September 19, 2008

Dear UA Alumni Cheerleader and/or Mascot,

Cheers! It’s that time of year again! Homecoming 2008 is just around the corner! The UA Cheerleaders & Mascots would like to extend an invitation to all alumni cheerleaders and mascots to attend this year’s Homecoming festivities.

Homecoming weekend is scheduled for October 24-25, 2008. This year, the Arizona Football team will take on the Trojans from USC, on Saturday, October 25th at 7:15 PM (MST/PST). We hope you will return to campus and reminisce with old friends, as well as make new friends and meet this year’s spirit groups.

We are extremely excited to have the current team meet the alumni and showcase their material thus far. The cheerleaders and mascots continue to focus on promoting Wildcat spirit through crowd interactive material. This year’s program is comprised of 14 male bases, 12 female flyers, and of course, Wilbur & Wilma T. Wildcat! Our Spirit Cats come from all over the country, including Utah, Washington, Texas, California, Illinois, and of course Arizona!

This past August, we decided to bring back an old tradition to our Training Camp. The Cheerleaders & Mascots traveled to Mt. Lemmon for an overnight retreat. The retreat included hiking, cooking meals, team building activities, and of course Captain and Board selection. It was quite a success and a nice break from practice two times per day for two weeks! This summer, the Cheerleaders & Mascots took a hiatus from UCA College Spirit Camp in Santa Barbara, CA. Instead, we brought three UCA college instructors to Tucson for a Private Stunt Camp. They received more hands- on instruction with respect to partner stunts and pyramids. It was extremely successful!

In addition, Wilbur and Wilma started a new tradition and performed a back-to-school skit at the New Student Convocation in late August. More than 2,000 new students were introduced to Wilbur and Wilma as they performed a “Day in the Life of a New College Student.” It was quite a hit! The entire cheerleading and mascot team performed and taught the new students UA traditions such as Bear Down, Fight Wildcats Fight, Wilbur’s Can of Noise, counting Wilbur’s push-ups for touchdowns, and the ARIZONA spell.

The students continue to fundraise in order to support all operational costs necessary to run the program. The cheerleaders and mascots will be selling raffle tickets at both the Family Weekend (Arizona vs. Washington) and Arizona vs. ASU football game tailgates, for the chance to win an autographed Mike Stoops football and/or a team autographed Arizona Men’s Basketball. Additionally, the cheerleaders will be hosting its 2nd annual Kindergarten – 9th Grade Youth Cheer Clinic on Sunday, October 12, 2008, here in McKale Memorial Center.

More information regarding these fundraisers can be found on our website: www.arizonaathletics.com. Select “Inside Athletics” and then “Cheerleaders & Mascots.”

The events for Homecoming 2008 (Alumni Cheerleaders & Mascots) are as follows:

Friday, October 24, 2008

The Marshall Foundation Pep Rallies – Bear Down Nights! Time: 5:00 PM– 7:00 PM, Pep Rally – 6:00 PM Location: The Main Gate Square on University Ave. (between Park & Euclid) Join us for live music, games, contests, and a Pep Rally with the Pride of Arizona Marching Band!

Homecoming Kick-Off Celebration & Bonfire Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Location: Alumni Plaza Join us for this celebration featuring a concert, fireworks, and a pep rally with President Shelton, Coach Stoops, and the team captains, as well as the traditional bonfire and crowning of the Homecoming King & Queen! The bonfire occurs at roughly 8:45 PM.

UA Alumni Cheerleaders & Mascots Casual Kick-Off Gathering! Time: 10:00 PM Location: OLD CHICAGO, 2960 N Campbell Ave., (520) 327-6200 A few alumni cheerleaders/mascots asked that we list a casual gathering to kick-off Homecoming 2008!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Meet the 2008-09 Cheerleaders & Mascots/ - Material Showcase & Alumni Warm-Up Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Location: TBD (most likely Mary Roby Gymnastics Facility) Please check our website Tuesday, October 21st for finalized details! You are invited to come meet the 2008 – 2009 UA Cheerleaders & Mascots and watch them showcase their football material (partner stunts & pyramids). At this time, you will be able to pick-up your alumni t-shirts for the game as well as the Homecoming Parade location for alumni mascots. In addition, it is also a time where you can warm-up any alumni material you are going to be performing on the field (for those of you participating at the game). We hope you can join us at this event.

