To honor the greats of ASU’s football history, homecoming week hosted about 60 alumni for the “Legends Luncheon: Celebrating the NFL” on Friday at Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel to an audience of more than 300 people.
ASU has put more than 200 players in the NFL since 1930s including J.D. Hill, Danny White, Mike Fanucci, and Bob Breunig.
In a private media reception before the luncheon, former athletes met each other and posed for photographs.
“This is just so great to see so many great athletes in one stage, guys that have made contributions to Arizona State University,” said Hill, a former wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions.
ASU football coach Todd Graham said these past success stories serve as a great motivation for the Sun Devils.
“Its your program,” Graham said. “You built it, no group can help me more than this group.”
Seeing the faces of the past, of tradition, motivates more than a trophy can, Graham said.
“When you come and talk to them, it’s on your face, the old warriors face,” he said. “It will help us win and you can inspire them.”
The former players were introduced by Sparky and Tim Healey, the director of broadcast operations and also the play-by-play voice of ASU football.
University Senior Vice President Christine Wilkinson and Vice President of University Athletics Steve Patterson welcomed the former NFL athletes and thanked them for their contribution to ASU football.
To conclude the luncheon, a lighthearted panel discussion with five former players took place.
One player from each decade joined: Ron Pritchard (1960s), Breunig (1970s), Luis Zendejas (1980s), Phillippi Sparks (1990s)and Levi Jones (2000s).
Lead by Healey, the players talked about their time in ASU and NFL. For Jones, it was the playing abilities of his teammates that he took away from the team.
“Especially watching some of the guys like Pat Tillman, Jeremy Staat, and J.R. Redmond, they have definitely laid the level in terms of toughness,” Jones said. “It transferred over for me in the NFL.”
Others saw the bonds that extend past only being teammates.
“They say college is where you meet your lifelong friends, and its right,” Prichard said.
