Sept. 14, 2011
OPPORTUNITIES FAR & WIDE - IMPORTANT TO READ
As we venture into a big weekend with many of our teams competing and highlighted by our Saturday night football game against Stanford, I wanted to touch on something and preview an item that effects anyone that cares about Arizona Athletics.
First off, the next several weeks are big for us in recruiting for all of our sports. The atmosphere at our football games, that you the fans have a huge impact on, will make a difference in our ability to land key recruits in all 19 of our sports. Last year during the Iowa football game, then men's basketball recruits and now men's basketball team members Josiah Turner and Nick Johnson, commented to our coaches what an incredible experience they had at the game when they gave us their commitment to attend Arizona. The Wildcat Walk, the crowd noise, the win all made a difference. You make a huge impact by being there and helping create an incredilble atmosphere. We need you there!
Second, in the next week or two I am going to write about the Pac 12 network and the incredible opportunity we have as a university, community & athletics department.
CONGRATULATIONS MORE THAN DUE
We received notice last evening that former swimmer Annie Chandler has been named one of nine finalists for NCAA Woman of the Year. This is spectacular news for Annie and a huge accomplishment for the University of Arizona. I believe you know our school has won three of the last four of awards -- by Justine Schluntz, Lacey Nymeyer and Whitney Myers -- plus has earlier winner Tanya Hughes to give us more than any other institution. The richly deserved honor of being a finalist is a stunning accomplishment in itself. Bear Down!
SOUND SYSTEM & VIDEO BOARD
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We did a lot of things right with the unveiling of our new CATVISION videoboard and I can tell you that you will continue to see the board evolve in our use and programming. Like we discussed last week, one of the things that needed a lot of improvement was the sound system. The company we bought the system from spent considerable time on site in the last week testing and adjusting the system. You should hear a dramatic improvement Saturday night.
ADDITIONAL PRE-GAME PROGRAMMING
As a reminder we have implemented a new ticket scanning system at Arizona Stadium. For those of you who may not have attended our home opener the scanning process does take a few more seconds per fan, so we encourage you to give yourself some extra time to enter by getting to the stadium early. We open the gates at 6 p.m., and in addition to having concessions open and ready to serve you, we are planning to extend our videoboard programming to begin when gates open. The team hits the field 50 minutes prior to kick-off for team warm-ups, beginning with the haka dance. Stop by and check it out!
VOLLEYBALL
Next weekend marks the first home volleyball matches for our Pac-12 season as we face Washington and Washington State. Please join us and support out team. Sunday is Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Day. Thank you to each of our season ticket holders. We hope you will use the complimentary tickets we have provided to you to bring friends or family members to a match. As additional incentive, during Sunday's match we will be giving away a volleyball signed by Dave Rubio. Call the ticket office at 621-CATS is you have any questions.
RED-BLUE GAME
Tickets are now on sale for the annual men's basketball Red-Blue Game. The game will be played on Saturday, October 22 at 2:00pm. Don't wait until the day of the game to buy. Adult tickets are only $7 in advance and $10 at the door. Get your tickets online here
Plus, if you purchase UCLA football tickets you can also add on Red-Blue game tickets for only $3 each! What a great Wildcat Weekend!
ADDITIONAL MEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET INFO
New men's basketball season tickets are available! The season will be here before you know it and you won't want to miss out. Click Here to purchase upper-level non-priority seating or add your name to the priority seating list.
CATS IN THE COMMUNITY MAKING A SPLASH
Our student-athletes have not only been hard at work gearing up for competition and hitting the books for school but they have also been making time to get out in the community and make a difference in young kid's lives. To cap off their first week of school, members of the Arizona Swimming and Diving team spent their first Saturday morning of the school year making a splash in the community. Members of the team could be found assisting at one of two community service projects. Several student-athletes visited Sam Hughes Elementary School and spent time with students, family and staff as they kicked off a new year. The rest of the team spent their morning volunteering at a Special Olympics swimming competition. UA swimmers and divers assisted with several tasks and worked as timers, starters, and officials while cheering on the Special Olympics athletes.
SERVING UP SMILES
On the morning of Sept. 10, three members of the University of Arizona's Men's Tennis team volunteered at the Jim & Vicki Click Boy's and Girl's Club. The tennis players had new competition when it came to playing soccer, basketball, pool, and foosball; this time around it was thirty kids of all ages. Win or lose, the kids were not the only ones who had fun. In between baskets and goals, the student-athletes were talking to the kids one-on-one about sports and their futures.
This is just the beginning of many community projects UA student-athletes participate in throughout the year. Be sure to pick up this week's game program "The Prowl" at the football game for a full re-cap of these outings and hear what the student-athletes have to say about their experience at these events.
WILDCAT FRIDAYS
We want to thank Hughes Federal Credit Union for its support of Wildcat Fridays as well as its overall support of Arizona Athletics. Hughes will be one of the Gameday sponsors this Saturday. Thank you, Hughes. And, everyone -- please remember to wear the colors on this and every Friday!
SCHEDULE NOTES...
The men's and women's cross country teams play host on Friday to the Dave Murray Invitational on the course at Randolph Park (Dell Urich Golf Course) starting with the men's run at 5 p.m. It's the only home meet of the season for the Wildcat harriers. The public entry to the course is off Randolph Way near 22nd Street... The soccer team plays Pacific at Mulcahy Field at Murphey Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Friday, and against Texas Tech at 6 p.m. Sunday in the Ventana Canyon Resorts Cats Classic... Our volleyball squad is on the road for Pac-12 contests at Oregon on Friday and Oregon State on Saturday... At the next football home game Sept.24 (Oregon) we will be holding an On-Campus Salute for newly elected member to the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame member Rob Waldrop, former tackle on the Desert Swarm defenses of the early 1990s. Join us for this halftime recognition. As a matter of fact, join us at all our remaining home football games. Tickets can be purchased here... Family Weekend is set for the Oregon game as well, with Homecoming slated for the weekend of the Utah game the first week in November... We trust those of you with season men's basketball tickets all met the renewal deadline of Sept. 9. The annual Red-Blue Game will be held in McKale Center Oct. 22, and then both the men and the women begin their seasons shortly thereafter...
THE MOVEMENT IS SPREADING...
The Wildcat movement has no boundaries. A former intern at the UA Maricopa Agricultural Center, Rafael Milantonio (left, below), poses with some new fans wearing the colors in Sao Paolo, Brazil... Wildcat Andrew Jones (right) showing the pride at Flint Castle in North Wales.
VOTE WILBUR
Wilbur pulled through with the "W" last week thanks to your votes. Don't forget to vote for him in this week's mascot matchup vs. Sparty from Michigan State! You can vote multiple times a day via:
1. Facebook: www.Facebook.com/MascotChallenge.
2. Text messaging (SMS): Text Wilbur to 78527 (text voting is restricted to an hourly maximum of 250 votes per hour)
3. Website: www.CapitalOneBowl.com (Don't forget to scroll to the bottom of the page and hit submit my vote)
Continue to do what you can to help Arizona Athletics and:
- Join the Wildcat Movement
- Buy Season Tickets
- Wear the Colors (Especially on Friday)
- Get Others to Do the Same
Bear Down with Pride,
Greg Byrne
Director of Athletics
University of Arizona
uofaad@arizona.edu
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