ARIZONA IS WILDCAT COUNTRY

Over the years Arizona Football helmets have included a variety of designs using the colors red, white and blue. We're excited to announce that we're introducing a new football helmet with a distinctive state of Arizona flair and color – copper.


Copper is not only associated with our great state's mining history, but it has influenced architectural design on our campus, including our athletic facilities – most notably the ring at the top of the McKale Center, and the future North End Zone Football Complex. As such we embrace the idea that as the University of Arizona we will incorporate copper into a special helmet design to represent our state and University. Copper will not replace our traditional colors of red and blue, and the copper helmet will be worn on a limited basis. Bear Down!


Arizona Stadium North End Zone Football Complex

BEARING DOWN

Our recent Arizona Road Tours have been successful, as will the next, and the next... It's important for us to get around the state and meet our fans and those who financially support us – and gain new fans and Wildcat Club members. We were in Sierra Vista on Monday, are in Yuma today and will be in Pinetop on June 4. We're not some rock band or circus with huge venues and tents, but taking our staff and coaches out to keep in touch with Wildcats is more than important. It's what we do. On one of the stops last week, someone shared with us this video of a very young group of current and potential Cats giving a rendition of Bear Down. It's worth taking a look at the video.

THE OTHER AMBASSADORS

Our student-athletes can make impressions when they're out in the community, or any community, even during competition. I received a note from Mr. and Mrs. Haines in North Carolina last week. They're loyal Tar Heel fans, but were impressed with our team at the NCAA Women's Tennis regional in Chapel Hill and were converted for a while, commending our coaches and players for representing our institution with class. No doubt this week we'll have similar comments – or at least perceptions -- about our softball team as it travels to Norman, Okla., for the NCAA Super Regional. Congratulations to all of our teams for their competitive spirit and the manner with which they conduct themselves. Meantime, women's golfer Margarita Ramos concludes her individual competition in the NCAA Championships tomorrow and Friday after tying for 10^th at the Regionals last week. Fairways and greens, Margarita!

SUPER SEASON

Speaking of softball, I'd be remiss if I didn't thank the 50,000-plus spectators who attended our games at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium this year. That's an average of more than 2,200 per game, which ought to finish among the top attendance figures in the nation for the sport. And what a climax – handling the task with some inspired play last weekend to win the Tucson NCAA Regional. Good luck to the team against the Sooners. Bear Down!

ON TRACK FOR THE FINALS

Our men's and women's track and field squads will travel to Austin, Texas, Thursday through Saturday for the NCAA Championships Prelims. They take No. 6 and No. 8 national rankings into the event, respectively. We're positioned to have a solid number of student-athletes contend for spots in the NCAAs the first week in June in Des Moines, Iowa, and this is a big week for those hopes. Our teams have had superlative marks and success this season and it's all coming to a close, soon. Go Cats!

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

Our baseball team closes the University of Arizona's 2011-12 home schedule this weekend on the diamond at Hi Corbett Field, with games against our northern neighbors. Friday's game starts at 6 p.m. and features a special post-game firework show. Make sure to arrive extra early for Saturday's game (also scheduled at 6 p.m.). Our seniors will be honored in a special pre-game ceremony and men's basketball coach Sean Miller will be throwing out the first pitch. Then it's one more "Sunday Funday" with select concession items 50% off. Sunday's game starts at noon. The team won all five of its Pac-12 road series and is playing well at the right time. The games will determine the final point in the State Farm Territorial Cup Series between the two schools, with each team having won an earlier baseball game.We've taken the SFTCS (people won't know acronym) title already, 11.5 to 5.5, but always can use an additional mark. Come on out to Hi Corbett if you can and help us take on our state rival. We're anticipating some of our biggest crowds of the season, which is great for inside the box office, but can cause lines outside it. We will do everything we can to keep the lines moving, but the best way to avoid lines is to purchase tickets online at ArizonaWildcats.com and select the Print-At-Home option. 

Things are looking good for us to be an NCAA Regional host. The ticket office is now taking Regional ticket requests online at ArizonaWildcats.comfrom current season ticket holders. Announcements will be made on Sunday. If we are selected to host a Regional, all-session general admission tickets will go on sale online on Sunday at 1:00pm. Season ticket holders have until 3 p.m., Tuesday, May 29 to purchase their seats for the Regional.  After 6 p.m. any remaining reserved tickets will go on sale to the public on line.

THE WILDCAT MOVEMENT - 12,000 WILDCAT CLUB MEMBERS BY 2013

Below is a picture of Armand Altamirano out of Douglas, Ariz., signing up as a new Wildcat Club member during the Sierra Vista stop of the Arizona Road Tour. We need support from across the state of Arizona and around the country to help reach our membership goal. You too can become a Wildcat Club member for a minimum tax-deductible gift of $100 and make a difference with all of our student-athletes. Donate today and please pass this link along to your friends! www.WildcatMovement.com


CATS ACADEMICS SUMMER BRIDGE

More than 50 incoming student-athletes across several teams will participate in the CATS Academics summer bridge program this year. This group will enroll in two general education courses, one of which is a personal and professional leadership class. Our new group of freshmen will be participating in this interactive course designed to stir critical thinking, generate thoughtful discussion, and receive exposure to such topics as learning styles, goal setting, stress management, instructional technology, personal wellness, professional development, public speaking, and the role and influence of social media in our society. Summer bridge will be a valuable opportunity for student-athletes to get acclimated to campus, become familiar with the rigors of college coursework, and get to know their fellow teammates. We look forward to welcoming them to the Wildcat family!

A-CLUB LETTERWINNER UPDATE

Congrats to football letterman Brandon Tatum ('07), who is now a local Tucson Policeman.  Brandon went through intensive physical and educational training with TPD in order to achieve his goal in law enforcement.  Growing up Brandon never considered becoming an officer, but since graduating from the police academy he now feels it is a perfect fit for him. It is quite an achievement and we are very proud to call Brandon a Wildcat.  Thank you for protecting Tucson and all its citizens…Bear Down!


SPAIN AND MAIN

Below, Nick Banzhaf ('05), Darlene Banzhaf ('05), Laury Soldana and U.S. Navy Lt . Yuval Fleming with an appropriate flag on a wine country tour in Porto, Spain. And at the bottom, near the fountain west of Old Main, Brenda Quintero ('11) sent this Admissions Office group of Heather Coleman-Rosinbum ('07), Weston Brown ('08), Paloma Boykin ('08), Renee Marquez, Emilu Lesauski ('10), Drew Rosenthal ('11), Mary Venezia ('10) and Marcos Enriquez making a point about the University of Arizona.



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