By Patrick Klein
Arizona Daily Wildcat
There wonÕt be any surprises as to who will be the quarterback for the UA football team next season.
Senior Dan White will be at the helm of the Wildcat offense for his third straight year when Arizona opens next season against Pacific on Sept. 2 at Arizona Stadium.
Last season, White completed one of the better seasons ever by an Arizona quarterback, finishing with a 57 percent completion rate (a school season record), 14 touchdowns and 2,181 yards in the air.
ÒWhite has shown heÕs a leader,Ó UA coach Dick Tomey said. ÒHeÕs helped us win 18 games the last two years. Now itÕs time for him to step up his game and improve as a senior. HeÕs capable of that.Ó
The real battle will be to see who gets the job of backing White up. The major combatants are redshirt sophomore Brady Batten and junior Ryan Hesson.
Batten sat out last year as a redshirt and Hesson was called upon in limited backup duties (2-6, 30 yards).
Both Batten and Hesson had surgery this winter on their throwing shoulders and have been somewhat limited during spring practice.
ÒSo far the shoulderÕs been pretty good.,Ó Batten said. ÒSometimes I have to cut back in practice but for the most part, I have my strength back to about 90 percent.Ó
The attitude stressed by the coaches in spring practice has been to compete against yourself, not anyone else, something Batten has taken to heart.
ÒI really donÕt think about competing with Ryan, IÕm having a personal competition with myself,Ó Batten said. ÒIf I improve everything else will take care of itself.Ó
Arizona will not be without new blood come the fall. Dan Loyd, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound Blue Chip All-America quarterback from San Marino (Calif.) High School will bring his game, which has never had the benefit of a quarterback coach, to Tucson.