Follow Dave Heeke on Twitter | Sign Up for the Wildcat Wednesday

COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE

I want to open this week's Wildcat Wednesday email by addressing operational issues fans encountered while attempting to enter Arizona Stadium on Saturday. Arizona Athletics prides itself in preparing and delivering a first-class game day atmosphere, and I want to apologize to those who were unable to fully enjoy that exceptional experience. We fell short in our obligation to provide you that experience. For that we sincerely apologize. We did not deliver.  
 
Saturday's football home opener was our first home game with fans in over 650 days with some updated and new security and safety efforts.  Consistent with other large sport venues across the country, these new safety efforts have been part of our strategic priority to take deliberate steps to improve overall game day management, enhance safety, and improve fan experience. However, we experienced delays and deficiencies at entrance gates as we struggled to effectively implement new technologies. Please don't misinterpret these as excuses. The fact remains . . . we did not meet expectations. 
 
Our team has been meeting throughout the week identifying all issues and developing critical solutions in preparation for this weekend's game, which include additional staffing, new queuing protocols and adjusted entrance procedures for fans at gates. Our commitment remains to provide an outstanding game day experience for fans, and that means working tirelessly to resolve issues and deficiencies. These important elements of the fan experience will be better when we welcome you all for Saturday's home football game versus Northern Arizona at 7 p.m. (MST). Thank you again for your patience and for your support of the Arizona Wildcats. Bear Down and Go Cats!
 
REMEMBERING COACH OLSON



Sunday's tribute to Lute Olson was a memorable program as we honored the everlasting legacy of this iconic father, husband, grandfather, coach, teacher, mentor and leader. It was a special sight to see many of Coach Olson's former players, managers and staff members gathered together to share how much Coach O meant to them and the impact he had on their lives.
 
I want to thank all the attendees for traveling to Tucson to be part of this remembrance inside McKale Center and helping make the tribute special. Alumni letterwinners from all three decades of the Coach Olson legacy at the University of Arizona came back and enjoyed a practice with Coach Lloyd and the Wildcats and a chance to connect with the outstanding young men currently in our program.
 
I'd also like to thank the fans who joined us and showed their support to the Olson Family as well as the Wildcat Family.
 
If you missed the event, you can watch it in its entirety by clicking here. As a reminder, fans can make a charitable gift to Lute Olson Endowed Scholarship for Excellence in Men's Basketball.
 
STUDENT-ATHLETES LIVING THE WILDCAT WAY



We are continuing to profile our talented student-athletes who proudly represent the Block A while competing as academic, athletic and life champions. These outstanding young men and women live the Wildcat Way every day, and these are their stories.
 
Grace Driskill is a hometown Wildcat and a proud Tucsonan. After growing up going to Arizona sporting events and honing her own skills as a runner, Grace has joined Arizona Cross Country and represents a key pillar of the Wildcat Way that promotes Southern Arizona as a premier destination for student-athletes from near and far away.
 
HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION



Our athletics department's annual support of Hispanic Heritage Month will include a celebration at Saturday's home football game against Northern Arizona. Football game days have been a marquee part of our Hispanic heritage recognitions, and Saturday will be no different. Mariachis and folklorico dancers will be featured pregame as well as during halftime. Pregame entertainment in our Fan Fiesta will include local Hispanic musical artists along with other festivities.
 
This important celebration also provides a chance to remind our fans about Arizona en Español, which is our own Spanish-language content for the Wildcats. Since becoming one of the first athletic departments to implement Spanish game broadcasts in 1999, Arizona Athletics has been a leader in Spanish-speaking content.
 
Southern Arizona has a tremendous heritage of cultural diversity, and Hispanic Heritage Night is a fantastic opportunity to highlight that important identity on campus and in Tucson. We will continue our collaborations with campus and community partners, including the Adalberto and Ana Guerrero Student Center, Visit Tucson and the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, to put the University of Arizona on display. We are excited to welcome all Wildcats to be a part of this dynamic cultural and community experience.
 
MOBILE TICKETING REMINDERS

Saturday's home football game versus Northern Arizona will be our second game this season with our mobile-only ticketing at Arizona Stadium. We heard positive feedback about the ease and efficiency of our mobile ticketing process, and Arizona Athletics has a few recommendations and reminders to optimize this efficient process for fans ahead of Saturday.
 

