This is going to be a college season like no other for Herm Edwards. The Arizona State football coach has a top 25 squad, but also one that plays under NCAA control. (Photo by Julian Rosa / Cronkite News)
PHOENIX – An NCAA investigation. A top 25 ranking after just four games in 2020. The uncertainty of what might come in another year of pandemic football.
If that sounds like a heavy burden to the Arizona state soccer team when they do tonight Their highly anticipated season begins at Sun Devil Stadium against southern Utah, think again. After a year that felt so quiet, there will be stormy fans in the stands, and marching bands and tailgate parties and the blessed sound of pads crashing against pads.
“We’re excited to be playing soccer again. We don’t know what to expect. Opening day is always opening day, ”said Sun Devils trainer Herm Edwards.
The Pac-12 is in a three-way battle with the SEC and the Big Ten because most of the teams (five) are in the top 25 of the AP preseason. The Sun Devils join four other Pac-12 teams in the top 25 – Oregon (11), USC (15), Washington (20) and Utah (24).
« Last year was just so different To play out there in empty stadiums, you lack the energy and the mood, « said offensive coordinator Zak Hill. « As a coach or a player you long for it and that’s part of what you do, it’s the matchday feel … It will be really nice to come back to a stadium with fans. »
Part of ASU’s offseason preparation is that the team looks good. The Sun Devils will unveil the Valley Heat Reverse Retro Shirts against Colorado on September 25th. (Photo by Julian Rosa / Cronkite News)
On Monday, Edwards was asked about his excitement about training a game on the field after, as one reporter put it, « everything that happens off the field. » is “, had dealt.
The ASU soccer program is being investigated by the NCAA for possible recruitment violations. The team is accused of accepting recruits during the « dead time » of recruitment, the duration of the pandemic when schools were not allowed to accept recruits on campus.
« To be honest, we haven’t really had a lot of stuff outside of the field. … We want to play football like everyone else, ”said Edwards. « We talked about football from last spring until today. »
So far, the ASU has suspended three coaches due to the ongoing investigations.
The Sun Devils also injured a few key players earlier in the season. Jermayne Lole, a defensive lineman who is a preseason All-American, is out for the season with a triceps tear.
Edwards also announced that Transfer Triston Miller, who was a potential starter on the offensive for the Sun Devils, is considering retirement.
The Sun Devils want to build a shortened 2020 season in which they only played four games due to the pandemic. Her offense ended up in the first two of the Pac-12 conference for rushing yards per game.
Edwards said this year’s team will have a balanced attacking style of play and make good use of their talented backcourt. « We have three really good players who can run so we have to give them the ball, » said Edwards.
The 2021 season will be a pivotal one for quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is a possible NFL draft pick. In the abridged ASU plan for 2020, he has connected 49 of 84 passports. for 701 yards and five touchdowns. (Photo by Julian Rosa / Cronkite News)
Redshirt senior running back Rachaad White had an impressive campaign for ASU in his four games last year. He ran for 423 yards, averaging 10 yards per carry.
This running back group is constantly pushing each other to get better, White said. When asked about splitting contact with the other running backs, White said his mentality was, « If one eats, we all eat. »
White said he has some individual goals that he wants to achieve this season but his main focus is on doing whatever he has to do to help the team win.
With another year of collaboration, Hill and junior quarterback Jayden Daniels want to be a little more productive in passing this year.
« He understands what we are trying to do as an insult, I can use some of the information he sees or is comfortable with, and I feel like there is more open dialogue going on right now which is a great thing. ”Hill said.
This year’s secondary is the position group with the most experience in defending the Sun Devil.
Secondary school has a total of 123 starts, ranks second behind Indiana nationwide.
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During the first few weeks of the season, Edwards emphasized the importance of stopping the run and tackling the defense.
It becomes more of a challenge for the Sun Devils to stop the run when one of the best center-backs in college football, Jermayne Lole, is injured.
« That’s what I’ve always said in professional football. The tackle isn’t very good for the first four weeks due to the way you practice. You don’t have that many players in professional football, « said Edward. « Even in college football, we don’t have enough players to fight live with all the time. »
The rationale behind the decline in live tackling in practice over the years is to protect players from injury.
Southern Utah is looking to recover from a 45:14 loss to the state of San Jose last week.
« They are obviously going to come here with a chip on their shoulders and obviously not reaching their full potential in the first game and now they have to come here and play against us, » said Edwards.
The Sun Devils will be back next week when they face the UNLV at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday.
Prince James Story expects to graduate with a Masters Degree in Sports Journalism in December 2021. Story, who has a degree in communications and African American studies, was a research assistant for the Global Sport Institute. He works in the Phoenix Sports Bureau.
Julian Rosa is expected to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in sports journalism in May 2022. Rosa, who did an internship as a videographer at Sun Devil Athletics, works at the Phoenix Sports Bureau.
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