Wildcat Athletics Newcomers Report to Open Fall Football Camp

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Newcomers Report to Open Fall Football Camp

2000 Newcomers Roster

TUCSON, Ariz.--The University of Arizona opened its 2000 football season by welcoming 27 newcomers Friday in preparations for the opening of fall camp next week.

The incoming freshman and transfers were given physical examinations Friday night. Initial practices will be held twice Saturday, at 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., in addition to academic orientation programs. On Sunday, the group will have team meetings and no practice.

Mondays schedule includes 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. practices and Tuesdays activities involve university testing and other college academic meetings.

The Wildcat veterans are to report Tuesday afternoon for physicals.

The team's annual Media Day program will be held Wednesday, Aug. 9, beginning at 12:15 p.m. with general comments from Arizona head coach Dick Tomey. The team departs that afternoon for Cochise College near Douglas, Ariz., where it will conduct two-a-day drills through Wednesday, Aug. 16.

The Cats added two previously unannounced scholarship recruits, freshman quarterback John Rattay of Phoenix Desert Vista, a transfer from Tennessee who will have to sit out the 2000 season, and freshman placekicker Doug Jones of Miami, Fla., Monsignor Pace.

Mike Detwiler, a 1999 tight end signee out of Pasadena, Calif., Community College, did not attend school last year and reported with the 2000 group on Friday. Additionally Arizona welcomed several several new walk-ons in defensive back Danny Perry of Tucson Sabino, junior fullback Wendell Paulding of Waiawa, Hawaii Leilehua HS/Long Beach City College, junior offensive guard Dusty Alexander of Marana, Ariz., HS/Arizona Western College, long snapper Ben DalMolin of Globe, Ariz., HS, and linebacker Andy Nuessle of Fountain Hills, Ariz., HS.

Several February signees did not report -- wide receiver Ricky Williams of Los Angeles Verbum Dei, offensive lineman Ralph Zarate of Tucson HS/Scottsdale, Ariz., Community College and receiver Juan Valentine of Houston Clear Lake. Williams, who suffered a knee injury earlier this year, has been admitted to the university and told coache he plans to enroll at mid-year. Coaches are not able to comment further on Zarate or Valentine because of NCAA and federal privacy guidelines.