Ex-Cat Keel sending high school star to the UA

When Arizona stunned No. 1 USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1981, the key play of the 13-10 victory was a spectacular one-handed catch by UA tight end Mark Keel, extending a touchdown drive. Until Rob Gronkowski came along, Keel was Arizona’s most productive tight end of the Pac-10 years, catching 59 passes. Keel gave back to his alma mater last week when his top player at Central Kitsap (Washington) High School signed to play football at Arizona. Brion Anduze is a versatile, 6-foot-4-inch, 235-pound athlete at Central Kitsap, where Keel has coached for 18 years. The UA’s link to a rare recruit from Washington is offensive line coach Jim Michalczik, who grew up in Port Angeles, Washington, and recruited Keel’s area when he was an assistant coach at Oregon State. The last former UA football player who became a high school coach to send a player to Arizona was 1980s guard John Brandom, of Corona (California) High School, who sent defensive lineman Johnathan Turner to the Mike Stoops-led roster. 

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