ASU football coach Todd Graham isn’t regarding the Sun Devils' spring game as a casual event anymore.
The second-year head coach admitted he’s downplayed the significance of the annual spring game, but this time, he understands it's an essential event for his team and the ASU fan base.
“That’s a big deal,” Graham said. “That’s the game, and we have to really approach it that way.”
The Sun Devils host their inaugural Fan Fest on Saturday at Sun Devil Stadium, combining the team’s annual spring game with an enhanced fan experience.
On the field, Graham said ASU will feature limited matchups between the first-team units. He will make sure the action is even and wants to avoid a high-scoring game.
As for the rest of the event, Graham is looking forward to extending the team’s relationship with the fans, something he has emphasized since becoming ASU’s 23rd head coach. He even hinted during Thursday’s practice he would let the fans call some plays during the spring game.
“I think we do have an exciting brand of football to watch and it’s exciting for fans to participate in. We’re going to try and be interactive with the fans. This is something we really want to do a lot more," he said. "This is their team and this is what activates them is that relationship and being able to reach out to them.”
Like their head coach, many players share the same excitement. Senior safety Alden Darby has his own plans for Fan Fest.
“(We’re looking to) be physical out there. … We want to put on a show for the fans, but at the same time, we want to keep everyone healthy,” Darby said. “We want to show the fans what we’ve been working on all spring. I want to show the fans and, secondly, coach Graham on how much we’ve excelled. I want them to leave their seats. I want them to go home and say, ‘Hey man, this is going to be a good team this year.’”
Some of the seniors are looking sentimentally at the Fan Fest. Redshirt senior defensive tackle Will Sutton knows this is his final spring game and wants to make it special.
“It’s kind of sad,” Sutton said. “I just want to have fun and beat up on the offense a little bit.”
Last winter, there was uncertainty whether Sutton could take part in another spring game. The reigning Pac-12 Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year was contemplating leaving ASU for the NFL Draft after last season but decided to remain on the team for one more year in January.
While players are still rusty during the offseason and aren’t near optimal shape they’ll be playing at in the fall, events like Fan Fest will help the Sun Devils move one step closer to Graham’s vision of being a cohesive community.
“I’m pretty pleased with where we’re at,” Graham said. “We’re closer to building that one identity I’m talking about.”
Fan Fest begins with pre-game fan activities at 9 a.m. The spring game is scheduled for 10 a.m. followed by an autograph session. The scrimmage will be aired on Pac-12 Networks.
Reach the reporter at jnacion@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @Josh_Nacion
