No joke: Gov. declares April 1 Wildcats Day

In a proclamation praising the University of Arizona men's basketball team, Gov. Fife Symington declared April 1 Arizona Wildcats Day.

The proclamation asked "all citizens to acknowledge and celebrate the incredible accomplishments of the University of Arizona Wildcats basketball team."

Those sentiments were echoed at the statehouse.

Sen. Victor Soltero, D-South Tucson, described the team as a group of "classy, young gentlemen."

"They have shown a lot of heart and a lot of guts and that they wanted to win," Soltero said. "We should give them enormous credit."

Senate President Brenda Burns, R-Glendale, was presented with a T-shirt while two members sang the school fight song on the House floor.

"I would have preferred for them to do it in another key," joked Rep. Brian Fagin, D-Tucson.

Sen. Sue Grace, R-Phoenix, traveled to Tucson with two senators, Gary Richardson, R-Tempe and George Cunningham, D-Tucson, to watch the game. She said she had seen the same excitement when Marquette University won the national championship during her freshman year at the school.

Rep. Dan Schottel, R-Tucson, said he had a feeling the team would because he thought Kentucky was somewhat overconfident.

Schottel said the victory would not end the rivalry between the university and Arizona State University.

"That's healthy," Schottel said, "even if they did lose the Rose Bowl."