Oct. 30, 2012

Two of the biggest UCLA campus-wide events of the fall quarter are Homecoming Week and Parents Weekend. This year, they take on added meaning with the opening of New Pauley Pavilion. With the doors now officially open, it's time for all Bruins to truly come home and take a look at the newest building on campus -- a building built for all of them to enjoy, not just at sporting events, but throughout the year.

"Welcome Back Pauley Week" Rolls On
After a moving unveiling of the John R. Wooden statue last Friday afternoon outside New Pauley Pavilion and an amazing Campaign of Champions celebration (see below) to officially open the building Sunday evening, several events are still to come for "Welcome Back Pauley Week".

The busy event schedule continued today with the Pauley Pavilion All-Campus Sneak Peek, which marked the first chance for UCLA faculty, staff and students to get a look at the new building.

Friday evening, student leadership and Campus Recreation will present Pauley Opening Madness, a free student celebration that combines Homecoming Weekend with the opening of New Pauley.

On Sunday, Athletics hosts the Pauley Pavilion Alumni and Community Open House, which will give the general public and UCLA graduates their initial first-hand look at the new arena.

The "week" culminates with the opening weekend of men's and women's basketball games, a UCLA Athletics Celebration of Title IX and men's volleyball coach Al Scates' retirement party, Nov. 9-11.

Campaign of Champions Celebration a Rousing Success
UCLA officially inaugurated New Pauley Pavilion Sunday night with the Pauley Campaign of Champions Celebration, the first formal opportunity for the Athletic Department and the university to thank the major benefactors of the 33-month, $136 million renovation project.

The spectacular celebration featured a reception throughout the concourse, followed by a program on Nell and John Wooden Court, including speeches from UCLA Chancellor Gene S. Block and Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, and the first-ever UCLA Parade of Athletes, consisting of 600 student-athletes proceeding into Pauley team-by-team.

See photos from the event here.

UCLA Homecoming Game Features Bruins and Wildcats
The 6-2 and #25-ranked UCLA football team hosts the #24-ranked Arizona Wildcats in the annual Homecoming/Parents Weekend game this Saturday at 7:30 pm at the Rose Bowl. The teams are currently just separated by one game in the Pac-12 South standings, so the game will take on added meaning.

In addition, several in-game elements, including a moving halftime presentation featuring soldiers who are a part of Operation Mend, will feature tributes to America's Armed Forces. Tickets start at just $19 apiece and are available by visiting UCLABruins.com or calling 310-UCLA-WIN (825-2946).

Game Time for Washington State Game in Pullman Not Set Yet by Pac-12
The Pac-12 Conference has not yet announced the game time of the UCLA-Washington State game on Saturday, November 10 in Pullman. While the time and television network are still pending until an announcement later this week, the game will certainly be available on radio on the IMG/Radio Network and flagship station AM 570, FOX Sports LA and a television outlet to be determined.

2012 Home Football Schedule Wraps Up Against USC and Stanford
Following the trip to Pullman, UCLA will play its final two regular season football games of the season at the Rose Bowl, against USC (November 17) and Stanford (November 24).

Tickets for both are available by calling by visiting UCLABruins.com or calling 310-UCLA-WIN (825-2946).

Dribble for the Cure Sets Fundraising Record
The fifth annual Dribble for the Cure, held at the UCLA campus on Sunday, Oct. 21, set a donation net revenue record of just more than $150,000 toward the effort to help find a cure for children's cancer.

Approximately 540 people participated as the UCLA's men's and women's basketball teams and athletic department once again joined forces with Bruin basketball great John Vallely, the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) and the Cancer Research Program at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA for the fund-raising event.

"Dribble", as it is affectionately nicknamed, has grown each year, and in five years, over 3,500 participants have contributed more than $530,000 in the fight against children's cancer. Proceeds, as in past years, will help support the treatment of pediatric cancer patients at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA.

Variety of Experiences Available to Fans in New Pauley
New Pauley Pavilion features a bevy of experiential elements for Bruin fans that were not available in Old Pauley.

Among them is Wooden Way, an interactive look at the life and career of legendary UCLA basketball Coach John Wooden. Also included are column displays throughout the venue that highlight the defining moments in the history of Old Pauley. Meanwhile, more than 100 flat screen televisions adorn the concourse, many of them allowing fans who may be in line at a concession stand or just roaming the concourse a chance to watch the game. Those are just a few of the many innovations designed with the fan experience in mind.

Additionally, there are season tickets remaining for men's basketball games at all price levels, including seats that do not require a donation to the Wooden Athletic Fund. The tickets available to the general public are located in the 200 level and are priced as they were in Pauley Pavilion during 2010-2011 season.

With the opening of New Pauley Pavilion, UCLA Athletics is also excited to offer a wide variety of premium options. New Pauley boast more courtside seats than the venue did previously, and fans who purchase those seats, or donate $25,000 or more each year are eligible now for membership privileges in the elegant Pavilion Club, which will be the premier hospitality destination for pre-game and post-game food and drink. The gorgeously-appointed club will feature catering and bar service from the acclaimed LORE Group, with both seated dining and a bar area with three large, high-definition televisions.

