The college football season kicks off in 240 some-odd days, but it is never too early to start looking ahead! After a breakout 2019 season, the Ducks are the odds-on favorite to win the conference again in 2020. While there is strong reason to believe they can repeat as conference champions in 2020, nothing is certain. The Ducks should win …
Three Reasons Oregon-ASU Never Became a Rivalry
Amid the chaos following their game, the two coaches ran toward each other for a common ritual of their profession: the post-game handshake. While this interaction is normally brief and emotionally distant, after this particular game one coach, Arizona State’s Todd Graham, chose this moment to voice his contempt for the coach he was facing, Washington State’s Mike Leach. Broadcast …
The Perfect Quarterback for an Impossible Task
Vernon Adams was given an impossible task — be the quarterback who replaces Marcus Mariota. Media and fans tried to temper expectations, but it was clear from early on; no one said they expected Adams to be Mariota, but secretly they were evaluating his performance based on the same standards — winning the first Heisman Trophy in school history can …
How to Slow Down the Surging Sun Devils
The Ducks and Sun Devils are coming off much needed byes. Not necessarily because of injuries, although it is good that Vernon Adams got a week of rest, but because of their need to step back and regroup. With Adams’ return last week, the Ducks offense looked much more explosive and reliable, so hopefully the team realizes this and rallies …
Did the Washington Game Foreshadow Arizona State Outcome?
Even on the weeks the Ducks have a bye, college football Saturdays are great. Midseason may have a large number of teams on their bye week, and many highly-ranked teams delivered blowouts Saturday, but that doesn’t mean Saturday wasn’t filled with plenty of sneaky good games. It started with a pair of quadruple-overtime games in the first two blocks of …
USC and ASU: The Mouths that Roared
Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out By this time next week, half of the teams in the country will no longer be undefeated. As the season progresses and more teams fall, reality will set in for more and more fan bases — and coaches. Positive, confident outlooks are to be expected, but there are good reasons for coaches to know how far to …