It was a terrific opening weekend of college football at Arizona Stadium as the Wildcats
dispatched the Lumberjacks by a score of 38-3 in front of a great crowd of over 48,000 fans. It was an electric atmosphere on Saturday night that rivaled the exhilarating action on the field. I want to thank all of you who experienced the win over NAU in person and filled the stadium with Wildcat pride. As I have said time and time again, there's nothing like being a part of Saturdays in the fall on the campus of University of Arizona. The Wildcat Family is key to the first-class experience of our student-athletes who proudly compete.
Coach Fisch and the Wildcats will be on the road this weekend in SEC country as they take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville. The game is set for a 4:30 p.m. (MST) kickoff on Saturday on the SEC Network. Brian Jeffries and Lamont Lovett will have the call as well for you to listen to on our flagship station Wildcats Radio 1290. Bear Down and Go Cats!
ARIZONA SPORTS HALL OF FAME
It is an honor and a privilege to
welcome the class of 2023 into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame as these eight Wildcats will receive the highest honor our athletics department can bestow. Six former student-athletes, an iconic head coach and a longtime administrator brought honor and distinction to the University of Arizona as collegiate and professional athletes.
- Beloved Promise (formerly known as Brigetta Barrett); Arizona Track & Field student-athlete, 2009-13
- Kirsten Smith; Arizona Women's Basketball student-athlete, 1982-86
- Rob Gronkowski; Arizona Football student-athlete, 2007-09
- Preston Guilmet; Arizona Baseball student-athlete, 2005-09
- John Perrin; Arizona Athletics Chief Financial Officer, 1979-2014
- Dave Rubio; Arizona Volleyball head coach, 1992-2023
- Stephen Sambu; Arizona Cross Country and Track & Field student-athlete, 2010-13
- Justin Schluntz; Arizona Swimming & Diving student-athlete, 2005-10
The impact each of these great Wildcats on their programs, the athletics department and our flagship university resonates for generations. We will hold our official induction of this tremendous class of Wildcats for life on Friday, Nov. 3 at the Westin La Paloma.
You can purchase your tickets to the ceremony now. The entire Wildcat Family looks forward to honoring this class that personifies excellence in living the Wildcat Way.
SUMMER ACADEMIC UPDATE
Wildcat student-athletes continue to shine in the classroom, and they don't take breaks during the summer either! Arizona Athletics posted an impressive summer GPA of 3.349 this year, which was the highest overall summer GPA in department history. We also saw our football and beach volleyball teams set program records for highest summer GPA's as well.
Our best team performances came from Gymnastics on the women's side with a 3.833 GPA with Men's Tennis taking top billing with a 3.600 on the men's side.
Arizona Athletics continues to shine bright with elite academic excellence, which is one of the many ways we serve as a point of pride for the University of Arizona and our Southern Arizona community. Our athletics program lives our Wildcat Way mission each and every day as we develop future generations of academic, athletic and life champions.
CONGRATULATIONS AUSTIN WELLS
It was a special moment for former baseball letterwinner Austin Wells over the weekend as he made his major league debut with the New York Yankees. Austin got the start at catcher and
picked up his first major league hit off the Houston Astros' ace Justin Verlander.
We pride ourselves in what our student-athletes go on to accomplish after they leave campus, and Austin continued our department's professional legacy by becoming the 94th Wildcat in Arizona Baseball to reach the major leagues. Congrats again to Austin and his Wildcat Family on achieving this lifelong dream and for proudly representing the Block A.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Arizona Classic
Arizona Soccer vs Texas Tech
Thursday, September 7th, 7:00 PM MST
$2 Hotdogs and free Pom-Poms!
Tickets
Arizona Soccer vs. Utah State
Sunday, September 10th, 11:30 AM MST
Free Fan tailgate with face painters, balloons, and free stadium horns!
Tickets
All non-Arizona matches in the Arizona Classic will not be ticketed.
WILDCAT WINS
WILDCAT HEADLINES
WEAR THE COLORS - SHARE THE PHOTOS
Fun start to the 2023 football season with Austin and Arielle and their future Wildcat Amani, Wildcat Club members Lupita and Rudy, and Adrian and Hailey. Bear Down.
David ('71) and Janice ('71 & '77) Shelton proudly wearing the colors at the Taj Mahal in India.
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
