Jaime Purvis and I discuss the key points of Saturday's game

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My latest for Campus Rush.

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Ralph Amsden, Brett Quintyne and Chilly walk through what was a bizarre and discouraging first half for Arizona State against Cal, and then an insane offensive and defensive explosion in the second half to keep the Sun Devils undefeated.

The guys talk about Arizona State's shift in recruiting priorities under Donnie Yantis, and how locking up locals translates into future recruiting success.

Last, a preview and prediction for ASU's week 5 game against the embattled USC Trojans.

The latest episode, where we discuss the comeback win vs. Cal, just how good Zane Gonzalez is and what we think is wrong with USC. Also included are our player spotlights and "Round The Pac" picks.

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We suspected this was going to be the case and reported as such all along. Now it's official.

Jon RothsteinVerified account‏@JonRothstein
Arizona State freshman Romello White was ruled an academic redshirt for the 2016-17 season, source told @CBSSports.

ATTIRE: Helmets and shorts (ASU wore white helmets with black pitchforks, an indicator for Saturday's game against USC)

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LOCATION: Verde Dickey Dome (They moved inside due to the rain, though the kickers did go outside for a brief period.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: ~15 minutes (one 11-on-11 session)

USING AN UMBRELLA (limited): OL Tyson Rising, DL Ami Latu (still had a big brace on his left knee), LB Christian Sam (wore sneakers instead of cleats). I'm not sure about Latu, but I would not expect Christian Sam to be ready to play against USC.

OTHER PERSONNEL NOTES: RB Jason Lewis was there in a maroon jersey.

TEAM TEMPO:

FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE (10 personnel): Manny Wilkins (QB), Demario Richard/Nick Ralston (RB), N'Keal Harry (WR), Ellis Jefferson (WR), Fred Gammage (WR - slot), Jalen Harvey (WR - slot), Evan Goodman (LT), Sam Jones (LG), AJ McCollum (C), Stephon McCray (RG), Quinn Bailey (RG)

FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE (nickel package): Tashon Smallwood (TIGER), George Lea (NOSE), JoJo Wicker (END), AJ Latu/Koron Crump (DEVIL), DJ Calhoun (WILL), Salamo Fiso (SAM), Laiu Moeakiola (SPUR), J'Marcus Rhodes (Bandit), Armand Perry (FS), Kareem Orr (BC), Bryson Echols/Gump Hayes (FC), Gump Hayes/Robbie Robinson (Nickel)

MADE ME CHUCKLE: It seemed like off the bus the defensive players were trying to settle a heated debate on the age-old question of East vs West Coast rap. I believe Malik Lawal was advocating for the East coast, with Tashon Smallwood making the West's case.

As always, let me know if you have any questions, comments, concerns.

NCAA Nation tweeted this out earlier today.

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Hod made the point that it is easy to come down on the D for letting so much happen, when they have actually being playing very well, giving the O a chance, which has been lighting it up.

This Defense is gonna put the Glove on teams this year (ex: Hansen in the 2nd H)

Will history repeat itself? Joe Healey's with another extensive research piece here.

When you have a family of 19 and you are the first from your family to go to college, you carry an enormous responsibility. No one knows that better than Jay Jay Wilson.

Tremendous story here by Justin Toscano.

An offensive scheme different than previous weeks awaits ASU. Here is Eric Smith's analysis.

NEW EPISODE: Joe & I go in-depth in reviewing the win over Cal & preview the battle vs USC with OC Chip Lindsey, WR Jalen Harvey, and S Armand Perry.

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Additionally, is ASU still a Sleeping Giant program or has it finally awakened under CTG..??

College analyst Joel Klatt was on The Herd this morning and said there were only six elite programs in the country...Alabama, Texas, Notre Dame, Ohio St, Michigan and USC...

Bama is steaming along under Nick Saban, as is Ohio St under Urban Meyer, and Michigan is rebounding nicely under Jim Harbaugh but Texas, Notre Dame and USC are still having difficulties maintaining their status as elite programs these days and maybe they really aren't elite programs after all...

I think USC is the only program mentioned that is located in a large metro area that has multiple pro franchises just like ASU...

Do you have to be located outside a large metro area that doesn't have competing pro sport franchises in order to have an elite program at your school..??

