Plant’s unexpected package deal: Few, Tate to Cornell

Posted Feb 1, 2012 by Bill Ward

Updated Feb 1, 2012 at 10:15 PM

Earlier this month, Plant High teammates James Few and Mike Tate made separate trips to Cornell University and had even managed to have a day together on the campus of the Ivy League school in Ithaca, N.Y.

But until mid-morning Wednesday—National Signing Day—neither knew the other had made a verbal commitment to Cornell. Now, the two Panthers stars can be teammates for another four years—maybe even roommates.

“I knew that he liked the campus and the football facilities but I also knew he had other offers and could go somewhere else,” said Few, the Panthers’ starter at quarterback who threw for 2,513 yards and 29 touchdowns during this championship season. “We were both trying pretty hard to keep it a secret from everyone so we literally didn’t know we were both going there until today.”

“He (Few) decided what was best for him and I decided what was best for me and we only heard about it through the grapevine,” said Tate, who finished the 2011 season with a state-leading 210 tackles. “It’s pretty cool it worked out this way.”

Few, who carries a weighted grade point average over 6.0, and Tate, also a standout honors student, made their decision official at the Panthers’ ceremony held in the school’s media center.