All of the seismic hitting drills and endless 100-yard gassers did carry a purpose.
ASU head coach Dirk Koetter wanted to make the 2004 preseason tougher and more strenuous than last year, and he did just that.
"I have a tendency to want to hold back on these guys, but we have not held back this year," Koetter said. "That is the biggest change we made, and I think we'll see a change for the better."
During Camp Tontozona and the few practices that preceded and proceeded, the Sun Devils did more live contact, and more wind sprints than in either of the other three preseason camps since Koetter arrived in Tempe. The coaches decided to make the preseason tougher after a disappointing 5-7 performance last season.
"When we evaluated (after last season) we felt like we weren't tough enough in camp and we didn't condition enough in camp," Koetter said. "We have a set philosophy that we try to follow, but you have to adjust to your team. Last year I was so concerned about injuries."
The players say the extra work has made them better.
"We did a lot of hard work this camp, more so than I've ever done here in five years. That can only pay off," senior quarterback Andrew Walter said. "We're light years ahead of last year, and we all know how last year was."
Covering for corner
Junior Josh Golden and redshirt freshman Chad Green say they are ready to fill the void left by starting cornerback R.J. Oliver -- who was lost for the season after tearing ligaments in his toe last week.
Golden, who started five games in 2002 and four in 2003, felt he was in competition for a starting position anyway.
"Obviously this is not the way I wanted to get a starting position, but [expletive] happens, so I got to step up to the opportunity and try to emulate what R.J. would do out there as best I can."
Green has been limiting himself throughout practices thus far with a bruised shin, but said he feels well now.
"[Oliver's injury] puts me in a situation where I have to step up and become a bigger impact player sooner than me and the coaches may have expected," he said.
Green added that he didn't feel in competition with Golden, but that the coaches would use both of them this season depending on the opponent.
Changing of the guards
The coaching staff has had to shuffle around the starters on the offensive line due to its recent rash of injuries.
Koetter said that junior Grayling Love -- who returned to practice this week after missing all of camp while recovering from shoulder surgery -- would start at right guard if the Sun Devils were to play a game today. Love oversteps sophomores Zach Krula and Stephen Berg, who were in a battle for the starting position. Redshirt freshman Brandon Rodd remains at left guard.
However, both Love and Rodd are backups at right and left tackle respectively.
"This is the modern age," Koetter said. "Guys have got to play guard and tackle. We'll rotate them next week."
Koetter added that with the improvement of redshirt freshman Robert Gustavis, the team has eight offensive linemen healthy.
"All those guys are going to play," Koetter said.
Another nomination
Walter was named as one of 22 candidates for the 2004 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given to the nation's top senior quarterback. The list of nominees will be trimmed to five on Oct. 20, with the winner being announced on Dec. 1.
Oregon State's Derek Anderson is the only other nominee from the Pac-10.
Reach the reporter at Christopher.Drexel@asu.edu.