Arizona State Sun Devils expect to play in Sun Bowl
Nov 28, 2017, 7:15 PM | Updated: Nov 29, 2017, 11:31 am
Arizona State running back Demario Richard (4) stiff-arms Arizona cornerback Lorenzo Burns during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov 25, 2017, in Tempe, Ariz. Arizona State defeated Arizona 42-30. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
TEMPE, Ariz. — Oh yeah, the Arizona State football team will play in a bowl game this season.
It was easy to lose that fact in the emotion of a Territorial Cup victory, coach Todd Graham’s firing and the list of names being bandied about as his potential replacement.
Although some analysts have the Sun Devils headed to the Cactus Bowl or Las Vegas Bowl, Graham and Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson both seemed confident at separate Sunday press conferences that ASU would head to El Paso, Texas for the Sun Bowl.
CBS Sports’ bowl guru Jerry Palm and ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura and David Hale all project the Sun Devils to play Louisville in that game on Dec. 29.
ASU is 3-1-1 all-time in the Sun Bowl and has won its last three appearances in that game, with victories over Duke (36-31) in 2014, Purdue (27-23) in 2004, and Iowa (17-7) in 1997. The Devils lost to Case Western Reserve, 26-13 in 1941 and tied — yes, tied something called Catholic University, 0-0, in 1940, which is clearly the lowest scoring game in Sun Bowl history.
If the Sun Devils do play the Cardinals, ASU is 1-2 lifetime against Louisville. The Devils played the Cardinals for three consecutive seasons from 1992-94, winning the first game at Sun Devil Stadium, 19-0, losing 35-17 at Louisville in 1993 and losing 25-22 at home in 1994.
When Anderson fired Graham on Sunday morning, he told him he had earned the right to coach in the bowl game and Graham readily accepted the opportunity.
“It’s a big deal to me and a big deal to our players,” Graham said. “I want to finish. We teach these players how important the finish is, and I want to finish.”
If ASU can win this game, Graham would exit with his fourth, eight-win season and a 3-2 record in bowl games.
Sending him out with a win is important to the seniors, including running back Demario Richard, who was the MVP of the 2014 Sun Bowl after scoring four touchdowns: two rushing, two receiving.
“I’m grateful for him,” Richard said. “I wouldn’t want to play anywhere else and I wouldn’t want to play with anyone else.”
The thought of coaching his team one more time brought a smile to Graham’s face on Sunday.
“If I’m going to go out, I’m proud to go out with these seniors,” he said. “I’m fired up.”
The entire college football bowl lineup will be announced on Sunday on ESPN.
