STATE FARM TERRITORIAL CUP SERIES IS OURS AGAIN!

Almost simultaneously, our women's and men's golfers fired their low rounds of the tournaments at the Pac-12 Championships in Pullman and Corvallis on Sunday, and gave us two more points in the State Farm Territorial Cup Series by finishing ahead of our friends to the north. The current score is 10.5 to .4.5 points. Baseball and men's and women's track and field remain in the scoring. It's our third SFTCS title in the three years since it began. The women's golf team (which finished third after challenging for the championship) was selected on Monday for an NCAA Regional appearance and the men, on the bubble after a 10th-place finish in the Pac-12s, will find out next Monday whether they'll be in the NCAAs. Bear Down!

COACH LAROSE CLOSES OUT FOUR DECADES

Last week our golf coach, Rick LaRose, announced he will retire this summer after serving the University for nearly 40 years, and taking our men's (and women's) golf programs to unprecedented heights. Our men's coach for 34 years, he's the only coach in NCAA history to win both a men's (1992) and women's (1996) national championship. (He also was our women's coach from 1996 to 1998.). UA alum (master's degree), teacher, fund-raiser and community member,  He started as water polo coach in 1973 and just kept going, along the way earning induction into the Golf Coaches Association of America's Hall of Fame in 2003, among other honors. his service stacks up against some lions and legends of coaching here at UA:
 
Wildcat Coaching Longevity Leaders
·         41 years - Fred A. Enke, 1925-66 (men's basketball, men's golf)
·         39 years - Rick LaRose, 1973-2012 (men's water polo, men's golf, women's golf)
·         36 years - J.F. "Pop" McKale, 1914-49 (football, baseball, men's basketball)
·         35 years - Dave Murray, 1968-2002 (cross country/track & field)
·         27 years - Mike Candrea, 1986-present (softball)
·         24 years - Lute Olson, 1983-2007 (men's basketball)
·         24 years - Jerry Kindall, 1973-96 (baseball)
·         23 years - Frank Sancet, 1950-72 (baseball)
 
Although Rick is retiring as coach he will be staying on as my special assistant and will be assisting us as we work on some important projects for our golf programs. He will continue to make a big impact on our athletic department and golf programs. 

STEPPING DOWN FROM THE TOP

It behooves us to wish another person well as he moves on to other things in his life – outgoing University of Arizona President Eugene Sander. Dr. Sander is in the final months of his job and the retirement dinner circuit and reception period is heating up. His help in our business has been critical in the past year, notably in the hiring of football coach Rich Rodriguez and other major decisions for ICA. I told some people the other day that he reminded me of the guy in the television commercial who's "the most interesting man in the world" – a man rich in stories and experiences whose zest for life just jumps out at you. Thanks, Dr. Sander, and happy trails to you and your family. 

'THANK YOU' ALWAYS IS SPECIAL

We were forwarded a letter from a listener – retired UA and Wisconsin Professor Lyndon Weberg – whose thoughtful thank-you for Brian Jeffries' work on IMG's Wildcat Radio Network touched home. In this day of exploding television coverage, online video and other digital presentations, some people rely on radio broadcasts to follow the Wildcats. We're blessed to have Jeffries, the radio voice of the Wildcats since the early 1980s, taking our teams to the airwaves, and are not surprised when people say they think he's the best.Click here to read the letter. 

ANOTHER BIG SERIES COMING TO HI CORBETT

Baseball continues to be in the hunt for a Pac-12 title. This weekend Hi Corbett hosts another showdown between top 15 teams (Oregon No. 10, Wildcats No. 11) battling for first place in the conference. The Ducks come to Tucson in first place with a one game lead over the Wildcats. The crowds at Hi Corbett have been fantastic. We couldn't be more pleased with the support we've received from the community this season. As of this past weekend, Arizona ranks No. 1 in the west in baseball attendance. Our neighbor to the north is nipping at our heels, so we're hoping to finish the season strong, both on the field and at the turnstiles. It's hard to believe, but there are only two home weekend series remaining for the 2012 season. Don't miss the chance to experience Arizona baseball at Hi Corbett. Remember, the best way to buy tickets is to order online and select the print-at-home feature.

