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IT'S HOMECOMING WEEK
 
Finally, it's Homecoming week. I've been looking forward to this since I joined the athletics department. If you aren't aware, one thing I'm really big on is tradition and there is no greater tradition on college campuses than Homecoming. This year, we're hosting our 100th Homecoming football game as part of the University's 103rd annual Homecoming celebration, so I'm looking forward to a spirited week.
 
There should be a tremendous buzz around campus and especially on Saturday for the football game. We've won three in a row and are hosting the 15th-ranked team in the country in Washington St. It's going to be a Red Out, so make sure to wear red, and we have some fantastic promos going on this weekend, which you can learn more about by clicking HERE.
 
Thanks to those of you who have already secured your tickets. If you haven't gotten tickets yet, what are you waiting for? Click HERE, get your tickets and come make a difference during this crucial Pac-12 match-up.
 
Back to Homecoming, I'm disappointed I missed the 'Lighting of the A' on Sunday night, while I was in California at some Pac-12 meetings. What a unique way to kickoff Homecoming week. It's something I'd like to experience, and schedule permitting, I'll be there next year.
 
As we move towards the weekend, there are a number of events to be on the lookout for. Friday night, we'll have Bear Down Friday at Main Gate starting at 5 p.m. followed by the Homecoming bonfire by Old Main at 7:30 p.m.
 
Starting at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Tents on the Mall will give alumni, fans, students, and faculty/staff the opportunity to interact before the game with a number of colleges, Greek organizations, and clubs hosting tents. You can view the set-up map by clicking HERE.
 
Then, at 1:45 p.m., participants will begin lining up for the Parade, which will get underway at 2 p.m. The Parade will start on south Cherry and go around the UA Mall. You can access the Parade map by clicking HERE.
 
If you plan on tailgating this weekend, make sure to arrive early so you are in place prior to the Parade line-up. I'd suggest being in place by 1 p.m. If you are not parked by 1:45 p.m., you will not have access to the tailgate grounds until the conclusion of the Parade at approximately 2:45 p.m., when normal gameday traffic patterns will resume. We want to make sure you can enjoy the full day, so please be in place prior to the Parade line-up.
 
As a reminder, the Wildcat Walk will take place at 4:15 p.m., stadium gates open at 5 p.m. and kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
This is going to be a great weekend, and I can't wait to see all the alums back on campus, sharing in the camaraderie of Homecoming.
 
CANDREA ENTERS THE NATIONAL SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME
 
Last spring, we made you aware that our head softball coach Mike Candrea was announced as part of the National Softball Hall of Fame class for this year. Last weekend, he was formally inducted along with eight others. Mike was recognized for 'meritorious service' to the game, mainly for his work with Team USA. He led the U.S. to a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics and followed that with a silver in 2008. Mike was also at the helm when Team USA won Pan-Am gold in 2003 and '07.
 
Congratulations Mike on this fantastic honor.
 

 
LACEY JOHN VISITS SAN ANTONIO SCHOOL
 
As many of you know, our C.A.T.S. program works closely to help develop and support student-athletes in all areas of their lives. Recently, we began an Inspiring Women series, which has received some attention around the country. It's allowed our staff members to share our philosophy and approach to student-athlete development across all ages.
 
As a result, letterwinner and current Assistant Director for Life Skills Lacey John was invited to San Antonio to visit with the parents, staff and students (K-12) at Saint Mary's Hall. She shared some of the messages in the Inspiring Women program including dealing with external and internal pressures to conform, detaching our self-worth from external measurements and identifying people around us who can truly support us along our path.
 
While the Inspiring Women Series was developed to address poor body image and disordered eating among female student-athletes, the message has resonated beyond the initial population and is providing education and empowerment to many in and out of athletics.
 
We want to thank Saint Mary's Hall for welcoming Lacey and the many other educators and friends working diligently to support education around these issues. These are important topics, so I'm glad we can be part of the dialogue that brings them to the forefront.
 

 
SENIOR WEEKEND AT SOCCER
 
Soccer has three home matches left in the regular season. As Coach Amato likes to say, come "Experience It Yourself" as we welcome Washington and Washington State to Mulcahy this week. We'll take on Washington on Thursday at 7 p.m. and then wrap up the weekend with Washington State on Sunday at noon. It's Senior Weekend, so help us honor the five seniors all weekend long. Make sure to join us early on Sunday as we will do our senior recognition prior to the match. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ArizonaWildcats.com/SOC or click HERE.
 
