Arizona Football: 2018 Territorial Cup post game reaction and commentary

It’s always the quarterback, right? Well, he has something to do with it, but football is a team sport.

As far as Tate’s play style and how he played this season. In contrast to local media and a lot of fans, almost every announcer who covered the Wildcats football team this season still sang Tate’s praises. The commentary, the references to NFL players, the potential they see in Khalil Tate was in stark contrast to what you get in press conferences.

Everyone knows that the NFL shies away from rushing quarterbacks, they just have to look at injury prone Michael Vic and Robert Griffin III. We all loved to see him run, but when he did this season he did not have the protection that Jacob Alsadek‘s crew gave him last season.

Tate had a brand new center once again this season as he did two years ago. Sumlin was going to mold Tate into an NFL quarterback and I think he did that, but he didn’t seem to have his back after games. Tate proved he can pass, with precision, while on the run, and across his body even. Think he proved he can pass.

From Tate, Shawn Poindexter, and Colin Schooler’s part of the press conference, fans and media were quick to judge him, especially when he or Shawn said “Next question” when answering a question. Lev asked Tate if he was coming back next season. Really? Was that the right time?  I have to ask, why did the players go first? Why put the players in front of the media after a loss like that before the head coach? Or keep the coach with the players at the press conference like basketball maybe?

I ask this because Sumlin explained to the media in detail that he speaks with players after the season. This is a question for the coach, not the player. They knew Sumlin would come to the Mic next, why not just wait for the coach?  There is no winning for Tate on answering this question. If he says yes and doesn’t return, he lied. If he says no, he isn’t a true Wildcat. If he says he hasn’t decided, he will get a follow up on what will help him decide.

There really isn’t much he could say that wouldn’t be torn apart.

Arizona Wildcats Football

What kind of question is that after he and his brothers, his teammates, just lost to their rivals? A provoking question. They know he hasn’t decided yet. I don’t understand how the reporter does not have to be respectful but the player does.

Michael Lev was extremely critical of Tate in his post-game show and he thought that he is not ready for the NFL. But that’s not what the announcers from both ESPN and Fox Sports think. The NFL drafts based on skill and potential. Like the NBA, they look for young talent they can groom. That’s why so many declare for the draft before they play all four years.

Tate hates to lose, hates it. He expects only the best performances out of himself. It was just so raw. Instead of happily answering questions, he was still so upset about the loss. It’s just so much more important to Tate and his team than the press. Maybe ask about next season next week if you have the opportunity? Was that the right time to ask? Save that question for the coach.

This entire season was supposed to be one for the ages. But then Tate’s center suffered a season-ending injury. On top of that, the O-Line was filled with freshman. And he got injured, and he still played because the coaching staff needed him to play. The new rule that players can play in four games and still redshirt may have been a factor here.

The press asks questions they know the answers to, so I don’t fault players who don’t want to answer questions. It’s almost as if the reporters want the players to agree they made a mistake and to throw their teammates under the bus I am glad the players were mad at the press conference, it’s better than being complacent or smiling and happy after that loss.

Did Tate regret throwing an interception? OF COURSE! The answer is obvious. What did he see? He saw one of his teammates not looking at him when he needed to pass and another one running instead of stopping to get the ball he passed. And he knows he could have done something else besides throwing the ball away.

Maybe the press can ask more thoughtful questions like, “What was one defining moment that made you proud during the season?” Or, “What was the best play of the game, the one that everyone executed as planned?” Or, “Which teammate or teammates do you think improved the most this season or grew from this game?”

The players also don’t throw their teammates or coaches under the bus. They did not blame the coaches because they respected authority and even if they did or didn’t agree with the strategy, it is their job to follow instructions.

Football is a team sport after all, with a ton of moving parts. I can only imagine how much he wanted that win, how much he wished he could replay those downs. There is so much more to the loss, you cannot blame one player in my humble opinion.

Media makes money off of the players, the school makes money off of the players, the coaches make money off of the players. Why get upset if you get a raw emotion from the player? More and more in sports, athletes and coaches have decided to be real, to not hide their emotions about questions they don’t feel are relevant. Look at Russell Westbrook or LeBron James? These player Idolized professional players who have walked out of press conferences.

Look, however much you think you know or you assume happened or what is really going on, the truth is, none of us know the truth. And yes I tend to side or defend the players because one, they are human beings, two I listen to them and try to empathize, and three, nothing we say can change what happened in the past. So we need to help them deal with it and find out the deeper meanings behind the end of the season. I guarantee you NONE of the Wildcats or their coaches wanted to lose that game. Especially by one point.