from Kevin Sumlin's press conference today.
First, regarding the Senior Day festivities. Sumlin said each player will be acknowledged individually before the game with parents/guardians on the sidelines watching. Then the rest of the team will come out and join the seniors. The initial information that came out yesterday about there not being anything at all to honor the group was incorrect. The seniors will still be honored and it will happen individually before the game. Sumlin said it's a big day for the team when it gets to honor the seniors. Right now there are 12 players on the official list of players who will be honored, but I heard today the number could grow since there are some redshirt juniors who are figuring out if they will play beyond this season and are contemplating asking if they can be honored as seniors as well.
Second, Jace Whittaker is not expected to play the rest of this season and the staff will leave it on the table if he wants to come back next year considering he still has a redshirt available to use. Sumlin said if Whittaker were to take the field he would essentially be playing with one arm because of how banged up his shoulder is. Arizona's staff doesn't want it to get worse, so Sumlin all but confirmed he will not play the rest of this year. Whittaker is on the list of 12 players expected to be honored before Saturday's game, however. So there is still some mystery about his return, but from everything Sumlin said it sounds like the plan is to have him return next year.
I'll have more from today's press conference later
First, regarding the Senior Day festivities. Sumlin said each player will be acknowledged individually before the game with parents/guardians on the sidelines watching. Then the rest of the team will come out and join the seniors. The initial information that came out yesterday about there not being anything at all to honor the group was incorrect. The seniors will still be honored and it will happen individually before the game. Sumlin said it's a big day for the team when it gets to honor the seniors. Right now there are 12 players on the official list of players who will be honored, but I heard today the number could grow since there are some redshirt juniors who are figuring out if they will play beyond this season and are contemplating asking if they can be honored as seniors as well.
Second, Jace Whittaker is not expected to play the rest of this season and the staff will leave it on the table if he wants to come back next year considering he still has a redshirt available to use. Sumlin said if Whittaker were to take the field he would essentially be playing with one arm because of how banged up his shoulder is. Arizona's staff doesn't want it to get worse, so Sumlin all but confirmed he will not play the rest of this year. Whittaker is on the list of 12 players expected to be honored before Saturday's game, however. So there is still some mystery about his return, but from everything Sumlin said it sounds like the plan is to have him return next year.
I'll have more from today's press conference later
