And so ASU fans lie broken.

The anticipation and expectations now met by a brick wall, you sense that much is lost. Suddenly the wound caused by UNLV stings a bit more and makes the upcoming road trip look a bit more daunting.

But as the dust settles after a Bulldog’s vacation to Tempe, you must realize where the pieces have truly landed.

Because not all is lost.

“We just [have to] figure, hey, we’re 1-0 in the Pac-10 season,” junior linebacker Mike Nixon said after Saturday’s defeat to No. 3 Georgia.

He’s right, too.

While nothing comes easy, ASU must figure it has a legitimate shot in a Pac-10 Conference that, apparently, is in a down year.

After an awful third week, the conference continued a rather lethargic effort Saturday with only six of the 10 teams playing.

Washington State managed to get its first win of the season against Portland State. Furthermore, this first win came at too high of a cost, as WSU lost two quarterbacks to injury.

Oregon can relate, as it again lost a quarterback (sophomore Jeremiah Masoli) in its defeat against Boise State. This loss marks the exit of the last ranked Pac-10 team – besides USC, of course. With a quarterback-by-committee in session for the Ducks, it’s becoming difficult to see them as a sincere threat.

That’s not to say that conference play will be a cakewalk.

Cal, ASU’s opponent on Oct. 4, poses a very serious threat. The Golden Bears averaged more than 40 points per game and sport sophomore running back Jahvid Best.

UA won’t roll over either. ASU’s final regular season game in Tucson on Dec. 6 is already looking to be a crossroads of sorts for both teams. The Wildcats blew out UCLA in Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday and pose a threat with the passing game.

It’s no longer a secret that ASU could reach the Rose Bowl without winning the conference. At this point, it seems that the Trojans may be unbeatable, (We’ll find out for our own Oct. 11.)

But we should be aware of the situation and accurately aware of the realities. There are a lot of reasons to stay focused on the ASU football team. The Sun Devils may have a lot to figure out, but they also still have a lot to prove.

If you’re thinking about giving up on this team, then go ahead.
At least some of you should realize this: The Sun Devils (1-0 Pac-10) are undefeated.

So, ASU fans, how full is your glass?

Tell Josh what you think at joshua.spivack@asu.edu.