Bickley Blast: ASU could have great season, but will anyone see it?

Arizona State football is off to a great start. Jaelen Strong looks like the real deal. Taylor Kelly had the second best night of any quarterback in America, eclipsed only by Peyton Manning. De’Marieya Nelson looks like a beast at tight end.

And wasn’t it great to see Deantre Lewis doing what he does best — running the football with style?

Yes, it was only Sacramento State. But ASU couldn’t have looked better, and that’s been a common refrain over the last four games with Todd Graham.

But here’s the number that sticks with me:

Zero. Point. Nine.

That’s ASU’s television rating on the Pac-12 Network broadcast.

By contrast, the NFL game between Baltimore and Denver posted an 18 on NBC. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks-Giants game posted a 3.1.

You don’t have to be a rocket surgeon to recognize the problem. ASU could have a sensational year, but their television reach might be absolutely pathetic. You’ll see them play against Wisconsin and Notre Dame, but after that is anyone’s guess.

That’s the cost of the ongoing impasse with DirecTV, the dark cloud hanging over what could be a really fun season.

After all, ASU leads the nation in fans that complain from the living room couch. They don’t actually go to the games. And if the Sun Devils aren’t on TV, well, it’ll be like the tree that’s falling in the forest.

The above was transcribed from “The Bickley Blast”, heard on The Dan Bickley Show, weekdays from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Arizona Sports 620.

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