Dennis Erickson called it “the most difficult loss we’ve had since I’ve been here, without a question.” So, how do the Sun Devils bounce back from that loss— blowing a ten-point fourth quarter lead by allowing two touchdowns, to rival UA? “I believe they’ll react good. I really do,” said Erickson. “They’ll come out, play […]
Another week. Another loss. Another press conference in which Dennis Erickson is faced with questions about his future as ASU head coach. “I’m living in the present right now,” he said Monday. “I’m living for this football game (against Cal) and so is my team and my staff. We’re all working to win this football […]
As I watched this year’s installment of the Duel in the Desert I couldn’t help but think one thing: The 2011 Arizona State Sun Devils are the 2010 Arizona Wildcats. It’s almost as if the 2010 Wildcats gave the 2011 Sun Devils a script to follow, and Dennis Erickson and his team blindly followed it […]
Those calling for Arizona State football head coach Dennis Erickson’s job may not have to wait too long. According to Ron Allen’s Twitter page, head of the elite football training academy B2G in California, Erickson told his staff Sunday morning that this is his final season on the sidelines as a coach. After being touted […]
Remember when Arizona State was sitting atop the Pac-12 South, cruising along with a 6-2 record? The Sun Devils, fresh off a 48-14 Homecoming victory over Colorado had been through the supposed tough part of their schedule, having already played Missouri, Illinois, USC, Utah and Oregon. Maybe, just maybe all of that preseason hype about […]
TEMPE, AZ — The Arizona Wildcats, in the midst of a deeply disappointing season, found enough juice in the fourth quarter to rally and beat their arch-rival Arizona State 31-27 at Sun Devil Stadium on Saturday night. Bryson Beirne, Arizona’s backup quarterback, came in for an injured Nick Foles late in the fourth quarter and […]
According to the Pac-12 notes (prior to the game): “Basically, Arizona State will benefit from a three-team tie, or a two-team tie with Utah.” The tie-breaker for multiple-team ties: 1. Head-to-head (best record in games among the tied teams) ASU beat Utah but lost to UCLA. Utah beat UCLA but lost to ASU. […]
After losing in ugly fashion to Pepperdine on Tuesday night, ASU head coach Herb Sendek talked about needing to improve in a lot of different areas if his team wanted to have a chance to beat New Mexico on Friday night. There was improvement, but not enough as the Sun Devils fell to New Mexico […]
Vontaze Burfict’s junior season at Arizona State has been much like the rest of his career: up and down and filled with what ifs. What if Burfict didn’t limp off the field every time he made a mistake? What if he wasn’t going at it with the officiating crew every game? What if he didn’t […]
The Duel in the Desert, the Territorial Cup, the rivalry, the game: Arizona State vs. Arizona. The 85th meeting between the schools is upon us, as the Wildcats travel north to take on the Sun Devils in Tempe. The Wildcats are basically playing for pride, as their season has gone horribly wrong. The Sun Devils […]
Another week is upon us in the Pac-12, and hopefully it’s a week of redemption personally. I went a woeful 3-3 on conference predictions in this space last week (thanks ASU), and it’s time to bounce back. It’s another full slate of games, including two installments of natural rivalries. So let’s dive in to Week […]
You probably remember Arizona State’s thrilling 30-29 double overtime win in Tucson from last December. What you probably don’t remember was the hideous first half, after which ASU led 6-0. ASU quarterback Brock Osweiler does remember. The Sun Devil quarterback, who was making just his 2nd career start, was dreadful in the first half, completing […]
They say “Home is where the heart is.” For ASU, home is where the wins are. The Sun Devils this season are unbeaten (5-0) at Sun Devil Stadium, yet just 1-4 away from Tempe. “There is something to say for just being at home,” quarterback Brock Osweiler answered. “You have the crowd behind you. You’re […]
There’s two FBS schools in Arizona: Arizona State University and University of Arizona. Both have been around since before 1900 and both sport excellent academic opportunities, but there’s another thing these schools have in common. The number zero. Combined these schools have zero national championships in football. Arizona has seen plenty of success in basketball, […]