ASU has 70K "students" but how many live on campus at ASU, so how does being a "commuter school" either help or hinder its football program..??

Can ASU ever arrive at an elite status given its location, competition with pro sports and being a commuter school with campuses all over the Valley..??

I look forward to this weekend's game vs the Trojans as a gauge as to where we are at on the national stage these days...

Go Devils!!!

Rivals.com Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney weighs in on Isaiah Pola Mao and other ASU prospects here.

A little bit later this week than I usually am, but I'd rather like to look at myself mimicking the Sun Devils and coming on later! Enjoy!!

Jack Jones Gilbert Gottfried

Darreus Rogers The Toxic Avenger

Adoree Jackson Larry Fitzgerald

Steven Mitchell Jr Arsenio Hall

Marvin Tell III Sam Sheepdog

JuJu Smith-Schuster Big Eared Toddler

Antoine Houston Jr Antoine Merriweather from In Living Color

Good evening Sun Devils!

Week 4 is in the books and congrats to theoriginalsundevil4life on winning the week with 23pts and our current YTD Leader with 115pts!

Results are below, and if there are any shenanigans, let me know.

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Great analysis here by Fabian

You could probably make several compelling arguments on how we could lose to USC, but starting to feel pretty good about this game. Getting USC in their building is never an easy task, but think we get it done. Close game, we win by 3.

Turnovers, long scores, tackling, coaching all of course are the standard win/loss determinators, but for this week, here's 3 reason why we might win:

1. The way our defense has been playing, the "field position" game hasn't really come into play too much, but have a feeling it plays a bigger role in this USC game. USC returners have killed us for years, and with Gonzo kicking it into the endzone, and Haack kicking it to the moon, we've maybe neutralized some of this risk. Think we win the field position game and with young QB's, that's a big deal this game.

2. Think a couple of the Southern Cal kids play out of their minds this game when heading home. Fiso, Smallwood, and Wicker top the list. We need all three of those guys to play their best game of the season, and think it happens.

3. Think our defense will benefit from "less pace", and if we can get a good substitute rotation going with our defense, think having fresh bodies might erase a mistake or two. Also getting a few extra seconds to get everything "aligned" and set should also help.

So.. we'll see, but we've got a pretty legit chance to start this season off at 5-0 so we all better be enjoying it, because those starts don't come around that frequently!

TEMPE, Ariz. – Senior punter Matt Haack has been listed as a semifinalist for the 2016 William V. Campbell Trophy, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame announced on Wednesday. The annual trophy recognizes the top football scholar-athlete in the nation.

Haack, a business sports and media major in the W.P Carey School of Business, holds a 3.44 cumulative GPA and is also a member of the Barrett Honors College. During the course of his Sun Devil career, Haack has earned First-Team All-Pac-12 All-Academic honors in 2015 and was All-Pac-12 Academic honorable mention in 2014. In 2015, he also earned the Pat Tillman Outstanding Academic Achievement Award.

On the field, Haack was listed on the 2016 Ray Guy Award preseason watch list, making him one of the best punters in college football. So far this season, he's averaging 47.2 yards on 11 punts, which would rank seventh in the country according to The Football Database. Seven of his 11 punts have been downed inside the 20-yard line with the opposing team accumulating just one yard on returns.

Get your picks in!!

http://jediasu.com/limesurvey/index.php/759674/lang-en

BUMPITY



Wk04 Results up later tonight!

The ASU Programming and Activities Board and the Sun Devil Men's and Women's Basketball teams are excited to announce a brand new way to start the season: Mill Madness.

Taking place on Friday, October 14, from 8-10 p.m. at the corner of 7th and Mill Avenue, Sun Devil fans can get a preview of what will be an exciting season of Sun Devil Basketball. The event is FREE and open to the public and will feature three-point shooting contests, a slam-dunk contest and other skill challenges. Games, food, and music from some of The Valley's best DJ's will make this an event you will not want to miss.

The teams both open play on Friday, Nov. 11 (Veteran's Day) at Wells Fargo Arena with the men taking on Portland State at 7 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) while the women take on Illinois State (time TBD).

Not to beat a dead horse, but the crowd was GREAT last week.

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