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Steve Tate, Utah's former safety, has gone from one extreme weather condition to another since his senior season ended for the Utes with a win over Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl. Tate and fellow seniors Gabe Long and Martail Burnett recently participated in the Hula Bowl, unfortunately on the losing side of the 38-7 game.

The Hula Bowl has gotten more and more disorganized in recent years, an indication it might be on its last legs and something that didn't get by the players. Many players didn't have jerseys, and the power wasn't on at Aloha Stadium when they arrived, forcing the players to dress in the glow from their cell phones.

"I kept wondering if this is the kind of thing June Jones had to deal with when he was there," Tate said of the Hawaii coach who recently took the head job at SMU.

The game itself wasn't the real reason the players were there, but for the scrimmage that was earlier and attended by representatives from every pro team. Tate had an interception that day and Burnett got to the quarterback, good performances in a senior game that is the first round of beauty pageant-like events prospective pro players go through before the draft.

"It's a total meat market," Tate remembered. "You have to get your shirt off, get weighed, and when you walk through the hotel, the scouts are watching you. It was definitely weird."

Now back home from balmy Hawaii, Tate is working out six days a week in frigid Park City with a personal trainer in preparation for the Utes' pro day on March 10.

Tate, who graduated in December with a degree in economics, knows he is a late-round or free agent guy, but the low projections haven't deterred him from trying to make the NFL.

No one should underestimate Tate, either, considering he has surpassed expectations throughout his career. He was overlooked as a high school senior, and played a year at Utah State before walking on at Utah before earning All-MWC honors as a senior.

He signed with agent David Canter, who also represents Eric Weddle.

"We're similar players, so hopefully as well as he did will help my stock, too," Tate said of Weddle, one of his good friends who also has given him some tips on what life is like in the pros. "He told me what to expect and what the scouts are looking for, a lot of good advice."

Tate is working out four and five hours a day, but said the schedule isn't as rigorous as it was when he was on the team and juggling workouts, games and school.

If Tate doesn't make it in the pros, he'll follow his father's footsteps into financial planning, and continue raising a growing family. His wife, Savanna, is expecting a second child in July.

"We could be packing up and moving to freezing cold Green Bay or some other place like that then," Tate said. "But it doesn't matter where we go, we just want the experience."

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* LYA WODRASKA can be reached at lwodraska@sltrib.com. To write a letter about this or any sports topic, send an e-mail to sportseditor@sltrib.com.