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WELCOME TO ARIZONA STADIUM

It is GAME WEEK in Southern Arizona as Arizona Football hosts Northern Arizona in our home opener at 7:45 p.m. (MST) on Saturday. I can't wait to see the buzz around campus as our terrific fans fill Arizona Stadium with energy and excitement. Game days in our community are special because of the tremendous support of our program and its student-athletes, coaches and staff.
 
We've been continuing our important work of enhancing the fan experience at Arizona Football games, and Saturday is your first opportunity to enjoy our newest improvements. Fans can enjoy pregame festivities in the Cole and Jeannie Davis Sports Center, pay a visit to the new Coors Light Patio on the west side, take in the game from our newest premium hospitality area in the SkyBox Club and much more.
 
Once again, our friends at the University of Arizona BookStores will produce and sell a unique t-shirt for every home football game. The first shirt of the season is a BACK THE A shirt! These shirts are limited in supply and only $10 each. This week's shirt can be purchased at all University of Arizona BookStores locations, including the A-Store at McKale Center, or online by clicking here.


 
You power our game day environment. You make the atmosphere on Saturdays special. It's time to #BackTheA, Bear Down and get your tickets for Saturday!
 
CRUISE FROM PHOENIX TO TUCSON

Did you know the Cat Cruiser is the official ride of Wildcat fans in the Phoenix area heading to Arizona Stadium? The Cat Cruiser is back for the 2019 Arizona Football stadium and you can get roundtrip bus transportation from Phoenix to Tucson all season long. For just $25 per person per game, you can #BackTheA on Saturdays on the campus of the University of Arizona. Bundle packages are available for $150 and include a spot on the bus for every game (and will save you $25). Space is limited, so reserve your seat today. Click here to reserve online or call Bon Voyage Travel at 520-797-CATS.
 
SUMMER SCHOOL EXCELLENCE

The record-breaking performances by Arizona student-athletes in the classroom over the last 18 months continued this summer as all of our programs combined to post a 3.163 overall semester GPA. That is the highest summer GPA ever posted by Arizona Athletics. Over 71 percent of our student-athletes earned a 3.0 GPA or higher, 48.9 percent posted a 3.5 or higher and an impressive 39.6 percent earned a perfect 4.0 GPA.


 
Our top team performances were Beach Volleyball with a 3.778 GPA and Men's Swimming and Diving with a 3.343 GPA as the two programs led a group of 15 teams that earned above a 3.0. The strong showing this summer comes on the heels of Arizona Athletics posting an overall 3.055 GPA in the spring, which was the highest spring semester GPA in department history.
 
Congratulations to our student-athletes and C.A.T.S. Academics staff for your dedication to academic excellence and for continuing to set the ultimate standard for success in the classroom.
 
WELCOME BACK ANDRE



We had the pleasure of welcoming three-time NBA champion Andre Iguodala back to McKale Center last week for a townhall meeting. Entering his 16^th season in the NBA, Andre spoke to the crowd about his fondest memories as a Wildcat, his decorated professional career as well as his life outside of basketball. It is fantastic to see a former student-athlete excel in many facets of life outside of their outstanding athletic careers, like Andre has done as a bestselling author and his ongoing work with the tech industry in Silicon Valley. He is an inspiration for our student-athletes and a first-class ambassador of this great university. Thank you Andre for everything you've done representing the Block A!
 
HOT START FOR ARIZONA SOCCER

After weather cancelled their season opener, Coach Amato and the Wildcats won a pair of matches in impressive fashion over the weekend. Arizona downed Weber State and Tennessee Tech by a combined score of 9-0. The Cats rewrote the record books in the first match versus Weber State by scoring six goals in the first half, which marked the most goals score in a first half in program history. Sophomore Brooke Wilson paced the Wildcats in scoring with three of the team's nine goals on the weekend.


 
Arizona Soccer is back in action this weekend with a pair of home matches at Mulcahy Stadium. They kick things off with Oklahoma at 7 p.m. (MST) on Friday, Sept. 6. Get your tickets now and Bear Down at the pitch.
 
HALL OF FAME

Thursday will be a memorable evening at Arizona Athletics as we officially induct the 2019 class of the University of Arizona Athletics Hall of Fame at 6 p.m. (MST) at the Westin La Paloma. This year's distinguished Wildcats include Joan Bonvicini (Women's Basketball), Antoine Cason (Football), May Mickelsen (Rifle), Stephen Mikulic (Baseball), Taryne Mowatt (Softball), Dan Schneider (Baseball) and Alison Walshe (Women's Golf).

This will be a night to remember as we honor some of the greatest Wildcats to play and coach at the University of Arizona. These seven distinguished inductees will receive this tremendous recognition for their outstanding achievements in their sports but also as extraordinary representatives of the University of Arizona.
 
For questions about the University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame event, please contact Elizabeth Cavolo, Coordinator of Special Events at the Jim Click Hall of Champions, at ecavolo@arizona.edu or at (520) 621-2331.
 
For information regarding nominations and the selection process for the University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame please visit this link.
 
TOKYO BOUND



Congratulations to Arizona Softball alums Taylor McQuillin and Danielle O'Toole on qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as part of Team Mexico. Taylor and Danielle, who pitched together for the Wildcats in 2016 and 2017, dominated the circle during Americas Olympic Qualifiers in British Columbia, Canada. The lefty duo will add to the program's Olympic history by becoming the fifth and sixth Wildcat softball student-athletes to qualify for the games. Hats off to Taylor and Danielle for representing the University of Arizona on the biggest stage. Bear Down and Go Cats!

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. Bear Down with us today! Join the Wildcat Club to make an impact on our student-athletes' experience.
2. Buy Season Tickets
3. Wear the Colors (Especially on Friday)
4. Encourage Others to Do the Same

 
Bear Down with Pride,

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