next week.) Good luck to all our swimmers and divers, and Bear Down.
ALSO IN SEATTLE
On Friday and Saturday in Seattle, our indoor track and field teams will compete in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships (the Pac-12's indoor T&F component). We'll send almost 50 student-athletes to the event with another State Farm Territorial Cup Series point on the line and five individual event titles to defend.
CATS ON THE LINKS
Congratulations to the women's golf team for winning their second tournament of the spring season at the UNLV Invitational Monday at Tuesday. UA earned a 19-stroke victory over the hosting Rebels with senior Isabelle Boineau and freshman Manon Gidali sharing first place. The Wildcats placed three golfers in the top four and all five players in the top eight.
TEEING, ROPING AND KICKING
Congratulations to men's golf letterwinner Jim Furyk for his appearance in today's opening round of the Accenture WGC Match Play event at the Ritz Carlton golf course in Marana. Jim's one of the world's top 64 competing in the event, which not only showcases the globe's finest players but our own community in extensive coverage by NBC and the Golf Channel as well as by journalists from around the world. The sun is shining on Tucson for this, the Tucson Rodeo, MLS Soccer spring training and our own events this week. Quite a menu of sports choices, as always this time of year.
SPECIAL WEAR THE COLORS T-SHIRT - GREEN!
The University of Arizona Alumni Association is offering an exclusive limited edition Original Retro Brand t-shirt just in time for St. Patrick's Day. "Kiss Me I'm Wild" is perfect for all Wildcats and is available for a limited time online here. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in style and show everyone you're a Wildcat For Life!
SCHEDULE NOTES...
We close our regular men's basketball home season with a game tomorrow (6:30 p.m.) against USC and at noon Saturday against UCLA. Needless to say, these are very important contests for our post-season hopes and we'd appreciate some enlivened crowds. Tickets for both of these games have been selling well. CheckArizonaWildcats.com for availability.... The women's basketball team takes its final road trip of the year to Los Angeles, with games tomorrow at USC and at UCLA on Saturday.... Gymnastics plays host to Washington in a meet at 7:00 p.m. Friday in McKale Center, its next-to-last home meet of the year. Tickets are only $8 for adults and $5 for youth and seniors... The women's swimming team, as mentioned, is in Washington for the conference championships today through Friday, with diving competition for both men and women on different days... Softball plays six games in the Palm Springs area tomorrow through Sunday in the very competitive Cathedral City Classic - with 90 games total in the tourney... Baseball is in action against Auburn at Hi Corbett Field at 6 p.m. Friday and in a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, a common question has been how will beer sales be handled during a double-header? Each game will be treated as an individual game and no beer will be sold after 5 ½ innings.... Track and Field will compete at the MPSF meet Friday and Saturday in Seattle... Our women's tennis squad will compete in the Blue-Gray Classic in Birmingham, Ala., Friday through Sunday, on the heels of four consecutive match victories... Our men's golf team will travel to Palm Desert, Calif., to compete in the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate tournament on Saturday and Sunday...
CATS IN HAWAII
Below, the Vega family with Diamond Head in the background. From left are Gabrielle Vega Lepkowski,('10), Casey Lepkowski ('07), and George ('75), Glenda, Greg ('04), Gina and Geoff Vega on the beach at Waikiki in Oahu. At bottom, Dave and Liz Ogilvy with our men's golf team on its recent trip to the islands. NOTE to those wanting to submit pictures for the Wildcat Wednesday. Do not use the reply on this email, as it will not allow you to attach files. Please send pictures to filippellib@arizona.edu. Thanks.
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