THANK YOU FOR RENEWING

Yesterday was the football season ticket and Wildcat Club gift renewal deadline. Thank you to everyone that renewed for next season! This was our first football season "going green" with paperless invoices and the response was terrific. By going exclusively to online renewals we were able to save thousands of dollars in printing and mailing expenses while being more environmentally friendly. 

We are very much ahead of last year's ticket sales numbers and we anticipate strong interest over the summer as the football season approaches. Our ticket office staff is about to embark on the reseating process for fans that requested location upgrades. If you missed the renewal deadline, but want to keep your seats, contact the McKale Ticket Office first thing in the morning at 520-621-CATS (2287). Once your seats have been assigned to another person we can't get them back for you, so please call if you want to renew your season tickets.

2012 ROAD TOUR STARTS NEXT WEEK

Next Wednesday marks the start of the 2012 Road Tour! It's our chance to get out and see our fans and alumni across the Grand Canyon state. I'll be joined by women's basketball coach Niya Butts, men's basketball coach Sean Miller and football coach Rich Rodriguez. The first stop will be May 9^th in Nogales at the home of two outstanding supporters of the University of Arizona, Barbara and Ramon Murillo. There is no charge for admission, just RSVP for the tour stop nearest you. Click here to see the full 2012 Road Tour schedule and to RSVP. I would like to thank our friends at the University of Arizona Alumni Association for their partnership with this program. Also, each year after our stops are announced we often hear from fans in parts of the state that we are unable to visit. Please know we try to make our stops regionally based and there are a limited amount of dates that work with our calendars. We'll see you on the road! 

COMPLIANCE CORNER: STUDENT-ATHLETE EMPLOYMENT

With the semester winding down, now is the time a lot of our student-athletes start looking for summer employment opportunities. I thought this would be a good time to remind everyone of the NCAA policies regarding student-athlete employment.

Student-athletes are allowed to work during the academic year as well as during the summer months, as long as they are paid at the going rate for the type of work they are doing, and they are being paid for work actually performed. They may be employed while receiving athletic financial aid for UA summer school attendance as well. The only limitations on the type of work they may perform is that they are not allowed to model (even if not paid), and compensation may not include any remuneration for value or utility that the student-athlete may have for the employer because of the publicity, reputation, fame or personal following that he or she has obtained because of athletics ability. 

A student-athlete who is employed in any sports camp or clinic must perform duties that are of general supervisory character in addition to any coaching or officiating assignments. Compensation provided must be commensurate with the going rate for camp or clinic counselors of like teaching ability and camp or clinic experience and may not be paid on the basis of the value that the student-athlete may have for the employer because of the athletics reputation or fame he/she has achieved. A student-athlete who only lectures or demonstrates at a camp/clinic may not receive compensation for his or her appearance at the camp or clinic. Football student-athletes are not allowed to work at their own institutions camp. 

Hopefully this helps clear up any questions for both our student-athletes and any potential summer employer. Please visit our compliance webpage for more information.  

CONSTRUCTION DESCRIPTION 

Someone asked about what the north end-zone project web camera is showing in the construction at Arizona Stadium. In brief, you're seeing the structural body of the building go up – the poured-in-place support columns and steel reinforcement work on the skeletal part of the building. You can read also construction documents online to track specific progress by clicking here. 

SCHEDULE NOTES…
 
·         Softball takes to the road for a three-game weekend series at UCLA. Please, any of our Los Angeles supporters, get to Westwood and cheer on the Cats at 7 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday. The Cats are fighting for NCAA seeding.
·         Our track teams will open the first weekend of the Pac-12 Championships in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday and Sunday with the decathlon and heptathlon competition. The bulk of the teams will be heading to Eugene the following week. Go Cats!
 
LITTLE CAT

Since we've mentioned some folks on the other end of the experience spectrum (Rick LaRose, Dr. Eugene Sander), it's nice to herald some youth. Below is four-month-old Jason Blomberg of Phoenix with the right kind of bib and knit cap. Below Jason a picture taken moments after last weekend's Warrior Dash in Florence, Colin Apthorp ('09) and Pat Addler ('09).

Continue to do what you can to help Arizona Athletics and: 

1. Join the Wildcat Movement
2. Buy Season Tickets
3. Wear the Colors (Especially on Friday)
4. Get Others to Do the Same

Bear Down with Pride,

Greg Byrne
Director of Athletics
University of Arizona

uofaad@arizona.edu