This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Arizona football program is in mourning after learning that http://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/football/arizona-lineman-zach-hemmila-found-dead-monday-morning-remembered-as/article_37ebcb46-ade6-5e05-95ca-917214037c29.html";>offensive lineman Zach Hemmila died in his sleep on Sunday night.
Coach Rich Rodriguez and athletic director Greg Byrne were in tears at a Monday morning press conference when they informed the rest of the world what they had only just learned.
"My only thought right now is that Zach Hemmila's family lost a great young man," he said to gathered media, wiping his eyes.
Hemmila was expected to contend to start this year on offensive line after playing in 27 games in his career at Arizona with six starts.
Rodriguez said he talked with Hemmila on Saturday night and he seemed fine. No details of his death have been made available. Hemmila's body is scheduled to be examined today.
The Tuscon Daily Star has already http://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/football/blog/everybody-liked-him-teammates-coaches-friends-reflect-on-zach-hemmila/article_0cfae150-5d9f-11e6-9621-cb4a46a2e7a0.html";>gathered a lot of reaction from the family and friends of Hemmila, who was from Chandler, Ariz.
From former Arizona kicker Jake Smith:
"Zach's transformation from his visit until now was truly special. He always had a light in him that made you want to root for him. He had his ups and downs, like anyone, but he was on the right path and everyone around him was ready to see him shine."
Tragedy is sadly quite familiar to Pac-12 football programs.
In recent years, UCLA (Nick Pasquale) and Cal (Ted Agu) have suffered player deaths prior to or during the season. The Utes experienced it themselves when lineman signee Gaius Vaenuku was killed in a car collision.
Byrne said the Arizona staff had brought in grief counselors to help players with Hemmila's death.
Elsewhere in the Pac-12:
• The Spokesman-Review has a story about lineman Riley Sorensen,http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/aug/08/wsu-football-player-sorenson-perseveres-through-tr/";> who lost both parents and was diagnosed with testicular cancer in the same year. A well-penned story by Jacob Thorpe illustrates his hope in the face of overwhelming despair.
• Nudging the news in a gentler direction, http://www.campusrush.com/ucla-quarterback-josh-rosen-1964297373.html";>Sports Illustrated has an excellent profile of UCLA's star quarterback Josh Rosen, who has been a bit of an offseason fireplug with social views (*gasp*) on his Twitter account.
• Washington is one of the Pac-12 teams which rivals Utah's defense. The Seattle Times asks a question that shows how well-off the Huskies are: http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/talented-uw-defense-wont-rest-on-last-years-accomplishments/?utm_content=buffer0ee7e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=owned_buffer_sports";>How are they going to play all their ballers?
• One-time Utah target Sam Darnold is in the throes of a quarterback battle with Max Browne. http://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/la-sp-usc-sam-darnold-20160808-snap-story.html";>The Los Angeles Times did a good profile of him.
kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon