Quarterback Brady Batten stood on the field of Arizona Stadium, rotating his arms gently beneath his yellow practice jersey. He waited patiently as his backup, redshirt freshman Keith Smith, stood behind the center, dropped back, and passed complete to a receiver running a hook pattern.

Batten simply watched as the plays were run over and over again. He had learned patience from the sidelines for the three seasons former Arizona quarterback Dan White commanded the team.

But the White era in Wildcat football ended last season, and when the ball kicks off tomorrow against Texas-El Paso, it will be Batten's team.

"I've worked hard to get to where I am," Batten said. "I think I'm ready to help this football team."

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It was on Nov. 24 that a significant, if short-lived, era in Arizona football history ended. Jon Prasuhn's field goal with 22 seconds remaining against Arizona State gave Arizona a 31-28 come-from-behind victory. It became the last time offensive coordinator Duane Akina would call a play, and the last time White would throw a pass for the Wildcats.

White, who left the field amid the rush of players and fans, had had a good day. History will likely not remember the 289 yards passing and three touchdowns that White had to lead the team back from a 28-14 deficit. Most will remember it as the final game for All-American defensive end Tedy Bruschi and the Desert Swarm defense that had dominated the headlines for the last several seasons.

Yet White, who had received a great deal of criticism over the years, left his list of fumbles and fourth quarter failures behind him. He will certainly not be remembered as a great collegiate quarterback, but he should be remembered as a quarterback who helped rebuild the Arizona offense.

"We've come a long way in the time I've been here," Arizona head coach Dick Tomey said. "White was a quality quarterback and we are building a quality offense."

The passing game of Arizona has steadily become more prevalent in the four years Akina was offensive coordinator and the three seasons White led the team. In 1990, the season before Akina became offensive coordinator, the Wildcats threw for four touchdowns all season.

In the mid 1980s, as Tomey took over the team, the Wildcats option offense began to sputter. Quarterbacks George Malauulu and Ronald Veal were recruited more for their running ability than passing skills. There is a statistical quagmire between 1986 when Alfred Jenkins attempted 232 passes and 1994 when White threw 296. In fact, in the eight year span between Jenkins and White, there is not a quarterback in the top 10 in Arizona career passing categories.

White changed that pattern, becoming more productive every year. Now, with the addition of Homer Smith (who defected from Alabama) the offense is prepared to take the next step forward. He is introducing a three wide receiver offense and a passing scheme that may go beyond anything the Wildcats have ever done.

"The offense will allow us to do things that haven't been done at Arizona recently," Homer Smith said. "We should have the ability to move the ball in a variety of ways."

many options, so many things that can be done," Batten said. "It's been an adjustment to run it, but I think we've made some progress. Once we get everything working together, I think we will be very effective."

Yet as secure as Batten's role as quarterback seems among the coaches, it may be hard for him to ignore Keith Smith. Smith has been working with the first team offense a great deal over the past weeks, and if Batten should falter, Smith may suddenly become the No. 1 option.

"Brady is our quarterback," Smith said. "Right now I'm just looking to help the team, to contribute. I'm just really happy I'm here."

The quarterback battle is a real one. Gone are the days when White was assured his starting spot and Batten was merely a backup. The coin has been flipped this season and in the new age of Arizona offense, nothing is assured. Homer Smith said they will have a hard time not playing someone of Keith Smith's athletic ability.

"We plan on getting his (Keith Smith's) jersey dirty by halftime," Homer Smith said.

"Both quarterbacks have looked good, and both will get a chance to play in some fashion," Tomey said.

In the end, however, the starting spot will eventually be decided on who can get the job done in game situations. Experience may have given Batten the advantage there. Last season Batten had some quality minutes, finishing 26-60 for 362 yards, two interceptions and three touchdowns. When White struggled with an injury, Batten was quick to replace him.

"Last season was a maturing process for me," Batten said. "Early this season I want to continue that process."

Batten's career at Arizona began to blossom last season, but it really began several years ago.

Batten, out of Bakersfield, Calif., joined the Wildcats in 1993 and had limited action as a true freshman in Arizona's 29-0 win against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl. It was against UTEP that he saw his first collegiate action on the final possession of the season opener. In that game he handed the ball off for a run and let the clock run out on another possession.

He redshirted the 1994 season after having offseason surgery on his throwing shoulder. Last season he saw his first significant action against Cal, when he led the Wildcats back to a 20-15 win in the fifth game of the season. He performed well again the following week against UCLA and after White was hampered with an injury, he started his first game against Washington.

For awhile it seemed as if Batten was Arizona's savior, but as White got healthy and Batten struggled, it was back to sitting the bench.

That is where Keith Smith will begin his season, on the bench. For the blonde quarterback with the choir-boy looks, it is not a bad place at all.

In 1994, after graduating from Newbury Park (Calif.) High School, Smith joined the Detroit Tigers after being drafted in the fifth round. An incredible athlete, Smith had earned three letters in basketball, three in football and three in baseball on his way to being named the California Athlete of the Year.

But as he sat in his room watching Arizona play Georgia Tech in 1994, he realized that he missed the game more than he could imagine. He returned the $250,000 signing bonus he received from the Tigers and returned to school.

He redshirted last season and has worked hard to earn playing time as a true freshman.

"I couldn't stay away from football. When I watched Arizona, and knew they were No. 1, I said to myself 'I could be there,'" Smith said. "I wasn't happy as a baseball player. I'm happy to play football and to go back to school."

The time is now for Batten and Smith, but both quarterbacks have a great to deal prove to themselves and to Arizona fans. They have the athletic ability and the skills to take the Wildcats offense to another level. Whether or not that happens is unknown, but one thing is certain, the Wildcats are striving to move forward.

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