• Ensure your tickets have been pulled up on your mobile device and shared before leaving your house.
• Fans are encouraged to enter Arizona Stadium at one of our eight gates of entry that is closest to your designated seat. Please utilize this seating map of Arizona Stadium with gate information.
• If you are transferring or sharing tickets, all parties must have their own ticketing accounts created.
• If you are utilizing a mobile parking pass, please have it easily accessible on your mobile device before beginning your drive to campus.
• All gates for fans at Arizona Stadium open 90 minutes prior to kickoff.
• For additional information on mobile ticketing, please visit our mobile ticketing homepage.

We want to reiterate to fans that our new concessions operator, Aramark, operates exclusively on a cash-less basis inside Arizona Stadium. This is part of our enhanced efficiency at our concession areas with credit cards, Apple Wallet and Google Pay accepted. Reverse ATM's are available for those who only bring cash.
 
SUMMER ACADEMICS



Our summer grades for our programs have been finalized, and Arizona student-athletes continue to achieve true excellence in the classroom. We saw an overall semester GPA of 3.063 for Summer 2021 as nearly 70% of all Wildcats earned above a 3.0 GPA. A handful of our programs recorded all-time high Summer GPA's, including Arizona Gymnastics and Arizona Men's Golf with perfect 4.0's!
 
The academic success of student-athletes over the last six years is unparalleled in Arizona Athletics history. As our student-athletes continue to break records in the classroom, they are fulfilling our Wildcat Way mission of developing academic, athletic and life champions.
 
Congratulations to all our student-athletes on a great summer in the classroom, and a tip of the cap to our outstanding C.A.T.S Academics staff who continue to support the championship academic aspirations of Wildcats.
 
ARIZONA SOCCER IN ACTION



Arizona Soccer, fresh off its thrilling victory over Nebraska on Sunday, is back on the pitch and welcomes Gonzaga for its non-conference finale. The Cats will face the Zags at 7 p.m. (MST) on Thursday, Sept. 16 on the Pac-12 Networks. If you haven't been out to a match this season, now is the perfect time to join the excitement by purchasing tickets for Thursday's match versus Gonzaga.
 
Senior Jill Aguilera continues her historic play this season with two more goals in the Nebraska win to give the forward four goals this season and 28 for her illustrious career. Jill now trails Gabi Stoian by one goal for second place in program history in career scoring.
 
VOLLEYBALL RETURNS HOME



After consecutive weeks on the road, Coach Rubio and the Wildcats return to the friendly confines of McKale Center to host the Wildcat Classic this weekend. Arizona played well in its matches versus No. 1 Texas and Notre Dame, which included 11 kills and four blocks from Merle Weidt against Notre Dame and fellow middle blocker Zyonna Fellows who earned match player of the week honors from the program.
 
Arizona Volleyball welcomes UC Riverside, San Diego State and Texas Southern for matches. The Cats will open with UC Riverside at 10 a.m. (MST) on Friday, Sept. 17 before taking on SDSU at 6:30 p.m. (MST) on Friday. Saturday will see the Wildcats take on Texas Southern at 1:30 p.m. (MST) to cap the Wildcat Classic. Single game tickets for the home stand can be purchased by clicking here. Streaming, live stat information and match updates will be available on ArizonaWildcats.com and @ArizonaVball.
 
CAMPUS ACCOLADE



We'd like to share another terrific honor awarded to the University of Arizona this week. U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges ranking rated our flagship institution in its top 50 public universities list nationally. Arizona's top-50 ranking in the United States also included top marks for undergraduate programs in management information systems, business analytics, business, accounting, entrepreneurship and engineering among others.
 
The University of Arizona continues to build its brand and reputation across the country and globe around true excellence. Arizona Wildcats are problem solvers who are addressing challenges with compassion, integrity, adaptation, inclusion, exploration and that Bear Down spirit of determination. This institution's never-ending list of honors and accolades are things we can all be proud of.
 
WEAR THE COLORS – SHARE THE PHOTOS

Send us your photos of you wearing the colors while staying safe!

Thank you for wearing the colors and sharing your Arizona pride! Make sure to take a picture the next time you are wearing the colors and send it to us, we just might include it in next week's Wildcat Wednesday! And even if your photo submission doesn't make  next week's edition, 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.

Stay Safe, Bear Down and Mask Up!
 
Dave Heeke
Director of Athletics
University of Arizona
uofaad@arizona.edu