Bam!

As spring practice begins in a couple of days our staff members weigh in on what they thought the main storylines were for the Sun Devils.

Mornin Mates...

Today's Topic = The Final Demise ?

I was ready to write the obituary for our Sun Devil baseball program but then they won the last two games against Long Beach State to climb above .500 for the season at 8-7...I remember way back when Jim Brock had just taken over the program from Bobby Winkles and the Devils didn't lose 7 games that whole season...

Unfortunately, the Devils back then still had the USC Trojans in their path to national championships and the Trojans were just too much for the Devils a good portion of the time under Rod Dedeaux, as the Trojans were the best college program in baseball back then but we were a close second...

We all know that the Trojans are just an ordinary program any more and it really looks like our Sun Devils are pretty darn ordinary anymore as well and have been ever since Pat Murphy got fired 7-8 years ago by Lisa Love...

Just like Todd Graham could never let go of the defense in football it looks like Tracy Smith has the same sort of behavior related to Sun Devil pitching that has been pretty darn bad a good portion of this season...our former pitching coach is now at AU where the Cats are 12-2...

I have lost much of my interest in the ASU baseball program since Tim Esmay took over after Pat Murphy, just as my interest in the basketball program has diminished to the point where I don't even bother to watch most games, even though I'm a big Bobby Hurley fan...

I will start watching more once they get a little more talent on the roster and start moving up in the standings...it's also hard living down here and having to deal with the Cats elite success...most of the retirees who live with me in Geezerville where AU paraphernalia, especially this time of year, even though they are from places like Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin etc because everybody loves a winner...

Who can blame them as the Cats just won another PAC title and another PAC tournament and will most likely get a #1 seed in the upcoming March Madness tournament while ASU sits home and thinks about whatever...

On a more positive note, it was great to hear that Danny White will be a part of the football program moving forward as he has always supported the Sun Devils and been right with Frank Kush at many junctures...

Moving onto football, our secondary numbers don't look all that good especially as depth is concerned and it will probably mean that some true freshmen will be thrown to wolves before they are physically and/or mentally ready, which is a shame, as other programs are able to red-shirt these players while we are not...

Oh well, it is what it is and why we've underachieved under Todd the past couple of years...that and many other reasons as well, as we all know...

However, the new staff seems to be more ambitious with offers, especially in nearby California these days, which should help immensely with recruiting this coming year, especially once the new football athletic facility comes on-line this summer...

I renewed my season tickets again but do have some reservations since the past two seasons have been so discouraging but once you have that maroon and gold blood flowing in your veins you just have to do what you have to do...

I love this warm weather......hope you all have a good week...

Maybe Tracy Smith will prove me wrong but we'll see...

I still remember when we just reloaded every year instead of this rebuilding stuff that just seems to be inherent in everything the Devils do today in sports...

G'day Mates and Go Devils!!!

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-englan...defensive-line-with-former-raven-lawrence-guy

I'm guessing the deal is incentive based but good for him.

Up 1, B9, 2 out, 0-2.....throw three in the dirt.....
Bad execution

RIP Brock
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Knew about this for a few weeks, just didn't have it on record to report. Johnson will graduate in May and will be grad transfer in 2017. It will always be an enigma to me how much he regressed from his freshman year.

Hey guys,

You may be wondering why there's a game thread for a home baseball game. Well, Fabian is in Vegas and I am stuck at home recovering from nose surgery. However, we'd still like to bring you coverage of tonight's midweek matchup against Cal State Fullerton. I'll be posting updates as the game goes on, but feel free to bounce questions and topics off of me as well.

Context: ASU has lost three in a row. Pitching staff hasn't been good. Hitting has been pretty good. Injuries are an issue early in the season (you've heard that with ASU sports this year, right?)

Little ridiculous with the weaknesses section, but hey no one's perfect, right?

Thanks to Brad Denny for tweeting this link

Unbelievable win or lose, Torian Graham may be on NBA Draft alert. No doubt if we had bigs to just put on bodies and only asked them to defend and rebound, we'd have 22-23 wins.

LAS VEGAS - Pac-12 Conference Commissioner Larry Scott will remain in his post through June 2022, the Conference announced today, extending his existing contract in recognition of the Conference’s achievements since his arrival in July of 2009 and vision for the future.

Gene D. Block, the Chancellor of UCLA and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Pac-12 Conference, comprising the 12 university presidents and chancellors that govern the Conference, said, “During Larry’s tenure, the Conference has been transformed, not only by expansion, but by innovation and excellence in almost every aspect of our activities. We believe in his bold vision for the Pac-12, and have great confidence in Larry's ability to help us write the next chapter of our Conference’s illustrious history.”

Scott’s contract extension, which was due to expire next year, continues his current roles of Commissioner and Executive Chairman of Pac-12 Enterprises until June 2022. In his seven plus years at the Pac-12, Scott oversaw a rebranding and expansion of the Conference with the addition of the University of Utah and the University of Colorado. Also during his tenure, the Conference added a football championship game, re-energized its basketball tournaments, established athletic and cultural exchange programs in China, enjoyed a resurgence of depth in football and basketball, and maintained its winning tradition as the “Conference of Champions” by leading the nation in NCAA championships every year.

Scott also delivered a landmark media rights agreement with ESPN and FOX and created Pac-12 Networks, the first-ever integrated media company owned by a collegiate conference. These developments provided much needed revenue while also dramatically increasing exposure for the conference’s athletic programs, and enabled the creation of innovative digital and mobile platforms for Pac-12 content.

At the same time, Scott and the CEO Group established a Student-Athlete Health Initiative with the 12 member universities to pursue important medical breakthroughs, and have played a leadership role toward reforming NCAA and other rules affecting student-athlete welfare.

“I am very proud of what we have been able to achieve as a Conference,” Scott said, “and I am deeply gratified by the expression of support and confidence that this extension represents. We have many challenges and opportunities ahead, and I look forward to working with our presidents, athletic directors, administrators, coaches, and student-athletes to move the Pac-12 Conference forward in the coming years.”

Fabian's game recap from Las Vegas

Obi Oleka sure was fun to have around the last couple years. Torian Graham this year too. Both are having monster games in what could be their last collegiate contest. Currently 68-58, ASU with 11:38 left.

The much-anticipated quarterback battle is the only storyline of this side of the ball. Here's Joe Healey's extensive breakdown of this unit.

Mentioning this article just to be clear that this is an ASU club team which is not overseen by the Athletic Department as some have already mistaken for.

Nonetheless, inexcusable act and frustrating to read "ASU Rugby player" when the perpetrator isn't even an ASU student...

Article

Granted this is just an offensive consultant position who more than likely won't have input in game planning (although will have some presence at practices), but the name is intriguing nonetheless and one that many Sun Devil fans have been yearning for a while to be a part of this program...

...and that name is former ASU quarterback Danny White.

Don't have any additional details on this role, but once it's announced officially we'll know more. If nothing else, good PR move here by Todd Graham.

Please join me in wishing the undisputed guru of local recruiting a happy birthday! He's been an invaluable staff addition ever since we made the transition here, and I'm sure you have greatly enjoyed his work as much as I have the last couple of years!

My post-signing interview with Darien Cornay

Thought he could have sneaked into the second team group though

Link