Homecoming Parade Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Location: UA Mall ALUMNI MASCOTS – PLEASE RSVP ON THE REGISTRATION FORM IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE PARADE THIS YEAR! DEADLINE: Wednesday, October 15, 2008. Alumni Cheerleaders – You are welcome to walk with the current UA Cheerleaders in the Homecoming Parade.

Game Day Grill Tailgate Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM Location: Bear Down Field (just north of Arizona Stadium) Tickets are $15.00 per person and includes 3 drink tickets and food. To purchase tickets please call the Ticket Office at (520) 621- CATS (2287) by Saturday, October 18, 2008. If you did not pick-up your t-shirt at the 12:00 PM warm-up, you can pick-up your t-shirt at this tailgate.

Homecoming Football Game – Arizona vs. USC Time: 7:15PM (MST/PDT) The alumni cheerleaders & mascots will continue to be able to cheer on the field during the game! You need to report to the northeast end zone (by the current cheerleaders) 15 minutes prior to kick-off, wearing your alumni t-shirts. T-shirts cost $8.00 and will be gray this year. If at all possible, please try to wear navy athletic shorts or pants. Checks can be made payable to The Cheerleading & Mascots Program. Deadline: Wednesday, October 15, 2008. You must wear your alumni t-shirts to be able to cheer on the field (Alumni mascots must also wear these shirts when not in-suit). You must check-in with Phoebe Chalk, Cheerleaders & Mascots Advisor, 15 minutes prior to kick- off! In order to cheer at the game, you must follow all current AACCA, Pac-10 Cheerleading Conference, and University of Arizona Stunt Safety Rules (see below). Under NO circumstances will those under the influence of alcohol be allowed to cheer/perform on the field! While no stunting will be allowed with current cheerleaders during the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarters, we would like to continue to allow the alumni cheerleaders to chant and partner stunt with the current cheerleaders in the 4th quarter. This may change depending on the number of alumni participants.

In order to cheer/perform as an alumni cheerleader or mascot, you must have either graduated from the UA, completed 4 years of eligibility in the cheerleader or mascots program, or are no longer a current UA student. (You need to meet 1 of these criteria).

For those of you who would like to purchase tickets to the football game, please call the Ticket Office at (520) 621 – CATS (2287) and mention that you are purchasing tickets in the Cheerleaders & Mascots block. (We have arranged for an Alumni Cheerleaders & Mascots block of tickets, which are located in Section 101. Tickets cost $32.00 per ticket. Deadline to purchase tickets within this block is Saturday, October 18, 2008.

For those of you cheering at the game, please pay specific attention The University of Arizona Stunt Safety Restrictions:

Those skills which shall be prohibited at The University of Arizona:

1. Basket tosses 2. Two-and-one-half person high pyramids

All other AACCA and Pac-10 Conference Restrictions remain the same as last year. Remember, no technical skills are to be performed on the concrete/asphalt.

We have a great group of cheerleaders and mascots this year and they are excited to see the alumni. On the next page, you will find the registration form for the above listed festivities. Please complete the enclosed form, whether or not you are planning to attend, and return it to our office by WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15TH. If you know of someone who was a cheerleader or mascot and did not receive this information, please pass it along or send us an email with their updated information. Once again, we hope you and your family will make plans to attend and participate.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at (520) 621- 2331 or via email at [email protected] or [email protected].

For any additional Homecoming related information, please visit: http://www.arizonaalumni.com/Homecoming/.

GO CATS and Bear Down!

Sincerely,

Jennifer Goldman Phoebe T. Chalk Head Coach - UA Cheerleaders & Mascots Assistant Athletics Director, Community Relations Advisor – UA Cheerleaders & Mascots