Arizona football is getting ready to kick off, and to prepare yourself for this upcoming season, here are a few game day essentials to make the season just a little bit better:
Tailgating
Rise and shine! It’s game day and fans are not waiting around to get suited up in their Wildcat gear. Down at the UA Mall, students and fans set up their pop-ups, fire up their grills and load up the ice chests to get ready for an eventful day of tailgating.
Despite the heat, fans’ laughter and conversations will fill the air as they play corn hole and take selfies. About an hour before kickoff, students start to make their way to the entrance of the student section, the ZonaZoo.
The Wildcat Walk
Arizona’s most well-known tradition is the Wildcat Walk, where fans that are tailgating and getting ready for the game are able to cheer on the team before they start warming up.
The players get dropped off at Cherry Avenue and University Boulevard, where they meet up with the band and cheer team to make their way down the Mall.
ZonaZoo
A sea of red and blue will fill the east side of the stands as students stand shoulder-to-shoulder, screaming and jumping around, hoping to get their face on the Jumbotron. There is no sitting in the ZonaZoo, so be prepared to be on your feet the whole game.
Following along to the cheerleader’s chants, students’ voices echo through the stadium, screaming “A-R-I-Z-O-N-A.” Before you know it, fireworks shoot up into the air and the Arizona football team runs out of the tunnel.
Hit Squad
When Arizona kicks off, members of the ZonaZoo pound their forearms together to House of Pain’s “Jump Around.” This student tradition has caught on so much that most of the stadium does it as well. It even makes appearances at other UA sporting events when the song comes on.
Arizona first down
As the Arizona offense tries to move closer to the end zone, they keep trying to gain 10 or more yards. If they do so, they earn an “Arizona first down.” When the team earns a first down, all of the student section throws their right arm into the air and throws it in the direction the team is headed, signaling a first down.
Zona Sway
The Zona Sway is fairly new as it was introduced during the 2014 football season. After the coin toss, students grab shoulders, sway back and forth and sing “Zo-na” in sync together.
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