June 15, 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.
THANKS TO PRESIDENT SHELTON
We need to thank University of Arizona President Robert Shelton for his leadership in his five-year tenure at the university. Dr. Shelton was announced a few days ago as the next executive director of the Fiesta Bowl. He'll be taking his stewardship to the Phoenix area in a month. I thank him for hiring me as athletics director and thank him for providing outstanding support and guidance to the entire institution as well as our program. The Arizona Board of Regents will name an interim president within a few weeks and begin a national search for a successor to take over in 2012.
WILDCAT MOVEMENT WEEK
The Wildcat Club, the fundraising arm of Arizona Athletics, has declared June 13th- June 17th "Wildcat Movement Week." The Wildcat Movement is a three-year long fund drive with the ultimate goal of reaching 12,000 Wildcat Club members by 2013. We want to thank our current supporters for helping the Wildcat Club reach a record-setting 9,433 members! However, we are striving to raise our total membership. As the competition becomes more intense in the newly formed Pac-12 Conference, we too have to step up our game.
Check out the Wildcat Club Facebook page this week for original video content and unique information about the Movement and our student-athletes, including an update on the new football video board.
We encourage all fans, friends and alumni to become official supporters of Arizona Athletics by joining the movement and becoming a member of the Wildcat Club with a gift of $100 or more by June 30th, 2011.
Call (520) 621-CLUB (2582) or click here to donate on-line.
HOW ABOUT THOSE TRACK SQUADS
Our women's (fifth) and men's (seventh) track and field teams had some marvelous performances at the NCAA Championships last week in Des Moines, coming home with top 10 finishes. Two Cats -- high jumper Brigetta Barrett and shot putter Julie LaBonte came back with NCAA titles. Wow. Brigetta and Julie also won the indoor championships and Julie wasn't beaten by any other thrower this year. They and a host of our student-athletes did the job on a big stage. We should be even better next year with nearly everyone returning. Coach Harvey and staff deserve your admiration.
ACROSS THE BOARD EXCELLENCE
We finished the 2010-11 competitive season with postseason appearances in 17 sports. The year will be our best in five years in terms of the Learfield Director's Cup, as we will finish in the Top 20 of the ratings for Division I programs. Congratulations to all of our coaches, student-athletes and staff for helping us record a quality 2010-11 year. Our goal is to do this and more, year in and year out. Plus, we're committed to academic achievement, representing our institution off the courts and fields in the best possible manner, and striving for hallmarks in outreach and community service.
EVERY DOWN BEAR DOWN
You've heard me talk of the importance of buying season tickets and supporting our football team, and soon we will have a cool new way to help you do that. Be on the lookout this summer for everydownbeardown.com, a new interactive website to promote football tickets. When the site launches we will be sure to let you know so you will be able to check out and explore this new feature. We are excited about the upcoming football season and all that it has to offer.
Some great seats remain for the upcoming football season. Don't miss out on our strong home schedule this year, including Oregon, Stanford, UCLA and Pac-12 newcomer Utah. Season tickets start as low as $100 and can save you as much as 40% off the regular single game price. Buy your season tickets now and secure your seats before Flex Packs and single game tickets go on sale.
WORLDWIDE WILDCATS
(Former UA Staffers Mike and Gay Hawley, show off their Wildcat pride on their recent trip to the Panama Canal. Both Mike and Gay worked for the UA for over 25 years and retired in 2006.)
WILDCAT WEDDING
(Check out the cake topper of the groom's cake at a wedding sent in to us by Dana and Matt Laskin. Even food can wear the colors.)
HAVE A GREAT SUMMER
Wildcat Wednesdays will be on hiatus for a few months, but we will be sure to keep you up on any major news. We appreciate your support and your willingness to receive and share news about our program. Keep wearing the colors; in fact don't limit yourselves to just Fridays. Let's make it a Wildcat summer!
Continue to do what you can to help Arizona Athletics and:
1. Join the Wildcat Movement
2. Buy Season Tickets
3. Wear the Colors (Especially on Friday)
4. Get Others to Do the Same
Bear Down with Pride,
Greg Byrne
Director of Athletics
The University of Arizona
uofaad@arizona.edu
