April 6, 2011
This is a reposting of the Wildcat Wednesday weekly email sent by Athletic Director Greg Byrne to all the wildcat fans around the country. If you would like to sign up to receive the email directly please sign up here.
FUNDING MAJOR COLLEGE ATHLETICS
This morning, I held a press conference at McKale Center to provide local media with a state-of-the-department update, as well as an outline of our major fundraising efforts for the upcoming months and years. Our emphasis on development may not be your favorite Wildcat news, but it must remain foremost on our chart of objectives. Just like most industries, we have felt the impact of the economy on our program and it is imperative that we find ways to grow our resources so that we can reinvest in our success and give our student-athletes and fans the best possible experience. I hope you are willing to invest in the University of Arizona and our athletics program.
At the press conference, we also officially launched our first-ever Wildcat Club Fund Drive, which is designed to increase financial support of Arizona Athletics. Our goal is to expand the membership in the Wildcat Club from 7,200 to 12,000 members by the end of 2013. This would put our department at the top of the Pac-12 in annual giving membership and make a huge impact on the experiences of our 500 student-athletes. We have 112 volunteers throughout the country who are helping us recruit new members and we hope that you can help us as well. You probably received an email from me earlier today with a link to our new Wildcat Club video. I encourage you to share this link on Facebook/Twitter and ask people to join the “Wildcat Movement” by joining the Wildcat Club.
IT'S A MARVELOUS EDUCATIONAL ENTERPRISE
You're well aware that Arizona Athletics is part of a broader universe that is the University of Arizona. This past weekend, the local newspaper released figures showing that the University is only several dozen fulltime employees short of being the No. 1 employer in all of Southern Arizona, with 10,481. Also, UA Healthcare -- the merged entity of UMC and University Physicians -- adds another 5,982 employees to the equation. We are part of an outstanding teaching, research and public service institution. We believe athletic competition helps forge a bond among all of those people and the many tens of thousands of alumni, supporters and friends across the globe. (The figures for the local employers have been compiled for the past 30 years by a team of journalists at the Arizona Daily Star.)
THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST
Tonight, the department holds its annual C.A.T.S. Awards Banquet, the event where we honor our seniors, some outstanding student-athletes, highlight some academic and community service honors and otherwise celebrate the school and competitive year. I'd tell you some winners, but it's best if you go to www.arizonawildcats.com and check for yourself. Needless to say, this was like many other years -- we had (and will continue to have) some very outstanding young men and women in our program in 2010-11.
KEEPING THE RULES IN MIND
Our online web page on compliance can help you keep us on the right side of the fence when it comes to external influences on athletics (notably such areas as boosters, agents, businesses and merchants), plus provides some links to other material if you wish to go deeper into the world of compliance. Years ago departments assigned a staffer to keep track of eligibility issues. Now, departments like ours have sizeable staffs of people and many more resources to help navigate through our daily, weekly and periodic responsibilities. The bottom line is that first-rate institutions take a first-rate approach to handling these matters, and we need everyone to understand our vigilance in this regard.
HORSE SENSE IN A BIG WAY
Mona Moreno forwarded this photo of her family's horse, Patches, who sported some extra paint before the Elite Eight game. Nice! Keep the photos coming… and “Like” facebook.com/arizonaathletics.
SPRING GAME APRIL 16
Spring football practice is half way completed and the annual Spring Game will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, to culminate the work Coach Mike Stoops, his staff and players have put in over the past several weeks. Please come out and join us for this free event at Arizona Stadium. Head out before the Spring Game starting at 10:30 a.m. and visit our Fan Fest on McKale lawn featuring entertainment for the whole family. Activities will include interactive games, food vendors, a photo station, and an autograph session with Arizona Wildcat greats Lance Briggs, Antoine Cason, Eben Britton, Rob Gronkowski and others. This year’s football team is looking good and will feature a super passing attack, and what shapes up as an outstanding defense. Hope to see you there in Arizona Stadium at the end of next week.
PAC-10 TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
We are hosting the Pac-10 Conference Track and Field Championships in a month -- with combined events on May 6-7 and the primary meet on May 13-14. We hope you can join us for this "last" Pac-10 meet. Our league is very competitive in track and field and annually boasts some of the most promising young track and field athletes anywhere. Tickets to the meet may be purchased through the McKale Ticket Office beginning Monday, April 11.
RENEWALS
Renewal statements for 2011 football season tickets and Wildcat Club charitable giving benefits for 2011-12 (including men's basketball priority) have been mailed. Thank you to those of you who have already chosen to renew. We’ve had a terrific response through our online renewal system, which will be available through the May 2nd renewal deadline. Thank you again for your continued support. For more information on ways to support Arizona Athletics, including Wildcat Club membership, priority seating, and tickets, please check out our online version of the 2011-12 Fan Guide.
IN THE QUAD ACROSS THE WORLD
Former swimmer Justine Schluntz, the NCAA Woman of the Year who is now a Rhodes Scholar studying abroad, sent the photo below of herself (middle), Sue and Steve Rutt in the Canterbury Quad of St. Joseph's College. Justine met the Rutts walking around downtown the University of Oxford -- and knew them immediately for some obvious reasons -- the colors they were wearing. Justine says she runs into Wildcats frequently in England.
NOTES...
The 2nd Annual "Arizona Road Trip" is happening later this month. Beginning April 25, we'll get out with Football Coach Mike Stoops, Men’s Basketball Coach Sean Miller and Women’s Basketball Coach Niya Butts to hit the road and travel around the state for five days. More information on the schedule of stops is available online. And, of course, when we're in your town, wear the colors... Congratulations to our gymnastics team for its NCAA Regional appearance last weekend in Denver... Our baseball team continues Pac-10 play at home against California in a weekend series this week at Sancet Field/Kindall Stadium. Stop by and join us for a game or two... The promising men's and women's track and field teams will send student-athletes to compete in meets in Texas and Mesa Friday and Saturday... Softball stays on the road for a weekend series at Oregon State after its sweep last week at Stanford... Women's tennis will play host to UCLA on Friday, while the men's team visits UCLA and USC... The men’s and women’s golf teams will compete in the Pac-10 Championships later this month. The No. 8 women finished third in the noted Ping/ASU invitational last weekend in Tempe...
Continue to do what you can to help Arizona Athletics and:
- Buy Season Tickets
- Join the Wildcat Club
- Wear the Colors (Especially on Friday)
- Get Others to Do the Same
