Questions still remain as football countdown begins

Ryan A. Mihalyi Arizona Daily Wildcat UA sophomore-to-be Keith Smith signs an autograph on Monday night. Smith is the projected starting quarterback for next season, but senior Brady Batten is still around to challenge him for the position.

While the players are now on their own to prepare, there are a few issues that any team coming off a disappointing 5-6 season, going 0-5 on the road, must address.

With Matt Peyton in the pros with the Arizona Cardinals, who is going to provide the kicking game?

Peyton did all three - punt, kickoff and field goals - last season, so a few newcomers are leading the list. 1994 walk-on T.J. Rodriguez made four of seven field goals in Monday's scrimmage, including three from 37 yards and one from 43. Walk-on Tim Ferla n and scholarship kicker Mark McDonald should push Rodriguez for the kicking duties.

Head coach Dick Tomey has made it no surprise that junior college transfer Ryan Springston has all but won the punting duties. Springston, an All-American from Butler County College in El Dorado, Kan., was deemed Tomey's "most improved athlete for the spr ing."

"Coming to a school with over 40,000 people, it was tough at first," said Springston, who has been on campus since January. "At first the team was really sure who I was other than the new guy that punts, but now, expectance-wise, things are going good."

With a big foot - he hit a 64-yarder on two steps from the goal line on his first kick in the scrimmage - it's easy to understand why.

Coming from a small school in Kansas, though, it might be a different story with nearly 50,000 screaming fans packed into Arizona Stadium.

"I can't even imagine it," Springston said. "The most I've ever kicked in front is around 12,000 people."

Keith Smith is going to make headlines at quarterback next season, but what ever happened to Brady Batten?

Batten initially talked about transferring elsewhere for his senior season, but he's here to stay, whether that means being a starter or not.

"I thought about going somewhere different, but I have put a lot of work into this program, so it would have been tough to leave," Batten said. "I want to play, don't get me wrong, but hopefully I can help the team in more ways than just being the back-up .

"Senior leadership has always been a presence here, I felt it when I was younger. And now I hope to provide it for the squad."

Batten started last season's opener before Smith took over against Iowa the following week. Batten played in seven games, finishing with 378 passing yards and four touchdowns.

Tomey said that Batten has had a good spring and is ready if needed. With Smith's elusive running style and little fear of taking off, the chance for injury is great.

"Keith is going to be fine all season, but if I am called in, then I am going to do my best," said the 6-2, 200 pound Batten. "It's going to be a long year, so we'll just have to see how things work out."