The following is an open letter to the fans from former ASU head coach Frank Kush. The Sun Devil legend coached in Tempe from 1958-79.
I am impressed with the quality of play by the Sun Devils thus far this year. When they were down by 22 points to San Diego State, they never quit. This team has proved to me that they are winners, not quitters.
This team is a young, talented team that will get better and continue to win as it matures. The team is full of numerous outstanding players. One player is (junior defensive end) Terrell Suggs. They don't get any better on defense than Terrell. Terrell is as good a player as I have seen over the years. Suggs leads the Pac-10 in sacks with eight and in tackles for losses with 10. The team leads the Pac-10 in overall sacks with 18.
On offense, you have to look at (junior wide receiver) Shaun McDonald. We've had many great receivers at ASU over the years, such as John Jefferson, J.D. Hill, John Mistler and many more. Shaun McDonald will be talked about among that group of great receivers. Shaun had four touchdowns versus San Diego State, he leads the Pac-10 in scoring with 42 points and he tied an ASU record for scoring in a game with four touchdowns, which he also did last year.
The play of our quarterbacks has been efficient. Sun Devil quarterbacks have led the team to 10 touchdown passes with only one interception for the season.
I'm writing to encourage you to come out to the Stanford game on Sept. 28 at 12:37 p.m. and watch these exciting young Sun Devils. Fans are needed at football games, just as an audience is needed at a stage play or musical performance. The fans excite and encourage the players to perform at their best and top level. You, the fan, play a big part in the performance, and we need you. We need you to be vocal when good things happen on offense, defense and special teams. We want the fans to be at the games expressing themselves with exuberance, supporting your favorite team — the Sun Devils.
You come to the game to enjoy yourselves and express yourself, both physically and verbally, and to see a good game and a Sun Devil victory. The players in return give their best to please you, the fan, and to get the win. When the team does something good, the fan's reaction invigorates the players individually and the team as a whole.
A great example of the fans' influence was when the Sun Devils trailed by 22 points to San Diego State. (Sophomore) quarterback Andrew Walter entered the game and immediately threw a touchdown pass. His pass and touchdown excited the fans, which in turn, lifted the team up as the Sun Devils continued to score. The fans helped the players, as they got hyped up, and both enjoyed the success of positive attitudes on and off the field with a win.
At the end of the San Diego State game after a great come-from-behind win, the players went over to the sideline next to the stands where the ASU fans were seated. As the fans continued to cheer on the team in their gold shirts, waving their gold pompoms, the players showed their appreciation to the fans by chanting "Go Devils!" in unison. The fans joined in joyfully, yelling and screaming "Go Devils!" with the team, and they sang the fight song together.
This is what Sun Devil football is all about. Teamwork, players, coaches and you the fan. See you next Saturday as we take on Stanford at Sun Devil Stadium.
-Frank Kush
