A report suggests that Wildcats star quarterback Khalil Tate had some influence – maybe even significant influence – on the coaching search that led Arizona to hire Kevin Sumlin.
Around the time Ken Niumatalolo’s name was gaining traction as Arizona’s leading candidate – the Star reported that the UA offered him the job – Tate tweeted the following: “I didn’t come to Arizona to run the triple-option.” Niumatalolo coaches at Navy, where the option is the primary offense.
Tate and UA president Robert C. Robbins acknowledged to Bleacher Report on Tuesday that the quarterback’s tweet resonated with the administration, which pivoted to Sumlin.