Football travels to Washington State for final regular season road trip
Following a heartbreaking 29-28 last minute loss at UCLA, Arizona State will look to rebound in Pullman against Washington State on Saturday, November 12. ASU is 6-3, 4-2 in Pac-12 play. The Cougars enter the game 3-6, 1-5 in Pac-12 play. WSU has lost five straight, including a 30-7 loss last weekend to California in San Francisco.
ON THE AIR: The IMG-Sun Devil Sports Network will carry all 12 of ASU’s football games live on their 10-station radio network, including flagship station Sports 620 KTAR AM. Tim Healey (play-by-play) and former Sun Devil quarterback Jeff Van Raaphorst (color analyst) will call the action. The Washington State game will air on 620 AM.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: Arizona State’s game with Washington State will be broadcast by Versus. Ted Robinson, Glenn Parker and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila will call the action.
SUN DEVILS VS. COUGARS: Arizona State leads the all-time series with Washington State 23-12-2, including a 9-7 mark in Pullman. Last season the Sun Devils shut out the Cougars 42-0 in Tempe. ASU has won its last three at Martin Stadium, including a 27-14 win in 2009. The series dates back to 1960, a 24-21 ASU win.
COACH ERICKSON VS. WASHINGTON STATE: Dennis Erickson is 6-2 against his former school, including a 3-2 mark against the Cougars at Martin Stadium. He coached the Cougars in 1987 and 1988, going 12-10-1 and leading WSU to its first bowl win in 57 years. He was 6-4 in home games while at Washington State.
FINDING PAYDIRT: Junior running back Cameron Marshall added another touchdown on the ground against UCLA, giving him 24 in his career. He is one of only 11 Sun Devils all time to score at least 20 touchdowns on the ground. The 24 puts him alone in sixth place all-time in ASU history, one behind Ben Malone (1971-73) for fifth.
LATE START: Saturday’s kick time of 7:30 PM is the latest start time ever for an Arizona State Washington State game at Martin Stadium. No game between the Sun Devils and Cougars in Pullman has ever kicked later than 4 PM.
CAPTAINS: Omar Bolden, Garth Gerhart, Brock Osweiler, Colin Parker and T.J. Simpson have been named the captains of the 2011 Sun Devil football team.
UCLA RECAP: UCLA scored a go-ahead touchdown with :49 seconds left to take a one-point lead, but ASU was able to get into field goal range to attempt a game-winner with :04 seconds on the clock. But Alex Garoutte’s 49-yard attempt was short, giving the Bruins the 29-28 win over Arizona State. Cameron Marshall ran for a career-high 168 yards and Gerell Robinson hauled in a career best 131-yards, but it was not enough to avoid the defeat. Brock Osweiler tossed two touchdowns and ran for another in the loss.
MARSHALL OF THE TOUCHDOWN: Cameron Marshall has set a new career high with his 13 rushing touchdowns this season. The 13 scores ties him with Dave Buchanan (1969) for sixth most rushing touchdowns in a single season by a Sun Devil. The school record for rushing touchdowns in a season is 18, set by Woody Green (1972) and Terry Battle (1996).
MARSHALL, MARSHALL, MARSHALL: Junior running back Cameron Marshall has been putting together a terrific season. Marshall has run for 800 yards so far this year, eclipsing his previous career-high of 787 set in 2010. Against Utah, he passed the 1,500-yard mark for his career and has now scored 24 career touchdowns on the ground. At UCLA, Marshall recorded his second consecutive and fifth career 100-yard rushing game, gaining a career-high 168-yards on 27 carries. It was his third 100-yard game of the season. He has also run for three scores in a game three times in his career, including twice this season. Marshall is also a receiving threat out of the backfield. Against UC Davis he caught four passes for a career-high 86 yards, including a 47-yard reception. On the season he has 18 catches for 161-yards.
100-YARDS ON THE GROUND: Arizona State is 4-1 when Cameron Marshall runs for at least 100-yards. He did it last year against Portland State and UCLA and this season against USC, Colorado and UCLA. ASU is now 255-53-5 all-time when it has a 100-yard rusher.
MR. TOUCHDOWN: Junior wide receiver Jamal Miles has become a touchdown machine in 2011. Miles returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the season opener against UC Davis, threw a TD pass against Missouri and has caught six touchdown passes this year. Against Oregon State, Miles added another notch to his TD belt, returning a punt 78-yards for a score. Miles is the only player in the nation to have scored a touchdown on a reception, kickoff return and punt return as well as throw a TD pass. Miles TD pass was the first of his career on his second career attempt. He also set a new career-high with his nine receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown against USC.
MORE ON MILES: The 78-yard punt return by Jamal Miles was the first punt returned for a touchdown by a Sun Devil since 2005. On November 25, 2005, Terry Richardson returned an Arizona punt 71-yards for the score. It took 68 games before Miles did the same thing against the Beavers.
