Year in Sports: 2011
ASU's much-talked about "It's Time" social media campaign culminated in an April 12 event at the Memorial Union on ASU's Tempe campus, where athletics leaders unveiled a new font and pitchfork design and new uniforms donning an added color: black.
Freshman Dallas Escobedo pitched ASU to a win in the 2011 NCAA National Championships in Oklahoma City at the College Softball World Series.
The Sun Devils celebrate their win. It was the second national title for the softball team in four years.
ASU President Michael Crow congratulates coach Shawn Charles and Anthony Robles (center) and Bubba Jenkins, both NCAA Wrestling National Champions, on their achievements.
Everybody was fired up for the beginning of Sun Devil football and the start of the Pac-12 Conference. The Sun Devils won their first Pac-12 game, 48-4, against the UC Davis Aggies.
The "blackout" football game at Sun Devil Stadium, Sept. 9, against the Tigers of Missouri was in celebration of the all black uniforms that the football team donned on the field for the first time.
Quarterback Brock Osweiler (center), along with teammates and fans, celebrate the ASU win over Missouri at the historic blackout game.
Alexandra Doller (2) watches as her goal attempt in the 86th minute found the back of the net and gave ASU a 1-0 win over Pacific.
Football tailgating reached new heights in 2011 with the launch of the Gameday experience. Here, Kevin Samples (left) of Lakeview, Ore., and his son Collin Samples, a freshman business management major, go through the food line at a tailgate event on the Alumni Lawn.
The Sun Devil Marching Band and ASU Dance Team entertains Sun Devil Club tailgate party attendees.
Bouncing back from a sprained ankle the weekend prior, Cameron Marshall (6) ran for 141 yards and three touchdowns to help Arizona State end an 11-game losing streak to USC with a 43-22 win.
The No. 23 ASU men's cross country team won their second meet of the season, Oct. 8, taking home the team title at the Grand Canyon Invitational in Goodyear, Ariz., while the Sun Devil women took second. Junior Hailey Hanna ran her best race of the season, finishing fourth among point-scoring individuals.
Women's soccer earned its second Pac-12 victory of the year with a 4-0 win over Oregon.
The Arizona State swimming and diving team opened the season with a dominating performance against University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Oct. 22, and won with a combined team score of 313-278. Here, Yutaro Yamashita competes in the 100-yard butterfly.
As part of ASU's 2011 Homecoming, the Sun Devil softball team received their championship rings for winning the 2011 Women's College World series.
Accompanied by his granddaughters, Frank Kush waves to the crowd during a halftime ceremony. Kush coached the Sun Devils from 1958 to 1979 and was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the Homecoming game.
Osahon Irabor (24) tackles Colorado wide receiver Toney Clemons after a catch during the second quarter of the ASU Homecoming game against the Colorado Buffaloes. The Sun Devils beat Colorado 48-14.
Runners leave the starting line for the first ever Pac-12 Cross Country Championships hosted by Arizona State University at the Wigwam Golf Course in Litchfield Park, west of Phoenix.
The Sun Devils celebrate Sierra Cooks first goal as the Arizona State women's soccer team defeated Arizona 2-1, Nov. 4, to claim the women's soccer point in the State Farm Territorial Cup Series.
With the temperature in the 30s and a mixture of rain and snow falling in the Washington State Cougars' home lair of Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash., a few hardy ASU fans showed their Sun Devil pride.
ASU's Kimberly Brandon scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds as the Arizona State women's basketball team opened its season with a 66-46 win over UC Riverside, Nov. 11.
Sophomore guard Keala King scored a career-high 16 points as he shoots over the head of Montana State's Rod Singleton in the season opening game. Arizona State won the game with a final score of 78-72.
It was James Harden Beard Night at ASU, and many in attendance sported some rather suspect tributes to the ASU alum as the Sun Devils hosted the Lobos of New Mexico Nov. 18.
Alex Earl (12) scored 10 points and had four assists, plus three steals which helped the Sun Devils record, now 3-0 for the first time since the 2006-2007 season.
Arizona State redshirt junior Levi Cooper (right) defeated Grand Canyon's Jordan Johnson in the first match of the 2011 NWCA All American Classic Monday night. In the only exhibition match of the night, Cooper used a takedown in the third period to collect a 3-2 decision over Johnson, a transfer from the University of Iowa and two-time place winner at the Asics University National Championships.
Dennis Erickson greets Trent Marsh during the Senior Day introductions when 24 seniors were honored before the start of the game. Erickson will not be returning for a sixth season as head coach of the ASU football team. "As he pursued success at the highest level within the Pac-12 conference, he improved the overall competitive health of the Sun Devils by attracting tremendous players to the university," said Vice President for University Athletics Lisa Love of Erickson upon the announcement of his departure.
The volleyball team closed out the 2011 season with a victory in four sets over their rivals from the University of Arizona on Saturday night, claiming half a point in the State Farm Territorial Cup on Senior Night at Wells Fargo Arena.
Ashley Kastl (15) notched 18 kills and Malia Bachynski added 10 kills in her last appearance in maroon and gold at the Wells Fargo Arena.
ASU President Michael Crow (right) and Vice President of Athletics Lisa Love (left) welcome ASU's new head football coach Todd Graham at a press conference Dec. 14.