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It was, perhaps, fitting that the site for Pac-12 Football Media Day on Wednesday was the Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood, where the Oscars Governors Ball is held.
Because a prime topic of conversation was whether the Kahlil Tate story will have a truly Hollywood ending this year.
Tate is the multi-talented senior quarterback for the University of Arizona, Hawaii’s sooner-than-you-think Aug. 24 season-opening opponent at Aloha Stadium, and any discussion of the Wildcats’ prospects these days revolve around him.
This time last year Tate was a Heisman Trophy candidate coming off a magical 2017 sophomore season in which he made wild, broken-field runs through the Pac-12. Plays like the seeming disaster of a fumble in the backfield that the 6-foot, 2-inch, 215-pounder somehow turned into a highlight reel 71-yard touchdown rumble through UCLA.
Not to mention the 327 yards — most NCAA rushing yards by a quarterback — and five touchdowns against Colorado.
“He was here last year and everybody was telling him how great he was,” Wildcats’ coach Kevin Sumlin reminded the media Wednesday. “And, then, we get halfway through the season last year and he’s frustrated because he’s in street clothes in Los Angeles and in the Rose Bowl (against UCLA) and he can’t help his team.”
A sprained left ankle and subsequent re-aggravation of the injury cost Tate maneuverability and playing time. The combination of the injury, trying to tailor a predominate passing offense around his healthy skills and getting on the same wave length with a new coaching staff contributed to a 5-7 finish in the Wildcats’ inaugural season under Sumlin. Still, Tate managed to throw for 26 touchdowns and 2,530 yards.
“You couldn’t be at a higher point in your career than he was walking in here last year, and then from an expectation standpoint, and you couldn’t be at a lower point when you’re in the Rose Bowl in your hometown and you don’t even have a uniform on,” Sumlin told the media.
At season’s end Tate consulted the NFL about his draft prospects and reportedly considered transferring. But, in the end, he chose to stay, making a successful senior season his mission.
“I think that’s affected how he’s approached (this) offseason,” Sumlin said. “I think it’s as good as things were and as bad as things were, (that have) given him a perspective that maybe he didn’t have at this point last year.”
Sumlin said there was also a meeting of the minds between himself and the quarterback.
“There was a concerted effort on my part to sit down and say, ‘hey, man, here’s what we see, where do you want to be? What do you want to do? Here’s how we can help you.’
“…‘I’m being critical for a reason because our goal is the same. We want you to be great. We want to be Pac-12 champions, and in order to do that, here are the things that you can do to help yourself be the best player in this league.”
The Wildcats report to camp today and, Sumlin added, “not (to) put it all on him because it is football. It is 11 guys out there, and there’s 10 others. It takes everybody to be successful.”
At Arizona this year, however, the road to a successful season clearly starts with Tate.
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.
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