Why did ASU have a nursery rhymes playlist on repeat at Monday’s practice?

TEMPE — Kenny Dillingham is no stranger to making off-kilter decisions about how to run his Arizona State practices, such as the mock cowbells ahead of last year’s trip to Mississippi State.

This time around, those in attendance Monday were greeted by nursery rhymes blasting through the Verde Dickey Dome.

 

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If it wasn’t “Old MacDonald Had a Farm,” it was “Hickory Dickory Dock” or “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,” among a few others, before it looped back around with the same several songs in rotation.

The only time the playlist wasn’t in effect was a short segment where most players went outside before coming back in.

So what drove Dillingham to go with a playlist he admitted he hears enough at home anyway with two young sons?

“I’m just trying to get them uncomfortable,” Dillingham said. “You don’t know what environments you’re going to play in and the environment doesn’t set the temperature. We should set the temperature.

“I just wanted music that was just not motivating and boring and, like, kind of annoying just because we listen to music and it’s great, but … we should be the team that turns the thermostat whichever way we want.”

some asu qb reps set to the sweet sounds of “if you’re happy and you know it” pic.twitter.com/fgrqSnBSG0

— Damon Allred (@iamdamonallred) August 10, 2026

Dillingham called it “another good day” of practice when assessing how the team handled the potentially distracting noise.

One official working the practice said he had never worked another practice with music like it, and it was likely a unique experience for the scouting representation from eight NFL teams on Monday as well.

Dillingham shot down the idea from a reporter that the choice was in response to recent scuffles the team has had at practice.

“Absolutely zero,” the coach said. “When our guys get into a fight, we don’t fight. We scuffle. When our guys get into little scuffles with their helmets on, we make them say their name, where they’re from, favorite food, favorite movie, hug it out in front of the team and then let’s carry on our way.

“We don’t bring it into the locker room.”

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