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STUDENT-ATHLETES LIVING THE WILDCAT WAY



We continue to highlight the outstanding young women and men in our programs through our Wildcat Way profiles. These are the stories of our student-athletes fulfilling our Wildcat Way mission by becoming academic, athletic and life champions.
 
One of our recent features focused on Josh McCauley of Arizona Football who has achieved excellence in his journey from walk-on to captain and starting center on the offensive line. You can read all our profiles and strategic plan content by clicking here.
 
GAME WEEK AT ARIZONA STADIUM



This is an important week for our entire community as we host San Diego State in our football home opener at 7 p.m. (MST) on Saturday, Sept. 11. Our pregame festivities include tributes to our first responders and military service members on the 20^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. We will recognize and honor these heroes as well as our annual celebration of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base during pregame and during timeouts.
 
If you are tailgating on the UA mall, then visit the east end near Campbell Avenue and enjoy a live performance that includes award-winning country music star Phil Vassar. Phil's work includes 10 No. 1 singles and 27 top-40 hits. Our pregame concert will begin at 2:45 p.m. (MST) on Saturday afternoon with Chauncey Jones before Phil Vassar takes the stage at 4:30 p.m. Admission is free for the concert, and we hope you include it in your pregame tailgating plans.
 
I would also like to reiterate our expectations regarding masking and health and safety guidance that was outlined in last week's Wildcat Wednesday. Arizona Athletics will continue to follow the University of Arizona's updated mask guidance and require all fans and patrons to show they have a face covering in their possession before entering Arizona Stadium, which includes children over the age of two. Attendees will be required to wear a facial covering when in indoor spaces, which includes restroom, elevators, common indoor areas and other indoor entertainment spaces.
 
We expect all those who attend Arizona tailgating and sporting events to be vaccinated or have tested negative for the COVID virus in the last 72 hours.  This expectation is necessary to ensure the safety of all those attending and participating. If you have not been vaccinated, tested negative for the COVID virus within the last 72 hours, currently having COVID symptoms, or if you are in any way concerned about your personal health, we encourage you to not attend these activities.
 
Let's all do our part as we return to campus to cheer on our Wildcats on the field and on the court.
 
As Coach Fisch and Arizona Football announced earlier this week, Arizona Basketball legend and eight-time NBA Champion Steve Kerr will serve as our honorary captain for Saturday's game versus San Diego State. I hope all our fans in the stands will join in giving this Wildcat legend a warm reception at Arizona Stadium on Saturday night.
 
As the excitement around Arizona Football continues to build heading into our first home game of the year, it's not too late to purchase your season tickets or buy single game tickets for Saturday's game.
 
LUTE OLSON TRIBUTE



Sunday, Sept. 12 will be Arizona Athletics' official tribute to our iconic Wildcat, coach Lute Olson. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. (MST) in McKale Center with doors opening at 10:00 a.m., and this event is open to the public. Attendees are asked to enter through the south doors by the McKale Center Ticket Office that faces Fred Enke Drive.
 
We will have some special guest speakers on stage as we pay tribute to an exceptional Wildcat who meant so much to Arizona Basketball, Arizona Athletics, the University of Arizona and the city of Tucson. Coach Olson was the epitome of an Arizona Wildcat who coached, mentored and lead with integrity, compassion and determination.
 
Please observe University of Arizona campus guidelines regarding masks and face coverings for those planning to attend Sunday's tribute. If you are unable to join us on Sunday, the tribute ceremony will be streamed through ArizonaWildcats.com.
 
SPORTS HALL OF FAME ADDS 2020 CLASS



This weekend begins with our official induction of the 2020 class into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. We will bestow our athletics department's greatest honor on seven Wildcats who represent the University of Arizona and Arizona Athletics with distinction. This class includes national champions, conference champions, All-Americans and Wildcats for Life. All seven of these proud Cats have exemplified what our Wildcat Way mission strives for, which is to provide opportunities for student-athletes to become academic, athletic and life champions. Bear Down, Go Cats and we will see you Friday evening for this memorable event.
 
ARIZONA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TICKET REMINDER



Are you ready to Bear Down with Coach Barnes and the Wildcats this season? Our season ticket renewal deadline for Arizona Women's Basketball is Monday, Sept. 13. We know how exceptional our home atmosphere can be for our program, and it's because of our loyal supporters who fill the seats in McKale Center.
 
Our women's basketball program is coming off a season for the record books after taking the NCAA Tournament, college basketball and the country by storm in San Antonio this spring. Our historic and iconic run to the national championship game cemented our program's place among the nation's best.
 
We hope you are ready to cheer on our student-athletes, coaches and staff to victory all season long as Arizona Women's Basketball competes, once again, as a point of pride for everyone who wears the colors. Bear Down and Go Cats!
 
MOBILE TICKETING

Arizona Athletics continues its preparation to safely welcome the Wildcat Family to Arizona Stadium for our 2021 football home opener this weekend, and we want to continue to message to all regarding our transition to mobile ticketing. We want you to have the best experience possible at the game and utilizing our mobile ticketing system is an important piece of that fan experience. This paper-less and efficient process through Apple Wallet, Google Pay or our official Arizona Wildcats app makes sharing and entering our venue easier and more secure.
 
