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

As we approach the halfway mark of February, I wanted to share with Wildcat Wednesday readers information about our athletic department's annual celebration of Black History Month. This year's recognition is student-athlete driven and focuses on the promotion of history, belonging and unity.

Arizona Athletics sponsored "A Fireside Chat with Stacey Snowden" earlier this month at Loft Cinema, which was presented by the African American Museum of Southern Arizona. This event centered around former head men's basketball coach Fred Snowden and his impact as the first black head basketball coach of a Division I program. We also recognized a pair of trail blazers from Arizona Men's Basketball in Ernie McCray and Al Fleming who were officially inducted into the Ring of Honor in McKale.
.

You may have also seen our teams competing this month donning our special Black History Month shirts. It's part of the 2023 BHM line of merchandise that is for sale at the UA BookStores with portions of sales going to the African American Student Affairs Center.

We have plenty of upcoming tributes and recognitions for Black History Month, and I look forward to sharing those in future Wildcat Wednesday emails.

BASEBALL SEASON BEGINS

The 2023 Arizona Baseball season officially begins this week in Scottsdale with the MLB Desert Invitational, and we can't wait to see Coach Hale and the Wildcats take the field. The Cats open the season versus No. 2 Tennessee on Friday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. (MST) at the Salt River Fields. The MLB Network will broadcast the season opener.

Arizona will also face Fresno State, Michigan State and UC San Diego during the opening weekend of 2023 in Scottsdale, so click here to visit the teams' official schedule page. We want to wish our student-athletes, coaches and staff the best of luck as they open another season of exciting baseball action at the University of Arizona. You can Bear Down with the Cats throughout the weekend with tickets available for purchase for all games.

 

 

5980 ACADEMIC FUND

Throughout the month of February, we want to raise awareness for our 5980 Academic Fund. We have been actively promoting the fund at home men's and women's basketball games and have launched a crowdfunding webpage to educate how this fund directly impacts our Student-Athletes and give them a quick option to get involved. We are encouraging all fans to rally together to support this initiative!

The 5980 Academic Fund provides supplemental academic awards to student-athletes up to the established maximum of $5,980 per year. All Arizona student-athletes are eligible so long as they maintain good academic performances, meet NCAA eligibility requirements, and embrace Arizona's Wildcat Way core values.

We are seeking additional financial support to fund this important initiative in future fiscal years. The 5980 Academic Fund is the newest component of our first-class student-athlete experience and will be a point of pride for Wildcats in the future. Click here to donate to this important initiative today.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• #8 Men's basketball is up against Utah this Thursday, February 16th at 8:00 PM. Click here to purchase tickets! They take the court versus Colorado this Saturday, February 18th at 6:00 PM. Be sure to watch the game on ESPN2!

• #18 Women's basketball has its last two home games this week! They will play Utah on Friday, February 17th at 7:00 PM and Colorado on Sunday, February 19th at 12:00 PM. Shaina Pellington or Jade Loville bobbleheads will be available for the first 1,000 fans through the gates on Friday. Cate Reese or Helena Pueyo bobbleheads are available for the first 1,000 fans through the gates on Sunday. Click here to purchase tickets!

• Beach volleyball will have their red-blue scrimmage this Friday at 5:00 PM at Bear Down Beach. Admission is free! 

WILDCAT HEADLINES 

• #10 Arizona Softball sweeps the Candrea Classic with 5 wins and 0 losses.

• Talie Bonds Breaks track and Field's School record for the women's 60m hurdles. This is the third time she has broken the record this season. 

• Chase Davis of Arizona Baseball named to Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List.

• 45 Wildcats Pick up Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll Recognition.

• Azuolas Tubelis landed on the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Midseason Watch List and is one of 10 players on the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Watch List.

SHOW YOUR COLORS 

Matt Wood and Ben Pearson ('06) hanging with Gus Johnson in Vegas. Cheering on a great Wildcat win!!

Jay Sampson ('87) and Scott Meisenheimer ('87) root on the 'Cats in Tempe

Send us your photos of you wearing the colors! 

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. 

Bear Down and Go Cats! 

Dave Heeke 

Vice President and Director of Athletics 

University of Arizona 

uofaad@arizona.edu