RUNNING FOR MILES: Jamal Miles returned his second career kickoff for a touchdown against UC Davis, bringing it back 98 yards. It was the second consecutive game in Sun Devil Stadium Miles had returned a kick for a score, as he had a 99-yarder in last season’s home finale against UCLA. Miles joins teammate Omar Bolden, Terry Battle and Whizzer White as the only Sun Devils in school history with two career kickoff return touchdowns. It was the sixth kickoff return for touchdown the Sun Devils have had since Dennis Erickson took over as head coach in 2007, the most under one coach in school history.
BALLHAWKING: After forcing only one turnover in the first two games, the Sun Devil defense has dialed up the takeaways. Over the last seven contests, Arizona State has forced 26 turnovers. ASU has intercepted 13 passes this season after totaling 10 interceptions all of last year. The Sun Devils have forced 27 total turnovers this year after forcing 17 last season. The +14 turnover ratio leads the Pac-12 and is fourth best in the nation.
BIG YEAR FOR G-ROB: Senior wide receiver Gerell Robinson is making his final season in Tempe a memorable one. Last week against UCLA, Robinson hauled in six catches for a career-high 131-yards. It was Robinson’s third 100-yard receiving game of the season and he leads the Sun Devils with his 42 receptions for 743 yards. Both of those numbers are single season career-highs for Robinson, who made his 100th career reception in the game against the Bruins. He has gained 1,417 yards and scored nine touchdowns in his career as a Sun Devil.
PUSH ‘EM BACK: In 2010, the Sun Devil defense routinely made tackles for loss or for no gain. The defense finished 2010 with 143 plays that went for negative or no yards, totaling 307 yards lost for the offense. Against UCLA, the Sun Devil defense totaled 11 plays of negative or no gain for the Bruins for 42 yards lost.
THREE AND OUT: The 2010 ASU defense was one of the top teams in the nation to force opposing offenses into three-and-out possessions. The Sun Devils averaged 4.08 three-and-outs a game, for a total of 49 in their 12 contests. That placed them in the top 20 in the nation. So far in 2011, ASU has forced opponents into 27 three-and-outs.
NOEL HUDDLE OFFENSE: Offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone always says how the Sun Devils can score in a hurry, and they have not let him down this season. Arizona State’s first two touchdown drives against UC Davis both took under 1:10. Last season, ASU had 11 scoring drives that took under 1:10. Against Missouri, ASU had an eight second scoring drive and in the Oregon State game the offense scored on a :44 second drive. At Utah, ASU had a 1:03 scoring drive. Against Colorado, ASU had four touchdown drives that took under two minutes, including a 35 second one and a 32 second one. Against UCLA the Sun Devils had one touchdown drive that took under two minutes. But ASU also showed they could do a long drive if necessary, turning in its two longest scoring drives of the season. The Sun Devils had a 97-yard drive and a 93-yard drive against the Bruins, both of which resulted in touchdowns.
SENIOR CLASS: The 2011 Sun Devils will feature one of the largest senior classes in the nation, as there will be 26 seniors playing in their final season. The senior class includes: Linebacker Oliver Aaron, wide receiver George Bell, offensive lineman Chris DeArmas, safety Eddie Elder, safety Clint Floyd, defensive end Jamaar Jarrett, tight end Trevor Kohl, offensive lineman Nick Emanuele, linebacker Shelly Lyons, linebacker Brandon Magee, wide receiver Angelo Magee, wide receiver Gerell Robinson, offensive lineman Brice Schwab, wide receiver Mike Willie, cornerback Omar Bolden, offensive lineman Garth Gerhart, snapper Cameron Kastl, offensive lineman Dan Knapp, offensive lineman Mike Marcisz, offensive lineman Trent Marsh, defensive lineman Bo Moos, linebacker Colin Parker, wide receiver Aaron Pflugrad, offensive lineman Aderious Simmons, offensive lineman Adam Tello and wide receiver T.J. Simpson.
PAC-12 PREDICTIONS: Arizona State has been picked to finish second in the Pac-12 South in the annual media poll. Oregon has been picked to win the Pac-12 North. The winners of the two divisions will face each other in the first ever Pac-12 Championship Game on December 2.
BROCK’S TALLER THAN YOU: Quarterback Brock Osweiler checks in at six foot eight inches tall, making him the tallest quarterback in the FBS. Osweiler is one of nine QBs 6-6 or taller in the nation.
SELECT COMPANY: Head Coach Dennis Erickson is in select company when it comes to conference Coach of the Year awards. Coach Erickson is one of only two coaches in the nation to have six Coach of the Year trophies to his name. Erickson won Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors in 1988 (Washington State), 2000 (Oregon State) and 2007 (Arizona State) and Big East Coach of the Year honors in 1991, 1992 and 1994 (all with Miami). The only other coach with six Coach of the Year awards is South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier.