TEMPE, AZ— Pepperdine got hot from behind the three-point arc in the first half, and lived at the free throw line in the 2nd half in a 66-60 win over Arizona State in front of 4,127 fans at Wells Fargo Arena on Tuesday night. The Waves knocked down 7 of 9 three-point attempts before halftime, […]
In recent seasons it’s been the team’s greatest strength. However, in recent weeks it’s been the team’s greatest weakness. The ASU defense has allowed 999 total yards in back to back losses at UCLA and Washington State. “Giving up the big play, that’s obviously what has happened to us the last couple of weeks,” said […]
The ASU goals at the beginning of the season were to win the Pac-12 South Division, play in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game and compete in the Rose Bowl. That hasn’t changed, despite losses in each of the last two weeks. “It’s funny,” said offensive lineman Dan Knapp, “how it all worked out but our […]
In the days before the annual rivalry game against Arizona, the natives are getting restless in Tempe. “This is the year,” they were told. A season filled with promise after consecutive wins to end last season and a veteran-laden roster returning for action in 2011. And for awhile, it looked like the promises would pay […]
To say Dennis Erickson’s seat is getting warm would be an understatement. Thought to be in line for a contract extension only a few weeks ago, the only line many want to see him in is the one with an “unemployment” sign hanging above. Tuesday Arizona Sports 620’s John Gambadoro, who wrote that it’s time […]
It’s hard to ignore. “I’d be lying if I said we weren’t aware of it,” said quarterback Brock Osweiler. “Obviously you read things and you hear things,” added defensive lineman Bo Moos. What’s being read and what’s being heard is that their head coach is on the proverbial hot seat. Follow @theAdamGreen
In October it seemed like a foregone conclusion. Dennis Erickson would receive a contract extension at the end of the season. Now, as the calendar has flipped to November there’s a considerable amount of debate regarding an extension. Consecutive road losses to UCLA and Washington State has thrust Erickson’s future as the Sun Devils head […]
When Arizona State and Arizona take the field Saturday at Sun Devil Stadium it will be the 85th time the teams have met in the “Duel in the Desert,” and the first since last season’s stunning 30-29 ASU win in double overtime. The Sun Devils reclaimed the oldest trophy in college football – the Territorial […]
A couple of weeks ago it looked as if the Arizona State Sun Devils would cruise down the stretch of their schedule and head to the Pac-12 Championship Game as the representatives of the South and take on either Oregon or Stanford. For all intents and purposes, the “hard” part of the Sun Devils’ schedule […]
Admit it. You were very comfortable with Arizona State traveling up to Pullman [the Timbuktu of the Pac-12] to take on a Cougars’ team that was circling the drain and had lost 5 straight games. Snow? No problem. Bring it on. There’s no way the Sun Devils will let something like a little frozen precipitation […]
TEMPE, AZ — It got a little too close for comfort late in the 2nd half, but Herb Sendek’s Arizona State Sun Devils opened the 2011-12 season with a 78- 72 win over Montana State at Wells Fargo Arena. The free throw line was the Sun Devils’ best friend on Friday, as they connected on […]
It happened once all last year. In the regular season finale against Oregon State, ASU scored a season-high 80 points in an 80-66 win; just four times did the Sun Devils reach 75 points or more. This season — albeit in an exhibition game — ASU has already hit the 80-point mark. Last week, head […]
It’s going to be cold. It may even snow. “I’m excited,” said quarterback Brock Osweiler. He may be the only one. Osweiler grew up in Kalispell, Montana about five hours from Pullman, Washington where—according to weather.com, it’s expected to be in the low 30s with a good chance of rain and show showers Saturday night […]
With the constant media blitz coming out of State College, Pennsylvania surrounding the Jerry Sandusky mess and Joe Paterno firing, actual football has been put on the back burner by many. Of course, not by everyone–most of the Penn State community puts football above everything else, including morality, but I digress. It’s another full slate […]