Spring — the season when “hope” phrases become eternally trite.
Yes, even in the sports world.
After two straight seasons defined by six-game losing streaks for the ASU football team, happy words in April carry much less meaning than they did when Dennis Erickson first walked onto the practice field in 2007.
For those casually tracking the program, optimism is an allergen, causing even wide-eyed optimists to seek red-eyed relief. Heard this narrative before?
“The defense looks good. They’ll be running a new spread offense. The offensive line will be better and there’s going to be a quarterback battle.”
Know this — something different is going at the Bill Kajikawa practice field this spring. Far be it for me to call out apathetic, err … fickle ASU student fans to see for themselves.
So, if a plea from a back-page college newspaper sports columnist is like a message in a bottle traveling the open sea, know that there are those in the “media” who believe this to be a critical season for Erickson and his (your?) Sun Devils.
If the first week of spring ball is any indication, redemption for one of the poorest two-year periods in ASU history is on its way. I’m not making this up.
First, last season’s 4-8 record is misleading. ASU did not suffer from a deep-seated talent disparity in comparison to other Pac-10 teams.
Quite the contrary.
Every loss outside of road blowouts to Oregon and Stanford were winnable games. Four of ASU’s eight losses were decided by five points or less.
Apologies to Danny Sullivan, a really cool and caring dude, but ASU was highly competitive with an awful opening-day quarterback playing in a system he was pathetically ill-suited for, a backup quarterback with arm problems that almost completely hindered his ability to throw the ball (sort of important) and a true freshman who was mechanically raw and mentally in over his head.
The Sun Devils did it while leading the country in penalty yardage.
They did it with an injury-ravaged offensive line, with a tight end whose leg could barely move and another whose hands couldn’t catch.
They did it with multiple suspensions.
Most importantly, they did it when practices on the offensive side resembled hallways during high-school lunch break — without the hall monitor.
The most difficult part of covering the team last year was trying to discover what the ASU offense did much of practice, when — and I’m not joking — there were times when personnel groups (mostly quarterbacks) would sprawl out and pick grass like an outfield of daydreaming little leaguers waiting for popsicles.
Despite offensive line coach Gregg Smith ever-tending his colorful expletive sound garden, even his beasts of burden eventually became victim to what seemed to be, as the season wore on, exasperation. The offense’s inspirational void was Erickson’s imagination limited by players at the top and an invisible right-hand man — it’s identity that of the “unknown” soldier.
That old regime got a burial, but more importantly, the offense got a drill sergeant — Noel Mazzone.
In perhaps the most critical stage in his tenure, Erickson dropped the dead weight by firing offensive coordinator Rich Olson, despite their long-standing ties, and decided the spread offense paradigm was worth going all-in for.
It’s a culture change. You may even say, if you’re so inclined, life has sprung. There is excitement from the weight room (according to players), to pro day (where 40 current ASU players showed up in support, according to a report). There is music blasting out of loudspeakers during warm-ups — a new tradition.
Practice is a sight to behold. Offensive drills are crisp, quickly paced and led by an energetic coach helping his players grasp new concepts.
What a concept.
The defense, one of the top units in the country by many measures, has elevated itself to a new level.
Come get a first-hand, up-close view for yourself.
There’s lots of hitting and not a lot of standing.
There’s trash talking and, of course, the cussing offensive line coach.
With this group, you might even see a fight or two.
Don’t worry. It’s a good thing.
Reach the Nick at nruland@asu.edu