VOLLEYBALL TAKES ON THE BAY AREA
 
Volleyball is back in action this week as we take on Cal, Friday at 6 p.m. The first 200 fans will receive a free OrthoPros rally towel. On Sunday, we host No. 2 Stanford at 1p.m. Tickets are available online for as little as $8. To purchase, click HERE or call the McKale Ticket Office at (520) 621-CATS. 
 
TICKETS FOR TROOPS
 
We've been blown away by the support our fans have shown for our military through the Tickets for Troops program. If you would like to donate Tickets for Troops for our Nov. 11 Military Appreciation game vs. Oregon State, please click HERE and use the code: FBTROOPS2017. Tickets are only $20, so help us thank our military by sending them to the OSU football game.
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON IS HERE
 
The women's basketball season is around the corner. We'll begin our 2017-18 season with an exhibition game against Eastern New Mexico on Monday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. Come see what the team is made of as they welcome several new and exciting faces to the program. Season ticket are still available for as low as $75 for adults and $64 for youth (3-12) and seniors (55+). For tickets or more information, call (520) 621-CATS or click HERE.
 
A MESSGE FROM ARIZONA'S OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY
 
The University of Arizona will be competing in the Pac-12 Zero Waste Challenge again this year during the Homecoming football game against Washington St. and we need fans to help us divert more waste from the landfill.
 
During tailgating, the game and after, the athletics department, the Office of Sustainability, Greening the Game, Students for Sustainability, Compost Cats, Green Team, Facilities Management, Zona Zoo and the UA Student Unions will work together to participate in the Challenge.
 
Sustainable UA will be setting up green stations, which include labeled containers for compostable materials, trash and recyclables. The team will be out interacting with the public encouraging them to participate in our diversion efforts, as well as sharing campus recycling and compost efforts.
 
Help us win the Pac-12 Zero Waste Challenge, keep our athletic events green and continue to be leaders in sustainability. During the game and tailgating, we will have waste diversion stations everywhere, as well as student teams ready to assist you. To do your part, just bring your trash to a green station conveniently located around the stadium, and we will do the rest.
 
Join us by taking part in this important initiative.
 
CATS IN THE COMMUNITY
 
Each year, the athletics department hosts CATS Give Back Week, which is a department-wide effort to volunteer in the community during a one-week span. The majority of our teams participated by volunteering here on campus and throughout Tucson.
 

• Men's tennis spoke to the Association of Latino Professionals for America UA Chapter, while the group took a tour of our facilities.
• Women's tennis volunteered by being scorekeepers at wheelchair rugby games and practices last week.
• Baseball volunteered at the Walk to Defeat ALS.
• Women's basketball volunteered at the JDRF Walk
• Both the men's and women's golf teams volunteered at the Special Olympics Coronado Games Golf Tournament. The men's team also served as caddies for tournament participants.
• Gymnastics volunteered by writing pen pal letters to elementary classrooms about life as a collegiate student-athlete
• Members of the men's and women's swimming and diving, softball, soccer and football teams visited pediatric patients at local children's hospitals to help spread some Wildcat spirit.
• Beach volleyball volunteered at ArtWorks on campus.
• Members of the track and field and cross country teams signed autographs and visited with fans at the Bear Down Friday pep rally before the game against UCLA.

 

 

 

 
We will be hosting a second CATS Give Back Week in February, so if you have a volunteer opportunity or speaking appearance that you would like a student-athlete or members of our staff to be a part of, you can submit an online request by visiting ArizonaWildcats.com/Outreach and clicking on the 'Student-Athlete Appearance' link.  From there, you can review our policy and submit an online request. If you have any questions, please call the Office of Community Relations at (520) 621-2331. 


UPCOMING SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
 
To view 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 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 "Wear the Colors" album at facebook.com/ArizonaAthletics on Fridays.
 
NOTE: Please submit photos for Wildcat Wednesday with an original email to uofaad@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,

Dave Heeke
Director of Athletics
University of Arizona
uofaad@arizona.edu