For Hispanic Heritage Month, which is from Sept. 15-Oct. 15, Arizona will honor Hispanic heritage on Saturday. The Pride of Arizona Marching Band will collaborate with Tucson mariachi and folklorico groups for a performance at halftime.
Some Wildcats pay homage to Hispanic heritage every day, like Arizona senior tight end Sam Olson, whose mother, Myra, was born in Mexico, but emigrated to California for a better way of life. Olson said he's the "first person born on her side of the family that was born in the (United States)."
"That side of the family is always super loving — both sides of my family are," Olson said. "We have big get-togethers during the holidays and it's all about family."
The Mexican side of Olson's family traditionally makes tamales for the winter holiday season, which they used to sell to earn money, "so they had something unwrap on the holidays," Olson said. Olson is "not a fan of the green ones" and prefers tamales made with red masa, he said. Olson's grandfather owned a construction company, "Guillermo Construction."
Arizona tight end Sam Olson (84) flips the ball to the back judge after scoring a TD on a wide open catch in the back of the end zone in the third quarter versus Hawaii, Aug. 30, 2025, at Arizona Stadium.
"For me, it's made me as competitive as I am, just hearing the stuff my grandfather went through, leaving his family in Mexico and coming to the states to start a life and once he got his feet settled, he brought them over," Olson said.
Olson said his grandfather and mother, "how hard they worked so I didn't have to struggle, it's really inspiring to me."
"Hearing how difficult it was for them and my grandfather — when he first came here — not knowing the language and how difficult that was for him, I'm just really grateful that they worked so hard, so I don't have to go through anything like that," said the UA tight end.
The Visalia, California, native signed with San Jose State in 2020 and followed Arizona head coach Brent Brennan and his staff from SJSU to Tucson last season. Olson had a season-high four receptions for 24 yards in Arizona's loss to Iowa State last week.
Olson is Arizona's only tight end to score a touchdown this season. With Tyler Powell out for a season-ending leg injury, Olson, senior Keyan Burnett and Mercyhurst transfer Cameron Barmore are shouldering a majority of the snaps at tight end.
"He's been a really good player and a really good teammate," Brennan said of Olson. "He's been on this journey with us for a long time. ... When you get to see their journey and you're a part of it and they're a part of you for five years, it is special. You get to see them grow and develop. Sometimes players walk through the door as a freshman and they have all sorts of confidence and charisma and they're able to lead as a freshman.
"But you really get that incredible leadership from guys that have been in the fight, guys that have been in the games and have been in the big moments, been there on the tough days, been there on the good days, and Sam is one of those guys. He's an awesome teammate. He's a really good leader for our team. He's a consistent show-up, bust-his-ass-every-day guy. He lives redline, and we appreciate him for it."
