ARIZONA STATE FOOTBALL

Herm Edwards reacts to naysayers over his ASU coaching candidacy

Nov 29, 2017, 10:11 AM | Updated: 7:35 pm
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards talks with cornerbacks Brandon Flowers (24) and Brandon ...
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards talks with cornerbacks Brandon Flowers (24) and Brandon Carr (39) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
(AP Photo/Al Behrman)
LISTEN: Herm Edwards, ASU Head Coaching Candidate

NFL analyst Herm Edwards may or may not hear the reaction — much of it negative — over the news of his candidacy in the Arizona State football head coaching search.

Two things about that: He doesn’t worry about it and he doesn’t believe many of those concerns over his resume to be true.

Confirming to Doug & Wolf on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station that he will meet with friend and ASU Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson this weekend, the current ESPN employee shook off any concerns about his ability to lead a college football program.

“I’m committed to traveling 6,000 miles every week to come to work. I don’t do things if I’m not committed to doing them,” Edwards said of his current job on Wednesday.

“I’m aware of this: In life, when changes occur, some people are optimistic and say, ‘Well, let’s give that person a chance’ and some people are not. I think at the end, it’s about winning. It’s always about winning.”

Edwards believes that he’s been involved in the profession despite his last full-time coaching job ending after the 2008 season with the Kansas City Chiefs.

At 63 years old, he feels connected with high school athletes working the annual Under Armour All-American game, a showcase of the top players in the country.

While Edwards said any terms of accepting the ASU job are between him and Anderson, Edwards had no doubt he is equipped to handle the rigors of being a college head coach.

“Recruiting doesn’t scare me. I’m not worried about walking into a parent’s home and telling them exactly what we’re going to do to develop their young man. You think I’m worried about talking to a mom or dad?” he said.

When Anderson spoke about the qualifications of replacing former coach Todd Graham, who was fired on Sunday, he hoped a new hire would be willing to retain current offensive coordinator Billy Napier and defensive coordinator Phil Bennett.

“We would want someone with an open mind and the ability to not do it the same old way that most coaches want to do it,” Anderson said, “come in and throw in a grenade and ‘I want to bring in all my own guys.’

“We’re not interested in that guy.”

That, not to mention Anderson’s desire to hire a coach before the NFL season ends, limits who might be available.

Edwards said he’d be willing to retain ASU’s two coordinators.

“I don’t know if they’re Todd Graham’s guys. They’re football guys,” he said. “Football guys are married to football, in the end. You keep good coaches.

“You don’t get rid of them because they’re somebody else’s guy. Coaches belong to football.”

Of course, the possibility of Edwards being offered and taking the ASU job will come down to the other options on the board and his conversation with Anderson in a formal interview.

“I just think there’s a mutual understanding of what we’re trying to achieve,” he said. “That’s how it works. It’s not ‘I need this’ or ‘you need that.’ It’s, ‘OK, this is the plan, we’re both in lockstep with the plan.'”

Arizona State Football

Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham addresses his team after a spring football practice in Te...
Jake Anderson

ASU has ‘worst practice by far’ of spring ball, OL Coleman out for 1st half of season

The Arizona State Sun Devils football team had its worst-ever practice in the Kenny Dillingham era on Tuesday.
5 days ago
Arizona State quarterback Jaden Rashada. (Instagram Photo/@jadenrashada)...
Arizona Sports

State of the Sun Devils podcast: Could QB Jaden Rashada start for ASU in 2023?

On the latest episode of State of the Sun Devils podcast, the guys broke down ASU's quarterback competition at 2023 spring ball practice.
8 days ago
Arizona State wide receiver Javen Jacobs during 2023 spring ball in Tempe, Arizona. (Sun Devil Athl...
Jake Anderson

ASU’s pass-catcher competition includes ‘deep wideout and tight end positions’

The Arizona State Sun Devils have a plethora of talent on the offensive side of the football when it comes to pass catchers.
12 days ago
Arizona State true freshman quarterback Jaden Rashada gives the "forks up" after a spring ball prac...
Jake Anderson

Arizona State’s QB battle heats up after 1st week of spring ball with Jaden Rashada

There are six on the roster, half of which are returners, while two are transfers and one is freshman five-star dual-threat QB Jaden Rashada.
15 days ago
Arizona State defensive back Chris Edmonds, celebrates his pass interception with linebacker Will S...
Jake Anderson

Communication is key for Arizona State’s new defense early on in spring ball

Communication is key in defense, especially in the modern era of college football where offenses are running quick-tempo, hurry-up offenses.
17 days ago
Arizona State University president Michael Crow interviews with Doug & Wolf on 98.7 FM Arizona'...
Kevin Zimmerman

ASU, Arizona presidents: Not preparing to leave for Big 12

The presidents of Arizona State University and the University of Arizona went on the record reaffirming their commitment to the Pac-12.
18 days ago
Herm Edwards reacts to naysayers over his ASU coaching candidacy