Recruiting crazies rejoice: You can be part of the signing day festivities on Feb. 1.
Arizona Wildcats football fans are invited to attend the Signing Day Celebration that evening at the Sands Club inside the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility at Arizona Stadium.
The Signing Day Celebration will be an exclusive opportunity for fans to hear from coach Rich Rodriguez on the day the Wildcats officially announce their 2017 recruiting class.
Rodriguez will also provide an overview of the team’s spring practice schedule and take questions from the audience.
My take:
In light of Arizona’s 3-9 season in 2016 and news of some recruits de-committing, and prolific career passing quarterback Anu Solomon transferring to Baylor, this is a favorable opportunity for Rodriguez to reach out to fans who have questions and reservations about the program getting back on track.
Rodriguez is doing the right thing by not shying away from the public even though he might feel the heat.
He and his staff could have kept it status quo with only a press release and news conference of the recruiting class with nobody making an issue of it. Sure, this is a PR move to hype the recruiting class, but it is promising to see that Rodriguez is willing to include community involvement with the process.
When I was a student at Arizona in the late 1980’s, Dick Tomey and his assistant coaches held a brown-bag lunch event in a room that was in the the old student union building.
At the outset of Dick Tomey’s coaching career at Arizona he held a brown-bag lunch with fans to discuss and take questions of the game the week before (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com Photo)
The coaches played game film from the previous game and answered questions from fans. It was highly enlightening and a practice that endeared followers with Tomey and his staff, who of course did not have to do such a thing. It was not in their contract or at least I don’t think it was because of it being so unique.
Additionally during the Signing Day Celebration with Rodriguez, fans will have an opportunity to have their picture taken with the Territorial Cup, which the Wildcats secured with their 56-35 victory over Arizona State last November.
Tickets to the event are only $10 for Wildcat Club members and season tickets holders, while the general public can purchase tickets for $20. A ticket will include admission, appetizers, soft drinks, beer and wine while supplies last.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the event program will begin at 6 p.m. in the Sands Club (enter the LSFF main lobby near Gate 2 of Arizona Stadium).
Free parking will be located in the lots east of Arizona Stadium after 5 p.m. Guests can park in the Cherry Avenue Garage for a nominal fee. Please refrain from parking in the lot west of Arizona stadium as it is a monitored and enforced lot until 9 p.m.
For more information on the event and to purchase tickets, click here or call 520-621-2287 during regular business hours.
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
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