9 HRS AGO - Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images Are you in game shape yet? It’s understandable if that’s not the case, seeing as this is the earliest the Arizona Wildcats have ever started a football season and the first time they’ve opened in August since 2014. But that’s where we come in, to help ease you back in and get you up to speed on what to expect when Arizona takes on the Hawaii Warriors on Saturday night in Honolulu. It’s one of just two ‘Week Zero’ games on the schedule, so the 7:30 p.m. PT kickoff on CBS Sports Network will be appointment viewing for all CFB fans that have had to wait nearly eight months since the last game was played. The most-watched legs in college football At this point a year ago—or a little less than a year ago, seeing as the season is starting a week early—the expectations surrounding Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate were astronomical. Need we remind you about this? https://t.co/Z9r2B9h8eU— AZ Desert Swarm (@AZDesertSwarm) August 7, 2018 Tate’s Collapse

16 HRS AGO - Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images Keep an eye on these key pieces for the season opener The Arizona Wildcats open their 2019 season Saturday on the road against Hawaii. It will officially mark the beginning of year two of the Kevin Sumlin era. There are several returning key contributors who provides the fan base with a fair level of excitement. I’m sure I can speak for everyone in saying I’m mostly excited for this season to begin as an effort to erase the disappointment from last year. Here are five Wildcats to keep a close eye on during the season opener. Khalil Tate This is an obvious choice and probably doesn’t require much explanation. Simply put, this team will go as far as Tate will take them. There is pressure on the defense to improve and all signs point to the idea that they will. Regardless of the defense’s performance, Tate has shown flashes of being a lethal runner and passer. If he’s able to successfully pair the two, he will be very difficult to stop. Collapse

1 DAY AGO - Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images The Arizona Wildcats’ first game is only a few days away, and they will be looking to have a bounceback season in Kevin Sumlin’s second year at the helm. Before Saturday’s Week 0 matchup at Hawaii, we answered some of the important questions facing the team this season. Go HERE to read similar previews on other teams. Who is Arizona’s most important player on offense this season? It has to be the quarterback, right? Khalil Tate’s career has been, in his words, rocky so far. He predictably struggled when he was thrown into the fire as a 17-year-old true freshman, looked like the best quarterback in the country for parts of his sophomore season, which led to a ton of hype entering his junior season, which he did not live up to. Tate posted solid passing numbers—2,530 yards and 26 touchdowns—but saw his rushing totals plummet tremendously, going from 1,411 yards to a measly 224 in the same number of games. That dip can be traced to multiple Collapse

1 DAY AGO - Arizona Wildcats fans are well aware of how much Dick Tomey meant to the football program, both for his accomplishments on the field and his impact on the countless players who he coached during his 14 years at the school. That adoration is just as strong from the football community at Hawaii, where Tomey coached from 1977-86 before coming to Tucson. Maybe even more so, based on the testimonials of some former players that Hawaii compiled in a tribute video: The Aloha Spirit will always live with coach Dick Tomey's legacy. He's won many games during his time on the sidelines but his impact on the hundreds of young men can never be measured. Former players share memories of Coach. Join us at Sat.'s game as we honor Coach. #HawaiiFB pic.twitter.com/VHRT21iJ1q— Hawaii Football (@HawaiiFootball) August 22, 2019 Tomey passed away in May from lung cancer, and since then Arizona has named the outdoor field at the Cole and Jeanie Davis Sports Center in his honor while also including a Collapse

2 DAYS AGO - Arizona Basketball commit for 2020 Dalen Terry has now become a five-star athlete according to 247 Sports. Rise up! That he has done and for his efforts 2020 Arizona Basketball commit Dalen Terry status has been elevated from a four-star to a five-star ranking according to 247 Sports. Sean Miller has found a gem in […] Arizona Basketball: Wildcat commit Dalen Terry elevated to five-star status - Zona Zealots - Zona Zealots - An Arizona Wildcats Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more. Collapse

2 DAYS AGO - @ArizonaFootball on Instagram The last time the Arizona Wildcats and Hawaii Warriors played a football game Arizona broke out special uniforms to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. For the return trip to Hawaii this Saturday, the Wildcats have added a tribute to the winningest coach in program history, who also happened to have coached the Warriors. Honoring those who came before us! A man who impacted so many...and true heroes who made the ultimate commitment and sacrifice for our country. ️#BuildingTheA | #BearDown pic.twitter.com/ir9zzoy3RP— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) August 21, 2019 Arizona’s white helmets for the opener at Hawaii, which will have a simple red ‘A’ on both sides much like the ones it wore for the 2016 meeting in Tucson, will feature a ‘DT’ sticker on the back to honor former coach Dick Tomey. Tomey, who coached Arizona from 1987-2000 after doing the same at Hawaii from 1977-86, passed away in May after being diagnosed with lung cancer Collapse

2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Kyusung Gong/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images It wasn’t just Khalil Tate whose 2018 season couldn’t live up to the hype, much less the results of the year before. Kylan Wilborn was in the same boat, though the defensive end’s inability to replicate past success was given far less attention than Arizona’s quarterback. In fact, Wilborn was almost a forgotten man on the Wildcat defense last year, which is hard to believe is possible for a former Freshman All-American. “You can have a bad season and it happens,” said Wilborn, now a junior, of his sophomore slump. “It was more of a learning experience than something I’m using to further my growth as a player.” Wilborn started seven games last season at the Stud position but managed only 14 tackles (three for loss) along with two sacks and a forced fumble. That paled in comparison to his 2017 numbers: 9.5 TFLs, 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles, the sack tally tops among power-conference true freshmen and the FF number best Collapse

3 DAYS AGO - Hope Hisey | Photo by Ryan Kelapire Tony Amato didn’t think he needed to remind his players about last year’s season-opening loss to Albany, but Tuesday he did it anyway. “Just because early in the season, you can get in a Kumbaya state of like, ‘hey, we’re training hard, we’re playing well,’” the UA coach said leading up to Thursday’s 2019 opener. “I think it’s important to know that just because we’re training hard, it doesn’t mean we’re going to win on Thursday. And I think we may have lost sight of that last year. And we’re going to make sure that doesn’t happen this year.” Besides, Arizona’s opponent—Long Beach State—is not one to take lightly. The Beach are not only the reigning Big West champions, but also the preseason favorites to take home their conference trophy. LBSU is coming off a 12-6-3 season in which it reached the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years. “They like to play those long balls into the box,” said UA defender Ava McCray, who faced LBSU last Collapse

3 DAYS AGO - Jalen Curry | Photo by Ryan Kelapire Earlier this week, we looked at five returning players who are due for breakout seasons with the Arizona Wildcats. Today, we are shifting gears to the newcomers. Here are six that should make a difference from day one. Jalen ‘Boobie’ Curry, WR Who is he? Curry is a former four-star recruit from St. Pius X High School in Houston, Texas where he was teammates with UA freshman quarterback Grant Gunnell. The 6-foot-2 Curry racked up 1,946 receiving yards, 21 touchdowns and 153 career receptions in just 17 high school games. Why he’s due: Arizona has to replace its top four receivers from last season, so it is a free-for-all at the position right now when it comes to playing time. Curry appears to be high in the pecking order, listed as one of the starters at outside receiver. But since he is a true freshman, it will be important for him to get off to a hot start so that the coaching staff does not consider redshirting him after four games. They Collapse