Look what I found!

While surfing the web, I stumbled across some old content from the State Press.

1987 Sun Devil Spark Rose Bowl Coverage was actually published to the web 10 years later as part of the build up to the 1997 Rose Bowl. Unfortunately the scanned images are of pretty low quality, but anything is better than nothing!

Also fun to read is The Sun Devil Spark's detailed summary of the 1996 season that I do not recall seeing before.

2010: The Year We Make Contact (with the top of the Pac-10?)

I have posted the 2010 schedule on the main page, primarily to get rid of memories of 2009 as quickly as possible.

Keep in mind that the Pac-10 opener will be Oregon on September 25 -- this game was moved up from its original date so that both schools get a bye week in the middle of the season.

With 2009 wrapped up, the conference opener predictor worked again. Counting conference games only, since joining the Pac-10 in 1978, ASU has lost the conference opener 18 times, and in those seasons has gone a combined 59-77-2 (a 43% win percentage). However, in the 12 seasons in which we have won our first Pac-10 game, the composite record is 60-36-0 (a 63% win percentage). We tied our opener in 1983 and 1986 and finished a combined 9-4-2 in those seasons.

Since 1982, ASU has only once (in 1999) lost the conference opener and finished with a winning record in the Pac-10. Conversely, 2008 and 1994 were the only seasons where the Sun Devils won their conference opener but finished below .500 in the Pac-10.

Next season's home schedule is ugly, with five Pac-10 road games and our "A" out-of-conference game at Wisconsin. Remember, we are still looking for a replacement for the September 11 game at SDS.

Feeling green?

Different time, but same deal as last week.  Those living in the green states will see ASU try to get their biggest win in the past two years on their local ABC station.  Those elsewhere need to subscribe to ESPN GamePlan, have access to ESPN360.com, or go to a sports bar.  The Trojans will come out angry -- can our defense prevent an early deficit for once?  Please?

Television Coverage for Cal @ ASU

Those living in the green area get to see ASU and Cal on their local ABC station.  Those elsewhere need to subscribe to ESPN GamePlan, have access to ESPN360.com, go to a sports bar, or watch a different game and hope that the ticker does not show another early lead big for the bad guys.  As I have said before, ASU will not win a game this season in which they trail by 14+ points.

Nice Defense!

Update: watch at around the 1:00 mark to see Nick Holt snort! Thanks to B.L.Z. Bubba for the tip.

Will the real Sun Devils please stand up?

Well, we're 5 games into the season and yet I still feel like I don't know the 2009 Devils. We've beaten three bad teams, and lost to both of the decent teams we have played.

Whatever you think about this season's team (and the coaching) Saturday is a great test. UW is clearly a "good not great" team -- the sort of team we should beat at home.

If we do win, then the noise should quieten a lot. If we lose, it will become deafening.

One thing is for sure: by the final whistle of the UW game, we will know a LOT more than we do today.

A wasted game

It's a pity we had to waste a conference game to make a change that most of us realized was necessary after the Georgia game. Danny Sullivan deserves no criticism, because it is obvious he has given everything he has got. Unfortunately most of us won't get to see Oz's debut as a starter at Wazzu, since this week's game will not be televised.

I hate agreeing with Bickley and Bordow.

Sullivan was the best option when the offense needed a caretaker, when a daring, daunting defense seemed good enough to carry the day. Now, the defense has some explaining to do, the ASU faithful have lost belief in their senior quarterback, and the head coach can't be far behind.

Maybe we’ll find out the freshman isn’t ready for Pac-10 football. But what’s the risk? It’s not as if the Sun Devils can do much worse offensively. And — news flash — they’re well on their way to a 6-6 or 5-7 season. Might as well see if the kid can do something.

Beat Oregon State and things will look bright

Updating my original research from last year, Oregon State is the most critical game of the 2009 season. Conference openers have historically been a strong predictor of the season.

Counting conference games only, since joining the Pac-10 in 1978, ASU has lost the conference opener 17 times, and in those seasons has gone a combined 57-70-2 (a 45% win percentage). However, in the 12 seasons in which we have won our first Pac-10 game, the composite record is 60-36-0 (a 63% win percentage). We tied our opener in 1983 and 1986 and finished a combined 9-4-2 in those seasons.

Since 1982, ASU has only once (in 1999) lost the conference opener and finished with a winning record in the Pac-10. Conversely, 2008 and 1994 were the only seasons where the Sun Devils won their conference opener but finished below .500 in the Pac-10.

This season's opener versus Oregon State is especially important because the  four following games are all winnable, so if we beat OSU a 4-1 Pac-10 start is perfectly realistic.

Strong chance of no TV coverage of game at Wazzu

As expected, neither of the Pac-10 TV network selections for October 10 included the ASU @ WSU game.  It's tough to argue with the games selected by ABC and FSN:

• Oregon at UCLA, 12:30pm PT ABC
• Stanford at Oregon St., 4pm PT FSN

If I understand the Pac-10 rules correctly (they are hard to follow) the only way that FSN AZ could show the ASU game live is if it kicked off at 7pm PT.  However, I assume Wazzu will not want an evening kickoff, especially since this is Homecoming Weekend in Pullman.

Hopefully I am wrong, but for now it seems likely that the only way to watch this game live will be to travel to Pullman.

Update: now confirmed; no live TV coverage on October 10.

Georgia: post-game open comments thread

Heartbreaking loss.  #8 for UGA was the best athlete on the field, and his two plays at the end were the difference.  Comments are open.