Also, for the first time ever, donors at the Wooden Athletic Fund's Director Circle or John R. Wooden Benefactor levels can arrive at Pauley Pavilion in true first class style with exclusive Valet Parking offered in Lot 7, just outside the new North Entrance of Pauley Pavilion.

For more information or to purchase season tickets at any level, please visit uclabruins.com or the Wooden Athletic Fund website.

Olympic Sports Report

• The #4-ranked men's golf team currently won the Stanford Classic at the Cypress Point Golf Course, defeating Duke in the championship round of match play on Tuesday. Next, the men will host the Gifford Collegiate Championship in San Martin, CA (CordeValle CC) on Nov. 5-7. The women's team finished competition today at the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational in Austin, TX, placing eighth.
• The #2-ranked women's soccer team defeated #21-ranked California, 3-0, on Friday but had its school-record 25-game unbeaten streak snapped following a 2-1 loss to #1-ranked Stanford on Sunday. UCLA concludes the regular season at USC on Friday at 2pm, in a match that will be televised live by the Pac-12 Networks.
• The #5-ranked women's volleyball team improved to 17-4 on the season with wins over then-fifth-ranked Washington (3-0) and Washington State (3-1) over the weekend. They begin a four-match road trip this week at Arizona on Friday at 8pm and then at Arizona State on Saturday at 7pm. Friday's match against Arizona will be televised live by the Pac-12 Networks.
• The #2-ranked men's water polo team defeated #6-ranked Pepperdine (12-7) on Thursday and will return to the pool on Saturday to host a double-header with Long Beach State at Noon and Concordia at 2pm at Spieker Aquatics Center.
• The #4-ranked men's soccer team defeated Oregon State, 2-1, on Friday and shut out Washington, 1-0, on Monday. Next, the Bruins will host Stanford on Thursday at 7pm and California on Sunday at 5pm at Drake Stadium. Both matches will be televised live by the Pac-12 Networks.
• The women's swimming team returns to the pool on Friday, Nov. 2 when it hosts a tri-meet with UC Davis and Washington State at Spieker Aquatics Center at 1pm. The UCLA diving squad heads to the USC Trojan Invitational on Nov. 2-3.
• The #15-ranked men's and #24-ranked women's cross country teams hosted the Pac-12 Championships on Saturday and finished in fifth and sixth place, respectively. The Pac-12 network's tape-delayed coverage of the meet will air on Nov. 5 - 6 pm, Nov. 6 - 7 pm, Nov. 7 - 11 pm, Nov. 8 - 6 am and Nov. 8 - 11 am. Next, the Bruins will head to Seattle, WA, to face off in the NCAA West Regional meet on Nov. 9.
• The women's tennis team will return to action at the USTA Collegiate Invitational from Nov. 2-4 in Portland, OR, while the men (minus Marcos Giron) will return to action in the So Cal Intercollegiate Championship from Nov. 7-11 in Los Angeles. Representing the Bruins at the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships, which will be contested Nov. 8-11 in Flushing Meadows, New York, site of the U.S. Open, will be Giron, Dennis Mrktchian and on the women's side Robin Anderson.

As I mentioned earlier this year, we have been in discussions with adidas for quite some time regarding the possibility of our football team wearing alternate home uniforms, not only this season, but in future seasons as well. This practice has been adopted by many traditional schools who partner with adidas, including Michigan, Notre Dame and Nebraska, who have all worn alternate uniforms recently.

After lengthy discussion and strong support from Head Coach Jim Mora and the team captains, the decision was made to move forward with an alternate uniform for this weekend's Homecoming game against Arizona. Adidas designed the uniform specifically for our team and has called it "LA Night". It features dark blue tones in both the jersey and the pants, so don't get confused when you see all blue on Saturday night.

As a Bruin for life, I strongly value UCLA's traditions, but alternate uniforms in non-traditional colors represent a 21st century trend that, when done tastefully, synchronizes the familiar with the fresh.

I should note that Coach Mora loves our standard home uniform, so you can count on us continuing to sport our familiar look with only the occasional alternate.

Before I sign off, I'd like to express heartfelt congratulations to our very own Bruin shortstop Brandon Crawford (2006-08) for playing a major role in the San Francisco Giants' World Series Championship.

As a Dodger fan since birth, it pained me to see the Giants play with such heart during the playoffs, finding themselves with their backs against the wall at several points in the post-season, only to find a way to gut out another victory.

That said, I have to admit that I am a HUGE Brandon Crawford fan, so if Brandon being a World Champion means that the Giants are the same, I am OK with it.

Watching Brandon celebrate on the field with his teammates was a true joy to behold. I have to admit, I am pretty darn proud of that Bruin -- proving that UCLA truly embodies the motto, "Champions Made Here."

Go Bruins!

Dan Guerrero
UCLA Athletic Director

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