After a relatively vandalism-free year, the ASU-UA rivalry is flaring again with one incident already on the UA campus and constant vigilance of the 'A' on 'A' Mountain.
Bioengineering senior and Student Alumni Association vice president for tradition Tyson Padgett said six student groups have already signed up to guard the 'A' during the evening and early-morning hours.
"We just got a phone call from somebody who lives [in Tucson] that there might be two busloads of UA students coming up to paint the 'A,'" he said. "We don't have people up there during the day, but we have two or three people in Old Main who keep an eye on it and call the cops if they see any conspicuous people with red and blue paint."
Padgett said an unofficial ASU group calling itself Sigma Alpha Alpha went to UA last night to "kick up the rivalry for the football game" and "show [UA] that they are the last team in the PAC-10."
He said the group used a non-permanent kind of paint as part of their provocation.
Sunday night, Padgett said, Alumni Association members weathered 30-degree temperatures to keep ASU's pride safe. Padgett added that it was "very easy" for the Association to get a permit to camp on 'A' Mountain.
"The reason we're up there is to keep the 'A' gold, and that's one of [Tempe's] biggest concerns," Padgett said.
If anyone tries to vandalize the 'A' this year, Padgett said ASU students would "obstruct their path and not let 'em up" and then call the police to report the trespassers.
Padgett said Alumni Association guards foiled an attack on the 'A' in 2001, when some UA students threw rocks. Last year, ASU students painted the crossbar of UA's own 'A'. This year, the ASU men's gymnastics team will be among the groups watching the 'A.' Others groups include the Phoenix Union Devils and Young Life.
Reach the reporter at jesse.christopherson@asu.edu.