Not only did the Arizona football team record its fourth-best attendance total in school history, but some Zona Zoo members were turned away from the gates more than 30 minutes before game time.
Little did they know that they could have gained admission through another gate, which some students were not told at the time.
Though official numbers were not released, Zona Zoo spirit director Michael Huston said it’s certainly possible that students were turned away.
“”I think that we’ve publicized the importance of arriving early at games for that reason,”” he said. “”The section fills more quickly than it ever has. If there’s students with any concerns whatsoever about getting a seat, I would encourage them to come early and make sure they do get a seat.””
Erin Leonard, a creative writing senior, bought a ticket from a scalper after being turned away along with four of her friends and later regretted it when the ticket takers told her friends to go to another gate.
“”I really wanted to go, so I wasn’t going to take ‘no’ for an answer,”” she said.
Political science senior Michael Cohen went home to catch the kickoff after arriving around 30 minutes early after fulfilling prior commitments, he said, when he was told the section was filled.
“”It wasn’t much,”” he said. “”It was just ‘Sorry, I can’t let you in. It’s reached capacity.’ And I was like ‘OK.'””
The moral of the story: Come early.
-Lance Madden contributed to this report
Run at your own risk
A man who ran onto the field during the third quarter of Saturday’s game against No. 3 USC at Arizona Stadium was charged with disorderly conduct and trespassing and was booked into Pima County Jail.
Both charges are misdemeanors and could carry some jail time if the man is found guilty, but “”often times, if it’s the first time they wouldn’t,”” said Sgt. Eugene Mejia of the University of Arizona Police Department. Depending on the circumstances, those charges are typical, he said.
-Roman Veytsman
Men’s golf gets a boost
Former UA golfer Jim Furyk made his contribution in 1992 as a member of Arizona’s national championship golf team.
Now Furyk is making yet another financial contribution, giving $120,000 to the UA, of which $20,000 will be donated to the men’s golf program. The remaining $100,000 is targeted for the PGA’s “”Golf: For Business and Life,”” initiative, a program geared toward teaching golf to college juniors and seniors.
A UA Sports Hall of Fame member, Furyk has made donations following his four previous Ryder Cup appearances and four President’s Cup appearances. The PGA Tour of America declared $200,000 in funds to the charities of each player and captain of the USA Ryder Cup Team, for a grand total of $2.6 million.
Furyk, a two time All-American, played at Arizona from 1988-92 and has won 12 events since joining the PGA Tour in 1993.
-Compiled from a press release at www.arizonaathletics.com