Arizona State @ Illinois

[gmabel830]

I'm a UA alum living in Phoenix, but thought a big run by ASU this year would be great for the valley and good overall for the UA/ASU rivalry. Disappointed that this will put a huge damper on the hype/excitement for ASU heading into the Pac-12 schedule. Even more disappointed for the terrible showing from my Wildcats the past 2 weeks (I thought a 1-4 start was very realistic, but I was hoping we'd at least be competitive). On a side note -- is Utah the team to beat is our division now? They beat up their rivals BYU in a scary way in Provo last night!!

 

[82CardsGrad]

Uh no, ASU's offense was a mess all night and the offensive playcalling by Mazzone was a joke. ASU lost that game, not the refs.

This.. and penalties... This team is so undisciplined...

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

This.. and penalties... This team is so undisciplined...

I know the boosters are calling for Erickson's head, sounds like this is definitely his last year unless he can somehow run the table.

 

[Lefty]

I know the boosters are calling for Erickson's head, sounds like this is definitely his last year unless he can somehow run the table.

Looks like the UofA and ASU could be looking for head coaches after this season. It will be interesting to see how both AD's approach hiring a new coach.

 

[HooverDam]

I know the boosters are calling for Erickson's head, sounds like this is definitely his last year unless he can somehow run the table.

Thats fine with me. It will be a tough transition b/c Erickson has started early in putting together a quality recruiting class and we'd probably lose a lot of those guys.

On the other hand, if you are going to transition to a new Coach anyhow, maybe now is the time. A ton of Seniors are graduating this year and ASU projects to be mediocre at best next year anyhow.

I love that Erickson raised the level of talent in the program across the board. But his in game Coaching, loyalty to awful assistants, hiring of duds like Noel Mazzone and most of all complete lack of discipline are just infuriating. It may have worked at Miami when you had twice the talent of everyone else, but its just too many penalties here. ASU leads the Nation in penalties since 2007 and honestly it makes it very hard for me to be a fan of the team.

If we're going to be mediocre, I'd rather have fun teams that weren't full of Personal Foul committing idiots like we did in the Koetter days than what's going on now.

Its too bad Dana Holgorson is the HC now at WVU, for a while I had coveted him as the HC for ASU. Not really sure who else is out there right now thats not damaged goods...

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

ASU has historically been an offense-first program so expect them to go in that direction if Erickson is in fact gone. I still think with that schedule that you guys end up 8-4 because you can easily get there without beating anyone good (OSU, Wazzu, UCLA, Colorado, UA, Cal) but the question is whether or not that gets him an extension when next year's team will inevitably be worse with a much tougher schedule.

 

[HooverDam]

I still think with that schedule that you guys end up 8-4 because you can easily get there without beating anyone good (OSU, Wazzu, UCLA, Colorado, UA, Cal)

Thats kinda what worries me, with SC on probation, ASU could win 8 games and win the South and it could still just be a mirage. The team will still be mediocre and not really improving where it needs but people will say "you can't fire a guy who just won 8/9 games and won his Division!"

It will be interesting if ASU, UCLA and UA all go into the offseason looking for new coaches though.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Thats kinda what worries me, with SC on probation, ASU could win 8 games and win the South and it could still just be a mirage. The team will still be mediocre and not really improving where it needs but people will say "you can't fire a guy who just won 8/9 games and won his Division!"

It will be interesting if ASU, UCLA and UA all go into the offseason looking for new coaches though.

UCLA is looking like 100% Neuheisel is toast. It's beginning to lean in that direction for Stoops as well as he stares down perhaps nine or ten straight FBS losses. Erickson is a tough argument. For starters as I said he's likely to end up at 8-4 but barring a win vs Oregon it's somewhat of a mirage. At the same time his contract is up after 2012 and without an extension he will get absolutely murdered on the recruiting trail this spring especially with new head coaches in the conference mix who offer five year security to any player. So ASU is in a tough spot all around. Of course we have only basketball season and the inevitable coaching search to look forward to. Neither is that enviable of a situation in mid-September.

 

[AsUdUdE]

two words... Mark Richt...

Erickson should be gone.. period

 

[HooverDam]

two words... Mark Richt...

