Arizona football spring game 'a great celebration for this group of young men'

Arizona's spring game under the lights at Arizona Stadium on Saturday evening to conclude the Wildcats' five-week spring practice schedule won't have two teams with Rob Gronkowski and Tedy Bruschi or other UA legends as the honorary coaches — or "Gronk" throwing water balloons into the crowd. 

The spring game, which will be the last live UA football event broadcasted on Pac-12 Network, will have a scrimmage component to it and have an interactive portion with season-ticket holders drawing up plays for Arizona's offense. The main objective for Arizona in the spring game: have fun and stay healthy. 

“The biggest thing for us is we want to get to fall camp with everyone as healthy as we can possibly be, so we're going to be smart about who plays on Saturday, we're going to be smart about the rep count, we're going to be smart about what we do and what kind of positions we put people in," First-year Arizona head coach Brent Brennan said.

Added Brennan: "I've said it time and time again, this is an awesome group of young people. They love being together and they love practicing, so it's just fun to be out there. I think they've had a lot of fun, I think it's been highly competitive, I think we've had a lot of good work against each other, and so I think everyone is optimistic."

Brennan said Arizona is expecting "a huge crew" of former Wildcats and alumni connected to the program. Turning the spring game into UA football alumni weekend and bridging past and current Wildcats — and future with a plethora of recruits on official visits — was a movement that started under former head coach Jedd Fisch and has continued with "Desert Swarm" defensive back Brandon Sanders, Arizona's coordinator of football alumni and high school relations, still on staff.  

"We're excited. It's easy to lose track of people. I know that was an emphasis for the previous staff, getting those guys to come back and be a part of it, and Brandon is such a huge piece in that process," Brennan said. "I'm excited to meet a lot of these guys, and it's also fun because a lot of guys coming back I have some sort of relationship with either with my time here or my brother (former UA wide receiver Brad Brennan) or football. ... I'm really looking forward to it, and I hope they are, too."

Tickets for Arizona's spring game are priced at $10 for general admission or $5 for season-ticket holders, however UA boosters Humberto Lopez, founder of HSL Properties and Jim Click of the Jim Click Automotive Team purchased "community tickets" that can be purchased at azcats.co/communitytix. 

"How good is that? What great people to do that for the community here in Tucson, so I'm fired up about that," said Brennan. 

Lopez said, "Arizona Athletics plays an important role in this community by bringing people together and impacting countless lives."

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"Coach Brennan and the football program are crucial leaders in Southern Arizona that connect us to this incredible university," said Lopez. "It is our honor to help welcome our amazing community (and) fill Arizona Stadium on Saturday and cheer on our Wildcats."

Lopez was among the most recognizable boosters and UA fans to express their displeasure with Fisch leaving for Washington, and was at the forefront of boosters who wanted Arizona's star players, including quarterback Noah Fifita and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, to stay in Tucson. 

"It's always awesome to be with people who really care," Brennan said. "That's one of the things that's been important for me and my entire time as a head coach, even at my prior stop. I love people who consistently show up for the program, and there's so many people in this community that continue to do that, it's so special.

"In the world that we're living in, it's never been more complicated when you talk about the need for NIL, the need for donations, operational budget, all of these different things coming together at the same time. The people who continue to show up for us, I'm incredibly grateful. I'm having a great time getting to know them and spending time with them. On the flip side of that, I want to show up for those people, too, because they continue to show up for us, and that's something that needs to be reciprocated." 

With pre-purchased tickets available to the public, "we want to pack the house, we want to have a great crowd there, we want it to be a great day and a great celebration for this group of young men that's chosen to stay together and battle through a tough transition and had a great spring practice." 

"We want to share that excitement and that enthusiasm with our fanbase, the students," said Brennan. "We're looking forward to it."

Extra points

• Arizona freshman running back Jordan Washington, a four-star prospect who signed with the UA's 2024 recruiting class, entered the transfer portal, according to multiple reports, albeit practiced with the Wildcats on Thursday. Multiple Wildcats, including defensive back DJ Warnell and long snapper Kameron Hawkins, entered the transfer portal since the two-week period started on April 15, but have practiced with Arizona as they weigh their options. They still have the option to return to Arizona. Said, Brennan on transfer portal departures: “For players who choose to leave, we’ll miss them. I don’t want guys to leave. We want them to stay. But if they have to go and it’s a personal decision, I respect it and wish them well at the next stop.”