Herm Edwards’ first season as ASU football’s coach had plenty of twists and turns. Which memories will remain when it’s all said and done?
In a 1-hour football game, emotions never cease to tell the story.
Trailing by 19 points with 13 minutes to go in Saturday’s Territorial Cup, Arizona State was on its last leg. Facing a third-and-7 from rival Arizona’s 14-yard line, quarterbackManny Wilkinstossed a jump ball toward receiverBrandon Aiyukin the endzone. In Aiyuk’s path was Wildcat safetyChristian Young, who shoved him out of bounds to deny a touchdown.
Before returning to the sideline, Young took a moment to trot along the goal line, sporting a smile from ear to ear. And why not? Arizona led big, time was limited and the taste of a bowl appearance was oh-so-close.
While the Wildcats ran in joy, ASU coachHerm Edwardsstood in concentration. He knew there was still a chance. After a 27-yard field goal fromBrandon Ruiz, the Sun Devils trailed by two scores. One more, Edwards thought, and things could get interesting.
Sure enough, a third-and-3 stop on running backJ.J. Taylorgifted ASU another possession. This time, Wilkins played keeper, running in an 11-yard touchdown and connecting a 2-point conversion to Tommy Hudson to cut the deficit to eight.
With the lead sliced, Arizona’s vibe turned bleak. There were no smiles. Muscles grew tight. Now, they were cautious, and the Sun Devils were venturesome.
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From there on, everything was history.Aashari Crosswell‘s interception andTyler Johnson‘s fumble recovery gave ASU two more scores and the lead. Arizona kickerJosh Pollackmissed a 45-yard field goal in the waning seconds, and the Sun Devils escaped with a 41-40 victory, one of the most improbable in this rivalry’s 92-game history.
As Edwards approached to shake UA coachKevin Sumlin‘s hand, the pendulum of joy had swung. Just 13 minutes after Aiyuk’s incompletion, his 64-year-old coach wore the grin of victory while Young and Wildcat teammates sulked in disappointment.
Beyond a second straight Territorial Cup triumph, yesterday’s win validated ASU’s resiliency. Despite the large deficit, the Sun Devils followed the mantra of their season – scrapping and fighting until the clock hit zero.
The result was ASU’s ninth game decided by one score. After yesterday’s contest, the Sun Devils improved their record in such games to 4-5.
What stands out from the count is the same thing for you and me – the five. The number is too large. At the same time, it takes one more win to turn ASU’s season into so much more.
In the same breath, the conclusion of the regular season shined some positivity. First, let’s think about recruiting.
This season, ASU beat USC, UCLA and Arizona. The feat was only accomplished once by previous coachTodd Graham, and the Sun Devils’ lack of success here played a role in Athletic Director Ray Anderson changing the program’s direction.
Recruiting in the California area has been a huge goal for Edwards and linebackers coachAntonio Pierce. Both Crosswell andMerlin Robertsonwere two impact freshmen from the area, and future commitments from Chad Johnson Jr. and Joey Yellen are backing it up.
With these three victories, ASU holds an advantage in advertising their program. In valuing work ethic over experience, recruits might buy in to what Edwards is trying to sell.
Complemented with new talent are the triumphs from the pieces in place. Sophomore running backEno Benjaminbecame the Pac-12’s leading rusher in yesterday’s win, and with 42 more yards, he’ll break the program’s single-season rushing record set byWoody Greenin 1972.
ReceiverN’Keal Harrywill likely become a first-round pick in the forthcoming NFL Draft. Though not Edwards’ recruit, Harry’s behaviors in part will be a reflection of Edwards’ impact. If he finds success, so may others.
Then, there are the stories of the upperclassmen, specifically Wilkins and fellow captainsCohl CabralandDemonte King. A new staff could’ve written off the team’s old leaders, but their trust was earned. By season’s end, those three were leading the pack in executing new philosophies.
So even as five wins slipped, a Pac-12 title hope was lost and a double-digit win drought extended to four seasons, there are many ways to look at Edwards’ first year.
A team picked to finish last in their division finished second. In spite of a new staff, the Sun Devils are back in a bowl game. And with plenty returning pieces, who says there isn’t a chance for future success?
At the same time, it really could’ve been more. Five one-score defeats don’t match the standards of a great team. The Sun Devils would never quit, but the amount of late-game mistakes sure can’t be counted on one hand.
Truth be told – it’ll take time to decipher what this season meant. This is only Edwards’ first year, and the chances of it being recalled as great are the same as it being remembered as a failure.
For the future, it’s only right to remember the positives. We’ll see if what lies ahead possesses the same.
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