TUCSON, Ariz. — University of Arizona men’s basketball head coach Lute Olson has not coached a game all season, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t made any impact in McKale Center while the Wildcats play.

Regulars who often attend games have grown accustomed to seeing a public service announcement featuring Olson and UA radio play-by-play announcer Brian Jeffries urging fans to recycle, with Olson even throwing a bottle into a recycling bin.

“It’s vital because he is such a powerful spokesman,” Jeffries said of having Olson in the ad. “When fans realize he’s behind something it draws greater attention. They’re more willing to focus on the message, which is to try to help out recycling efforts inside the arena.

“That’s a benefit not only to the arena and U of A program, but by drawing attention to it, hopefully fans will carry those efforts out when they get home.”
Olson and Jeffries filmed the ad midway through last season. Olson brings the star power to the service announcement, as he coached the Wildcats to 23 straight NCAA Tournament appearances before taking a leave of absence this season to attend to personal reasons, but is still hailed as a god around town.

The video started running immediately last year, soon after the school put recycling bins up throughout McKale Center for the first time, according to Jeffries.

He said the biggest reason for making the ad is because so many recyclable items pass through McKale on game days. Now with barrels and bins set up throughout the stadium, this was a way to ask fans to recycle what they get from the snack bar and concession stands.

After watching a game in McKale Center, Jeffries hopes fans attending sporting events in other venues that don’t put as much of a focus of informing fans about recycling will continue to do so.

“Obviously Lute speaks, everyone listens,” Jeffries said. “I think that was kind of the gist. He was more than happy to help out.”

Jeffries added that Olson took part in the ad to be a part of community betterment, something Olson has made a staple of his life along with being a basketball coach.

“I think that was something that certainly appealed to him, what the project was all about in terms of trying to increase recycling,” Jeffries said. “It’s the first real attempt inside McKale Center. Prior to that it was just garbage. This can be a way he could help out to try to get fans motivated.”