TRUE FRESHMEN UNDER ERICKSON: Since Dennis Erickson took over in 2007, 27 true freshmen have played for the Sun Devils. This season, three (Mike Bercovici, Ezekiel Bishop, Rashad Wadood) have played. Last year only three played after eight saw the field in 2009. ASU saw a school record 10 play during the 2008 season. Five schools in the Pac-12 this year have played at least 10 true freshmen, led by Colorado who has used 13.
SCHOLAR BALLERS: 22 Sun Devil football players have been named Scholar Ballers for their work in the classroom: Oliver Aaron, Sil Ajawara, Derrall Anderson, Mike Bercovici, Gannon Conway, Chris Coyle, Evan Finkenberg, Alex Garoutte, Brandon Johnson, Cameron Kastl, Ronald Kennedy, Jr., Kody Koebensky, Shelly Lyons, Brandon Magee, Mike Marcisz, Trent Marsh, Kyle Middlebrooks, Colin Parker, Aaron Pflugrad, Max Smith, Grandville Taylor and Austin Williams.
HALL OF FAME: Pat Tillman entered the College Football Hall of Fame in July, the ninth Sun Devil enshrined. Tillman joins former Sun Devil coaches Dan Devine, Frank Kush and John Cooper and student-athletes defensive back Mike Haynes, wide receiver John Jefferson, offensive lineman Randall McDaniel, linebacker Ron Pritchard and quarterback Danny White as representatives of Arizona State University in the College Football Hall of Fame.
HOME SWEET HOME: With its win over UCLA in the home finale last season, Arizona State won its 250th regular season game at Sun Devil Stadium. Sun Devil Stadium opened in 1958. The Sun Devils also won five Fiesta Bowls at Sun Devil Stadium.
EXPERIENCE: Defensive Coordinator Craig Bray and Offensive Coordinator Noel Mazzone boast a combined 68 years of both college and pro coaching experience, the third most experienced coaching duo in the nation.
SPREADING THE WEALTH: Three Sun Devil quarterbacks have completed 217 passes this season, finding 14 different receivers. Last season, three ASU QBs combined to throw completions to 16 different receivers. Against Colorado, 10 different Sun Devils caught a pass.
LINE EXPERIENCE: Arizona State has six offensive linemen with starting experience, totaling 109 career starts. Center Garth Gerhart leads the way with his 31 career starts, followed by Mike Marcisz (20), Andrew Sampson (18), Evan Finkenberg (16), Dan Knapp (15) and Aderious Simmons (9). Evan Finkenberg returned to the starting line-up against UCLA after missing three games with an injury. Dan Knapp started in his place at left tackle, with Aderious Simmons starting at right tackle.
ASU HALL OF FAME: Against Oregon State, former Sun Devil football greats Adam Archuleta and Marvel Smith entered the Arizona State Athletic Hall of Fame. Archuleta played at ASU from 1996 to 2000 before going on to an eight-year NFL career. Smith donned the Maroon and Gold from 1996 to 1999 before playing 10 seasons in the NFL and winning two Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
UNI-WATCH: Arizona State wore their traditional uniform combo for the season opener against UC Davis (gold helmet, maroon jersey, gold pants). They wore all black against Missouri and all white for the first road game at Illinois. Against USC they wore all maroon and against Oregon State they wore white helmets, maroon jerseys and white pants. At Utah they wore gold helmets, white jerseys and gold pants. Against Oregon the Sun Devils wore maroon helmets, white jerseys and maroon pants. For the Homecoming game against Colorado ASU wore black helmets, black jerseys and gold pants. At UCLA, ASU wore black helmets, white jerseys and black pants.
DEBUT DEVILS: 24 student-athletes have seen their first action at Arizona State this season: Charles Beatty, Steve Gallon, Rashad Wadood, Alex Garoutte, Anthony Jones, Kipeli Koniseti, Carl Bradford, Tyler Sulka, Kevin Ozier, Ezekiel Bishop, Josh Hubner, Jamil Douglas, Jordan McDonald, Davon Coleman, Rashad Ross, Mike Bercovici, Sil Ajawara, Kevin Ayers, Marcus Washington, Taylor Kelly, Angelo Magee, Chike Mbanefo, Joita Te’i and Gannon Conway. Wadood, Bishop and Bercovici are all true freshmen.
GIVING BACK: Several members of the Sun Devil football team spent their bye week giving back to the community. A group of football student-athletes, led by Brock Osweiler, visited Phoenix Children’s Hospital to spend some time with the kids. The players colored, signed autographs and posed for pictures with the children and their families.
THIRD DOWN LOCK DOWN: The Sun Devils lead the Pac-12 in third down defense, holding the opposing offenses to a 29.2% success rate. Opponents are 35-120 on third down against the ASU defense.
DID YOU KNOW: Senior defensive tackle Bo Moos is the son of Washington State Athletic Director Bill Moos. Bill Moos is in his second season at Washington State.
UP NEXT: The Territorial Cup will be up for grabs as Arizona State hosts Arizona in the annual Duel in the Desert.