Tickets for Arizona Football's home opener against San Diego State have already been sent out for mobile use. Arizona Athletics Ticketing staff are here to assist you with this process and can be reached at 520-621-2287, at catsinfo@arizona.edu or at the McKale Center Ticket Office on Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (MST).
 
RED-BLUE GAME TICKETS ON SALE

The annual First Watch Red-Blue Game is less than a month away, which will be fans' first glimpse at the 2021-22 Wildcats under new head coach Tommy Lloyd. This annual Arizona Basketball celebration is always an exciting event as the Wildcat Family gets to enjoy the first hardcourt action in McKale while watching newcomers and returners take the floor before exhibition play.
 
The Cats have a handful of returners, including Christian Koloko, Kerr Kriisa, Bennedict Mathurin, Dalen Terry, and Azoulas Tubelis. This decorated and experienced group will blend with talented and exciting newcomers to fill out the roster. All of these outstanding Wildcats will be on display for the McKale Center crowd to enjoy at 3 p.m. (MST) on Saturday, Oct. 2. Click here to get your tickets now if you haven't already.
 
ARIZONA SOCCER HOMESTAND

The Wildcats return to Mulcahy Stadium for some more exciting soccer action with a pair of home matches this week. Arizona Soccer welcomes Texas Tech on Thursday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. (MST) before hosting Nebraska on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. (MST). Both matches will be streamed on the Pac-12 Insider or you can click here to buy your tickets to Bear Down with the Cats in person.
 
The team picked up a win their last time on the pitch with a 3-2 win over Cal State Northridge. Veteran forward Jill Aguilera scored a pair of goals in the win over the Matadors to push her career total to 26 and put her into third place in program history. Arizona's third score of the match came from freshman Desiree Foster's first career goal.
 
VOLLEYBALL BACK ON THE ROAD



After capping tournament action in Las Cruces, N.M. with a win over Northwestern, Coach Rubio and the Wildcats travel to Texas for some elite competition versus Notre Dame and the top-ranked Texas Longhorns. Arizona Volleyball last faced the No. 1 team in the country when it battled the USC Trojans in McKale Center in the 2015 season.
 
Jaelyn Hodge, who had 60 kills over the weekend that included 30 in the win over NMSU, enters the week in the top 10 of the Pac-12 in kills as sophomore Emery Herman is also in the top 10 of the conference in assists.
The Wildcats open the weekend with No. 1 Texas on Friday at 5 p.m. (MST) before facing the Fighting Irish at 1 p.m. (MST) the following day. Visit ArizonaWildcats.com and @ArizonaVBall on social media for streaming, live stats and match day information.


 
We'd also like to send a special congratulations to Arizona Volleyball alum Whitney Dosty who earned a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games as part of Team USA. Watching former student-athletes achieve their dreams and compete at the highest levels of sport is always a point of pride for us. Bear Down and Go Cats!
 
MEN'S GOLF SEASON BEGINS

Your reigning Pac-12 Champions, Arizona Men's Golf, officially begin its 2021-22 season this weekend at the Maui Jim Intercollegiate in Scottsdale against a loaded field that includes five teams who ended last season ranked in the top 25 of the GolfStat rankings.
 
Arizona returns seven letterwinners from a year ago, which include Christian Banke and Chase Sienkiewicz who were part of the lineup at NCAA Regionals in Cle Elum, Washington. The Wildcats added a trio of decorated freshman as well as a transfer in Cal McCoy from Denver University.
 
Coach Anderson and the Wildcats will hit the links beginning on Friday morning from Mirabel Golf Course in Scottsdale for three days of action. You can follow along at ArizonaWildcats.com or @ArizonaMGolf on social media platforms. Best of luck to our Wildcats and we look forward to watching you compete.
 
CROSS COUNTRY OPENS SEASON STRONG

Arizona Cross Country has returned home following their opening meet of the season in at the George Kyte Invitational in Flagstaff. The women finish in second place while the men earned fourth. Sophomore Grace Driskill, from Tucson, was our top finisher on the women's side with a seventh-place time of 16:00.7. in the two-and-a-half mile race. Shem Kemboi, a junior from Kenya, was the top Wildcat for the men with a time of 23:53.3 in the four-and-a-half mile race.
 
Next up for our Wildcat runners is UC Riverside Invitational in two weeks as the program builds on its performance while preparing for the annual Dave Murray Invitational on Friday, Oct. 1 in Tucson.
 
A WILDCAT AT US OPEN



Our country's premier tennis major has some Bear Down spirit with Arizona Men's Tennis freshman Colton Smith's participation in the U.S. Open Junior Championship. With head coach Clancy Shields among those in attendance in New York, Colton has performed on the biggest of stages before his first collegiate match and picked up wins over Edas Butvilas of Lithuania and Jack Pinnington Jones.
 
Colton will join the rest of his teammates when he returns as Arizona Men's Tennis looks to carry the momentum for their historical 2021 season that saw the Wildcats reach their first ever Sweet 16.
 
Congratulations Colton on representing the Block A in one of the world's top tennis events and for showing everyone what it means to Bear Down.
 
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