You're going to need more than two words to make a sentence. You want ASU to go after Mark Richt? Or look how Mark Richt is on the hot seat, Erickson should be too?

 

[Gaddabout]

I did not want Erickson. He was not my choice. I can't stand to watch this offense. Mazzone wasn't my choice. But I can wait until the end of the season to pass judgment unless the wheels totally fall off before then.

And, oh yeah, Mark Richt?

 

[HooverDam]

I did not want Erickson. He was not my choice. I can't stand to watch this offense. Mazzone wasn't my choice. But I can wait until the end of the season to pass judgment unless the wheels totally fall off before then.

Agreed. I am not saying fire Erickson right now, or that even seriously discussing it at the moment is appropriate. If I was Love or Crow it wouldn't be on the table right now. However as fans its something fun to think about and hope for better future times.

After 2007, I don't think any of us thought that Erickson would lead ASU to their first ever back to back losing seasons since becoming a University or one of the worst 3 year stretches in program history.

Its odd how patient many ASU fans are being with him. If he wasn't a name with 2 rings from Miami he would've been gone already.

 

[82CardsGrad]

ASU routinely fields a team with more than enough talent to win 9-10 games regularly.
This season, they have more talent than Missouri and they all but gave that game away.
They have more talent than Illinois, yet, 12 times Illinois recorded a play for a loss on ASU. 6 sacks. 4 pressures and 8 penalties... 3 trips inside the red zone and only came away once with points.

Erickson has done nothing over and above his recent predecessors. In fact, he's probably been worse given the degree of underperforming that has transpired since he's been here.
The team is grossly undisciplined. It's as if they literally just don't give a crap about details.

Anyway... Erickson and his staff need to go, and it won't matter much if that hapens now or at the end of the season...

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

ASU routinely fields a team with more than enough talent to win 9-10 games regularly.

How do you figure? It's not like ASU routinely brings in top 10 classes or sends big groups of kids to the NFL every year.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

With the new development of the pac 16-18, ASU will be forced to go after a big name coach. Erickson is gone, that's pretty much a guarantee. Despite the controversy, I think ASU will take a very hard look at Jim Tressel. He's a great recruiter, and a lot of high school kids probably like the fact that he stuck up for his players. Plus, the fan base will like the fact that Tressel wins wherever he goes, and typically has high scoring offenses that are much more disciplined than any of Erickson's teams.

 

[Dback Jon]

and a five-game initial ban first season would be no big deal

 

[Gaddabout]

With the new development of the pac 16-18, ASU will be forced to go after a big name coach. Erickson is gone, that's pretty much a guarantee. Despite the controversy, I think ASU will take a very hard look at Jim Tressel. He's a great recruiter, and a lot of high school kids probably like the fact that he stuck up for his players. Plus, the fan base will like the fact that Tressel wins wherever he goes, and typically has high scoring offenses that are much more disciplined than any of Erickson's teams.

My friend has a cousin who's had enough minor legal offenses (illegal gambling, DUIs, etc.) that his probation requirement is he has to alienate himself from his old friends. He's legally required to hang out with a better crowd or face going back to prison (which I find ironic, but that's beside the point). That's ASU in this scenario.

ASU is in no position with the NCAA to be taking on risks like that. No way, no how will Tressell be the coach at ASU in my lifetime.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

With the new development of the pac 16-18, ASU will be forced to go after a big name coach.

That's the thing. By adding the two Oklahoma schools and Texas it's pretty much game on here. Even the weak link of the new four schools Tech has Tommy Tuberville as it's coach and has not had a losing season since 1992. The Arizona schools need to do some soul searching as well as heavy financial lifting or they will both become cannon fodder in this new conference.

 

[Gaddabout]

ASU routinely fields a team with more than enough talent to win 9-10 games regularly.

Wow. I can't agree with this at all, 82. As someone who follows ASU recruiting year-round, I think they usually recruit enough talent to win 6 games and occasionally hit the jackpot with a few extra sleepers to win 9+ games. I think I have the right read, because what I just described is pretty much ASU's history in the Pac-10/12.

