Arizona State needs to stop talking, start winning

There is no way to sugarcoat this.

That pathetic, embarrassing, sad performance on Saturday night at home against USC signifies a huge step back for this Arizona State football program.

ASU is not a good football team as we were led to believe by Todd Graham’s rah-rah hyperbole this past offseason. This team lacks talent and leadership. They look slow and undisciplined. The only good news was that ESPN’s College Game Day wasn’t here to witness their 42-14 loss to the Trojans.

You had to expect they were going to lose Saturday just based off of how poorly they played in their first three games — especially at home against FCS Cal Poly and New Mexico.

But Arizona State was down 35-0 at the half — a half that saw the Devils miss two field goals and commit four turnovers that led to 28 Trojan points. A half in which USC converted 8-of-10 third downs for an eye popping 223 yards and three touchdowns. It was a half in which ASU defenders missed so many tackles I stopped counting, a half in which the ASU coaching staff was looking to buy a clue. All-out blitzes on third and long — UGH.

By the time the second half started, half of the sold-out crowd was already home. Why anyone stayed for the second half is beyond me. Maybe the Devils can get USC AD Pat Haden to foot the bill for the recruits ASU had in for the game.

There are no more excuses. ASU is supposed to be good, really good. They’re not. They have nobody to blame but themselves. Enough of the “this is the best team we have had here” crap. Stop talking, it gets you nowhere. Let winning do your talking. Games are won on the field not in the press conference, and right now Graham is talking the talk, but his team can’t walk the walk.

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