Our most recent installment of the countdown to kickoff series featured Trenton Bourguet, one of several in his family with ties to Arizona State. Today, with just 15 days remaining until the new season kicks off, we look at the patriarch of another Sun Devil family in Dave Graybill.
Just 10 years ago, Sun Devil baseball fans knew the name Dave Graybill because he was their first basemen. What many of them didn't know, however, is that he was the third generation of Graybill to be a Sun Devil.
That Graybill's father also played on the diamond for Arizona State, pitching for the program in the early 80's, but it was the generation before him - the original Dave Graybill - who first chose Arizona State and built a Sun Devil legacy that has spanned generations.
Dave Graybill Senior enrolled at Arizona State in 1953, two years before Dan Devine and Frank Kush would arrive in Tempe as coaches. Just like his son and grandson, Graybill was a baseball star, but that wasn't all. He also came to Arizona State for football and basketball.
To this day, he remains one of seven Sun Devils to be a three-sport lettermen. The most recent one to accomplish such a feat is JD Hill, who also appeared on this series last week.
By the time Graybill became a starting quarterback for the Sun Devils, Devine had arrived as the head coach. At this point in time, teams had yet to fully embrace the forward pass, so Graybill's statistics pale in comparison to today's passers.
For context, though, Graybill surpassed 1,000 passing yards in 1955 and was named First Team All-Border Conference for it. He also completed 60.6% of his passes that year, a program record that stood for 25 years.
It may not have been a passing league back then, but Graybill was the starting quarterback for Devine's first two years at Arizona State, during which time the Sun Devils went 17-3-1, laying the foundation for a dynasty under Kush. Graybill also played on defense on occasion, snaring three interceptions his senior year.
It was a different era for football, which has led to many stars of the time being forgotten today, but Graybill was a key figure in helping to establish the early dominance of Sun Devil football. Not only that, but he laid the roots for a family whose tree is lathered in maroon and gold.