TUCSON, Ariz — Arizona Football began year number two of the Kevin Sumlin era on Friday.
Arizona was practicing at a new facility, and what will be newly named fields. The Wildcats are using the Davis Indoor Sports Center as well as the Dick Tomey practice fields, which are adjacent to it. Arizona is honoring its legendary coach who passed away from lung cancer in May.
"It's a real tribute to him," said Sumlin. And not just to the University, but to every team and every player that plays football at the University of Arizona."
Coincidentally, Arizona opens its schedule at Hawai'i, where Tomey also coached.
The Wildcats are coming off a 5-7 record in a season in which starting quarterback Khalil Tate was nagged by an ankle injury for most of the schedule. Arizona is looking for more consistency and maturity out of Tate, who did throw 26 touchdown passes, as he begins his senior season.
"It's a lot different when he was walking in last year, and everyone was telling him how great he was. Now, you have a whole body of work."
Arizona was picked to finish just fifth in the six-team Pac-12 South in a preseason media poll.
