Fans greet ‘Cats with smiles, pens

TUCSON—The bowl-game drought might span nearly a decade, but that was the last thing on everyone’s mind yesterday morning.

Hundreds of Wildcat fans flooded Arizona Stadium for the annual “Meet the Team” function, eager to catch a glimpse of their favorite players up close and personal.

Quarterback Willie Tuitama, once again, drew the biggest crowd, with a line stretching 400 autograph-seekers deep at one point.

Those folks are expecting big things from the senior signal-caller. He rewrote the UA record books in his first year with Sonny Dykes’ spread offense, and will look to further improve upon those numbers in his final season in Tucson.

If Tuitama has the season many football insiders expect him to produce, it will be due in large part to the shortest guy on the roster.

For three years, Mike Thomas has attempted to prove that height is only a number. The 5-foot-8 dynamo had two decent seasons under his belt before bursting onto the scene as a junior, hauling in 83 receptions and 11 touchdowns while earning All-Pac-10 First-Team honors.

While Tuitama fielded the most autograph requests of any Wildcat, Thomas was clearly one of the fans’ favorite players to meet. Season-ticket-holder and self-professed “lifelong fan” Spencer Averitt says Thomas’ size and skills make him easy to root for.

“I’ve been coming to games all my life, and Mike is as talented as anyone we’ve had,” Averitt said, immediately after Thomas autographed his UA football.

Thomas isn’t the type of guy to seek attention, but he doesn’t push it away, either. He said he always gets a kick out of meeting the die-hard UA fans, especially the younger ones who ask him for advice in their own football careers.

“I always tell them that there’s no such thing as being too short,” Thomas said.

Thomas won’t sneak up on anybody this season, but he made sure to point out that he hasn’t run out of tricks up his sleeve.

This is the first off-season where the offensive unit has had a chance to hit the ground running with the spread offense. Much of last season was spent learning the basics, so this spring and summer allowed Thomas, Tuitama and the rest of the squad to fine-tune their strengths within the system.

He attributes much of his success to the relationship he shares with Tuitama.

“Willie and I just have a great chemistry together,” Thomas said. “We’re always talking on the field and we’re usually hanging out during our free time. We’re going to do some big things this year.”

Thomas said he is itching to take part in some postseason play and break that infamous bowl-less streak.

However, first thing’s first: The home opener against Idaho, Saturday, 7 p.m. at Arizona Stadium.

Sophomore tight end Rob Gronkowski — the yin to Thomas’ yang in Arizona’s passing attack — is currently listed as questionable with strep throat. He will be tested for mononucleosis.

Regardless, Thomas is ready to prove to his critics that last season wasn’t a fluke.

“I just can’t wait to get out there and play some football,” Thomas said.

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747