The ASU football team did things a little bit differently when they took the field Wednesday morning.
They were missing something: their pads.
For coach Todd Graham, it was all a part of the plan.
“The last two weeks of the season last year, I did the same thing,” Graham said. “I just want them to be really, really fresh. You can tell they really liked that today.”
The decision to go without pads can sometimes give the impression that a team is going a bit soft, but Graham said he feels he has a good pulse of where his team is and isn’t worried about that.
“I’m hoping they are mature enough to handle that, and I think they were,” Graham said.
The key for redshirt junior quarterback Taylor Kelly and the rest of the team is maintaining focus on the task at hand.
“The guys had a great focus and that’s the main thing,” Kelly said. “Guys prepare themselves and maintain that focus throughout the week and when we travel down there to California, just get after it.”
Kelly said the maturity and focus has been better from last year to this year and that leaders have been stepping up.
“Leadership, that’s the big thing, too,” Kelly said. “We have guys leading each other both offensively and defensively and on special teams. And that’s the big thing is when guys start screwing around our leadership role guys get them in line and make sure their focus is good.”
Kelly should know. He’s been developing as a leader since he took over at quarterback at the beginning of last year.
The experiences he’s had have helped him prepare better for the biggest game of his career.
“You gotta have a great focus in every aspect of practice, in the hotel (and on) game day, obviously. Those experiences are great to have.” Kelly said. “I think I’m better prepared from being in those bigger time games.”
With only a few weeks left in the season, the Sun Devils focus may be their biggest asset.
“It’s up on us,” redshirt senior defensive tackle Will Sutton said. “We have a chance to do something great. We just have to take it upon ourselves. We have to look at each other individually and be like, ‘All right, we’re down to grind it out for however long we have to do this for and win.'”
Reach the reporter at ejsmith7@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @EricSmith_SP
