May 12, 2010
LET'S SHOW PRIDE IN THE RED & BLUE
Are you wearing Arizona's colors? One of the things we would like to see in connection with Wildcat Athletics is all fans, supporters, parents, the faculty and student body, our own student-athletes and staff -- everyone everywhere -- wearing our school colors. Let's make it happen on Fridays. It's a simple thing and gives you a bit of an option inasmuch as our uniforms are red, white and blue. You can check, but every Friday I'll be wearing our colors. Please join us!
LEAGUE EXPANSION TALK PREVALENT
At the Pac-10 meetings last week in Phoenix, there was some dynamic discussion about the prospect of league expansion, notably with the presence of Big 12 athletics directors also in town (in connection with the "Fiesta Frolic" hosted by the Fiesta Bowl). There is all kinds of speculation about different leagues and expansion, or about leagues staying the way they are for the immediate future.
The Pac-10's leadership, the presidents and chancellors, and the athletics directors are investigating possibilities as well. With the revenues that the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference are generating in television contracts, the Pac-10 has to explore all its options, especially with our league's television deal coming up for renewal after next year.
What these choices would mean for Arizona and its Pac-10 partners is, of course, open to discussion. Our own revenue forecasts at the UA show we'll be facing some substantial needs in the next several years, and television income is one way we'll have to grow.
FOOTBALL TV PICKS HELP
Speaking of TV, the Pac-10 announced several more Arizona games in its May round of television picks by the ABC/ESPN partner. The USC game in Tucson on Nov. 13 has been selected by ABC and will kick off at 6 p.m. Tucson time, while the Wildcats' game at Oregon on Nov. 26 has been chosen for showing on ESPN, with a 4 p.m. local kick (5 p.m. in Tucson).
Those games join with our Sept. 3 contest at Toledo (ESPN, 5 p.m. Tucson time), our matchup with Iowa on Sept. 18 (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. Tucson) and the Dec. 2 Territorial Cup showdown with ASU (ESPN, 6 p.m. Tucson) to give us five pre-selected games, a strong statement on the continued growth of Mike Stoops' program. The next round of television picks will be made June 1 by FSN and Versus. Some contests will remain in the mix for in-season weekly selections as well, and our own partner IMG will have the opportunity to broadcast some games.
KUDOS TO GOLF TEAMS
The women's golf team heads to the NCAA Golf Championships in Wilmington, N.C., next week, an excellent cap to the program's late season run. The squad won the Pac-10 title two weeks ago and won its NCAA Regional last weekend. Now comes the national finals.
There have been some changes in the program, and UA director of golf Rick LaRose and assistant coach Laura Myerscough-Ianello deserve a huge pat on the back for getting the team to focus. Rick's men's team will compete in the NCAA Regional in San Diego under assistant Andy Barnes while LaRose goes with the women's team. It's a great balancing act. Go Wildcats!
COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES IN McKALE
This week is the time of year when we share McKale Center with the main campus for the UA's Commencement Ceremonies. In fact, four events will be featured. The UA staff started converting the arena on Monday to prepare for the auspicious events.
We commend all University of Arizona graduates and advanced degree earners, especially the 42 student-athletes from 13 different sports who will be graduating this spring. Another dozen plus will complete degree requirements before the end of the calendar year.
Balancing the full schedule you get as a member of a Pac-10 sports team with the complexities of life as a student is one of the marvels we witness in intercollegiate athletics. We couldn't be more proud of these young men and women.
SOCIAL MEDIA IS AMAZING
I've enjoyed adding new friends who've joined me on Facebook and Twitter. The immediacy of such social media has really added a new dimension to communication. I want to be accessible to as many constituencies as possible and these are two methods that really help.
Please join in the circle and let's take this communication to new levels.
Bear Down!
Greg Byrne
Director of Athletics
University of Arizona
uofaad@arizona.edu