What ASU has right now is a good deal more team speed than they've had in the last decade, but there's not a lot of skill there, and there's very little size on the lines. I'd be genuinely suprised if any of the kids on ASU's 2-deep offensive line stick to an NFL roster or even make a practice squad. There's a real mix-match of skills and talent there, and not one of them has +++ skills or athleticism. I suppose Aderrious Simmons could be that guy, but he's so raw it's hard to imagine him putting a senior season together that would be memorable.

I think in February, what ASU brought to the table was an 8- or possibly 9-win team, but that was leaning heavily on the NFL talents of Omar Bolden, Brandon Magee, and TJ Simpson. I thought all three of those guys would play on Sundays. Without them, all of ASU's lesser discussed weaknesses are exposed. You can literally see the recruiting class gaps from the 2008/09 classes showing up.

 

[Gaddabout]

That's the thing. By adding the two Oklahoma schools and Texas it's pretty much game on here. Even the weak link of the new four schools Tech has Tommy Tuberville as it's coach and has not had a losing season since 1992. The Arizona schools need to do some soul searching as well as heavy financial lifting or they will both become cannon fodder in this new conference.

I'm not even sure if Tempe or Tucson would be homefield advantage anymore with those schools in the conference. Longhorns and Sooners travel 10x better than the West Coast schools, and they both have a lot of alums in state. And imagine Texas and Oklahoma setting up permanent shop with USC in our meager recruiting fields. We might never see another blue-chip stay home.

I can imagine all kinds of doomsday scenarios with this realignment, but I can't for the life of me seeing ASU or UA get BCS-like serious about their football programs, in spite of the administrative rhetoric and the zeal of the 10,000 or so alumni/fans at the respective programs who say otherwise.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

I'm not even sure if Tempe or Tucson would be homefield advantage anymore with those schools in the conference. Longhorns and Sooners travel 10x better than the West Coast schools, and they both have a lot of alums in state. And imagine Texas and Oklahoma setting up permanent shop with USC in our meager recruiting fields. We might never see another blue-chip stay home.

I can imagine all kinds of doomsday scenarios with this realignment, but I can't for the life of me seeing ASU or UA get BCS-like serious about their football programs, in spite of the administrative rhetoric and the zeal of the 10,000 or so alumni/fans at the respective programs who say otherwise.

I've been thinking the same thing as well. Texas, USC, and Oklahoma will destroy ASU in their recruiting efforts. ASU just doesn't have the history or die hard fan base to attract big name players. This is why, more than ever, ASU 'needs' a big name coach to at least compete in recruiting.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I'm not even sure if Tempe or Tucson would be homefield advantage anymore with those schools in the conference. Longhorns and Sooners travel 10x better than the West Coast schools, and they both have a lot of alums in state. And imagine Texas and Oklahoma setting up permanent shop with USC in our meager recruiting fields. We might never see another blue-chip stay home.

I can imagine all kinds of doomsday scenarios with this realignment, but I can't for the life of me seeing ASU or UA get BCS-like serious about their football programs, in spite of the administrative rhetoric and the zeal of the 10,000 or so alumni/fans at the respective programs who say otherwise.

Yep, I'm pretty terrified as it is for the future prospects of Arizona Football with this realignment even if we ditch the Mike Stoops Era in December. If we go into the Pac-16 with him you may as well administer the program it's Last Rites. Larry Scott (god bless him) basically took us into a gauntlet that's as rough as the SEC just two years removed from the old Pac-10. I really don't think either in-state program is prepared.

It will be huge for the Arizona Basketball brand though. I'm looking forward to that.

 

[HooverDam]

but there's not a lot of skill there, and there's very little size on the lines. I'd be genuinely suprised if any of the kids on ASU's 2-deep offensive line stick to an NFL roster or even make a practice squad. There's a real mix-match of skills and talent there, and not one of them has +++ skills or athleticism. I suppose Aderrious Simmons could be that guy, but he's so raw it's hard to imagine him putting a senior season together that would be memorable.

All of that is especially depressing considering the amount of D-1 Line talent thats come out of AZ in recent years.

You'd think Erickson would know better than anyone about building a fence around your home turf. He benefited immensely from that at Miami, because his two predecessors had done that and all he had to do was keep the ball rolling. Arizona isn't South Florida, but the homegrown talent is ever increasing and Erickson and Co have done a woefully horrific job of keeping it home.