ASU’s Graham pleased with early play
Sep 10, 2012, 7:54 PM | Updated: 9:02 pm
It’s not overly surprising that the Arizona State Sun Devils have started the season 2-0.
What is surprising is the nature in which they’ve posted that record. ASU pounded in-state neighbor Northern Arizona 63-6 to open the season before routing Illinois last Saturday by the count of 45-14.
So, is new head coach Todd Graham surprised by the early-season developments.
“I really thought that if we played well, we’d win the first two games, even though Illinois — we dominated them. It was a lot easier than I anticipated,” Graham told Burns and Gambo on Arizona Sports 620 Monday. “I do think my guys have exceeded my expectations when it comes to really, really focusing on not taking stupid penalties.”
The Sun Devils had earned the reputation being an undisciplined team under previous head coach Dennis Erickson. After all, ASU ranked dead last in FBS last season in terms of penalty yardage per game. In Erickson’s last four seasons, they were in the bottom 12 in that category each season.
