ASU’s Manny Wilkins, Arizona’s Khalil Tate exchange words on Twitter
Jan 31, 2018, 9:29 AM
(AP Photo)
(AP Photo)
Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards and his staff have been highly active in recruiting since Edwards was announced as the Sun Devils’ new head coach in December.
The latest stop for the Sun Devils’ coaching staff was Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, Calif.
Coach Herm Edwards and Staff searching for the Next Great Cavalier! #HomeofChampions #BeTheStandard #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/0ukRd1cOIl
— Serra Football (@Serra__Football) January 29, 2018
The school showed appreciation for the Sun Devils’ staff showing interest in its athletes, but the same wasn’t felt for one of its former players.
Arizona Wildcats quarterback Khalil Tate was recruited out of Serra in 2016. On Tuesday, he expressed his displeasure with his in-state rival recruiting at his former school.
Don’t let them come scam y’all @Serra__Football 🤦🏾♂️ https://t.co/I57WZck2GO
— Khalil Tate (@KhalilDTN) January 30, 2018
“Don’t let them come scam y’all,” Tate said while tagging Serra’s football program on Twitter.
Tate’s comment was followed by a reply from Arizona State quarterback Manny Wilkins, who was quick to defend his coaching staff for giving players an opportunity.
Ain’t no scam, we all want this game to help us provide for our families one day just like you! Coach Herm could be offering someone your coach won’t that’s why they build that relationship. BIGGER THAN FOOTBALL OR A RIVALRY🤞🏾
— Manny Wilkins Jr. (@MannyWilkins5) January 30, 2018
“Ain’t no scam, we all want this game to help us provide for our families on day, just like you,” Wilkins replied to Tate. He added that the relationship his coaches were attempting to build with recruits was bigger than the game they play and the rivalry between the Sun Devils and Wildcats.
Tate then replied to Wilkins before the exchange ended, saying that the Sun Devils’ staff recruiting at his former school was the joke, and that his tweet was not meant to be taken seriously.
lol chill out Preacher Wilkins, they at my old HS recruiting, that’s the joke. Didn’t know a humorous tweet was that serious. Maybe I should have said “LOL” afterward. Sorry if I offended your school🤦🏾♂️ https://t.co/qaw4PCC77q
— Khalil Tate (@KhalilDTN) January 31, 2018
“Didn’t know a humorous tweet was that serious,” Tate said. “Maybe I should have said ‘LOL’ afterward. Sorry I offended your school.”
Tate’s final reply to Wilkins was ironic in some ways, as the quarterback’s bio on Twitter says “Try not to take social media so serious?”
The annual meeting between Arizona and Arizona State for the Territorial Cup is already one of the most intense rivalries in college football, and whether or not this small exchange will once again raise that bar will remain to be seen.
