Nov. 30, 2011
THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT - WE NEED IT TO FLOURISH
We had a decent if not outstanding crowd for our football season finale last Saturday, and I commend one and all for staying until the end -- of a compelling victory over a good 8-4 Louisiana team. That was important for our senior class and important to show Coach Rich Rodriguez that the UA will be behind his new program. It was a difficult season. I think you should know that future schedules will keep ASU as our regular-season finale; this year was jumbled some because of the league expansion. And, you know me -- it's never too soon to be thinking about next year, and about supporting the Wildcats in every means possible. Coach Rodriguez will be hiring a staff in the coming weeks, recruiting hard for the next two months, and soon we'll be on all cylinders heading into spring ball.
SPEAKING OF COACH ROD...
Coach Rodriguez would love to meet Wildcat nation and there are two events lined up, one in Tucson and the other in Phoenix, for Wildcat fans to meet him and hear what his vision is for Arizona Football. Click here for details about both events and be sure to rsvp by clicking the links at the bottom of the page.
In addition you'll be able to read more about Coach Rodriguez and his family (wife Rita and their children, Raquel and Rhett) as he meets with the local and regional media over the next couple of weeks. They're going to be great additions to the Wildcat family. He was in the office behind his desk Monday beginning his tenure, and the next few months will be a whirlwind. I'm confident in him and we're pleased to have him aboard. You'll like his exciting brand of football. "Huddles are a waste time" is a good quote from the introductory news conference. Arizona football will stand up to anything going on anywhere in the Pac-12. We won't be in bowl games lexicon for 2011, but we'll be back soon. He'll open his first season with slightly more seniority in the league than at least two, and maybe three, other Pac-12 schools thanks to the quick search process that brought him to Tucson.
VOLLEYBALL OFF TO REGIONALS
Our volleyball team split its State Farm Territorial Cup Series point with ASU the final week of the season and was selected to play in a tough NCAA Championships first-second rounds regional in Austin, Texas. Congratulations ladies, and let's get a couple in Austin!
WILBUR IS IN THE FINAL FOUR
Volleyball is not the only one in tournament action. After fourteen weeks of mascot matchups our very own Wilbur T. Wildcat has made it to the final four! He needs your help to make it to the championship match-up and have a shot at scholarship money that will go towards an endowment set up for Wilbur and Wilma. Keep voting all week (voting closes Monday morning) and don't get discouraged, no lead is safe in this competition as Wilbur has been able to come back a few times thanks to you the fans. Here's how to vote:
1. Text Wilbur to 78527 (Restricted to an hourly maximum of 250 votes per hour, standard messaging rates apply)
2. Vote online at http://www.capitalonebowl.com/schedule (remember to scroll down and hit submit my votes)
3. Facebook: www.Facebook.com/MascotChallenge
COMPLIANCE REMINDER
As many of our coaches head into winter recruiting periods remember that you, the supporters and fans, cannot be part of that process. Only coaches (and specified staff for administrative purposes) may contact or deal with prospective student-athletes. I urge you to step back and appreciate the recruiting of student-athletes from a distance. This protects us and the recruits.
SCHEDULE NOTES
Women's basketball will be in Hawaii for the Hukilau Invitational Thursday through Sunday, with games against BYU, Syracuse and BYU-Hawaii... Our swimming and diving teams travel to Austin for the Texas Invitational Thursday through Saturday... Volleyball plays its NCAA first-round match against Michigan State in Austin on Friday, with the winner to advance to the round of 32 on Saturday... Men's basketball will be at home in McKale Center for a 4:30 p.m. game against in-state rival NAU on Saturday...
50 YEARS OF FOOTBALL AND HOOPS
Continuing the new Wildcat Wednesday tradition of recognizing season ticket holders of 50 years or more, we would like to introduce you to Charles and Marylou Weber. The Weber's have held football season tickets since 1956. Both Charles and Marylou received their PhD's from the University of Arizona in the 60's. Marylou briefly taught Women's Sports from 1966-1968, while Charles taught nutrition and biochemistry from 1967 to the late 90's. For years, the Weber's attended home basketball games in Bear Down Gym - before McKale Center was even built. Thank you for your dedication Charles and Marylou!
We received a great response from fans letting us know they have held season tickets for 50 years or more. Keep those e-mails coming to catsinfo@arizona.edu if you would like to make sure you, or someone you know, is on our list.
JUST SOME WILDCATS ON THE PROWL
No such thing as just some Cats, really. Below are Tina Rimer and Tami Ballis in Jalisco, Mexico, thumbs up for the Cats' chances against ASU (!) and New York alumni Virgie and Wright Cortner before the recent basketball games there. Virgie was a member of one of the first UA pom pom squads in the early 1950s.
Continue to do what you can to help Arizona Athletics and:
- Join the Wildcat Movement
- Buy Season Tickets
- Wear the Colors (Especially on Friday)
- Get Others to Do the Same
Bear Down with Pride,
Greg Byrne
Director of Athletics
University of Arizona
uofaad@arizona.edu
