ARIZONA STATE FOOTBALL

ASU’s Todd Graham ready to ‘tee it up’ versus visiting USC

Sep 22, 2015, 11:50 AM | Updated: Sep 23, 2015, 10:58 am

Arizona State head coach Todd Graham yells at lineman Sam Jones (76) during the second half of an N...

Arizona State head coach Todd Graham yells at lineman Sam Jones (76) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against New Mexico, Friday, Sept. 18, 2015, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

(AP Photo/Matt York)

Past is prelude, but as Arizona State and USC enter this weekend’s matchup in Tempe, plenty of emotion will be on hand inside Sun Devil Stadium.  In case you forgot, the Trojans will be keen on seeking retribution, particularly considering the Sun Devils’ improbable 38-34 “Jael Mary” victory in the literal final throws of last year’s contest in Los Angeles.  Of the win, Arizona State head coach Todd Graham wasn’t bashful in admitting that the game was one of the most memorable of his coaching career.

“Pretty good,” Graham said with a chuckle when asked where the game ranks for him personally.  “I don’t think it gets better than that is what I’d tell you.  I just think the resolve, it showed a lot about the character of our guys.  Collectively, it wasn’t just one play.  It was guys that played a 104 snaps on defense and when we had to stop them, we stopped them.

“When you look at 104 plays, and I think it was 28 points or whatever it was, that’s pretty phenomenal.  The effort that we gave…that’s one of the most special games and teams that will always be up there at the top for me.”

Setting that emotion aside, however, figures to be job one for Graham and company as Saturday rapidly approaches.  For two teams who many believed would compete for a berth in the College Football Playoff this season, Saturday’s showdown also serves as an unofficial early season elimination game of sorts, as both sides look to avoid their second loss of the year.  Last season’s miraculous win not withstanding, Arizona State quarterback Michael Bercovici noted that the annual tilt versus USC typically carries with it added import.

“I don’t think there’s anymore ‘umph’ to an SC rivalry than when you sign up to be a Sun Devil,” Bercovici said.  “I think for anybody, especially southern California kids that commit to ASU, you know that game is automatically circled on your schedule.

“It’s exciting.  We’ve done well against the Trojans in the past, but that doesn’t matter because it’s a completely different year.  We’re opening conference play against one of the best teams in the country and we’re excited about that.  We’re going to be self-motivated, not motivated by beating them recently.  We’re going to be motivated by doing what we got to do for this team to win a football game Saturday night.”

Despite last week’s loss to Stanford, USC’s offense had little trouble moving the football up and down the field, as Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler continued his stellar play early on this season by completing 78.1 percent of his passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns versus the Cardinal.

“He’s really good.  He’s a really good thrower — he can make all the throws — and they have very, very explosive running backs,” said Graham of Kessler.  “This is no doubt the best running backs we’ll play I think all year long.  Collectively, when you take the group of four and five guys that they rotate in, they’re pretty explosive.  Their receiving corp is the same way. [Kessler] does a great job of managing the offense and just distributing the ball and he can make all the throws, so he’s a very good quarterback.”

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona State Football

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham reacts during the second half of the team's NCAA college footb...

Vincent DeAngelis

Kenny Dillingham talks Jaden Rashada injury, revamped roster ahead of spring ball

ASU football coach Kenny Dillingham addressed quarterback Jaden Rashada's injury, revamped roster and NIL ahead of start of spring ball

6 days ago

Jaden Rashada on the football field...

Arizona Sports

Report: ASU’s Jaden Rashada dealing with thumb injury, will miss spring ball

ASU's Jaden Rashada won't be a full participant in spring ball due to a thumb injury on his throwing hand suffered earlier in the year.

7 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: What is Bobby Hurley’s future at Arizona State?

On the latest State of the Sun Devil podcast the guys react to the end of men's basketball season, and wonder what the future of the program will be and how the offseason will unfold. Plus, reactions to football's pro day.

13 days ago

ASU football field...

Dan Bickley

Arizona State reaches rock bottom at end of Pac-12 stay

Rock bottom is mostly a metaphor, a cliché for sports teams that have fallen and can’t get up. But you can find it on the map at ASU.

13 days ago

Michael Crow, Arizona State University president...

Kevin Zimmerman

Now would be a good time for Arizona State to hire an athletic director

Who's to make a decision on Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley without an athletic director? Michael Crow must make a decision soon.

14 days ago

ASU QB Drew Pyne...

Arizona Sports

Former ASU starting QB Drew Pyne headed to Missouri

After playing in just two games in his ASU football career, quarterback Drew Pyne is moving on to the Missouri Tigers.

18 days ago

ASU’s Todd Graham ready to ‘tee it up’ versus visiting USC