ASU New Coach - Todd Graham from Pitt

[az240zz]

This is about the only thing I will say to defend him: He tried to take a very conservative roster and turn it into a free-wheeling Texas team. They had QB issues. Incidentally, the QB's father is Alabama LB coach Sal Sunseri, and if Pitt is smart, they'll hire him as replacement. Like, right now.

For the rest of it, I have to bite my lip. He's my coach now. This must be how it feels as a father when your daughter decides to marry a used car salesman. All I can do is shut up, smile, and hope I'm wrong. And foot the damn bill.

Waite a minute my daughter-in-law married a used car salesman.

 

[Zobaczcie suki]

Him and RichRod hate each other. But I imagine they play nice for the cameras.

This will really enhance the rivalry. Can you imagine the hype ahead of next year's UofA game?

What is the story on why they hate eachother? Gad? Anyone?

 

[ajcardfan]

I'd rather have Erickson, or even June Fracking Jones, than this crap we're getting shoveled.

 

[az jam]

My concern is that he doesn't have any ethical behavior. He was totally dishonest in his Pittsburgh relationship. I can't believe the incompetence of the interview process by ASU. We all want to give him a chance but based on his behavior he really isn't trustworthy.
Why on earth would they hire him??

 

[az240zz]

What did all of you expect? With The dictator Crowe running things you weren't going to get a top line coach. The dictator doesn't care for athletics, thats why he hired Love.

ASU isn't a top job. Their history shows it and their leader, Dictator Crowe will make sure of it!!!!!

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

This will really enhance the rivalry. Can you imagine the hype ahead of next year's UofA game?

What is the story on why they hate eachother? Gad? Anyone?

Nobody would care about the Ravens against the Steelers if they both sucked. The only thing that will enhance this rivalry and increase the hype is if both teams are good heading into the game. That hasn't happened since the Reagan Administration. And I highly doubt it's gong to be these two that bring both programs up at the same time. It'll likely be one or the other or neither.

Rich Rod demoted/fired Graham in favor of Casteel way back when was the reason I heard.

 

[Gaddabout]

What did all of you expect? With The dictator Crowe running things you weren't going to get a top line coach. The dictator doesn't care for athletics, thats why he hired Love.

ASU isn't a top job. Their history shows it and their leader, Dictator Crowe will make sure of it!!!!!

Of all the things to criticize, this ain't it. Crow is a huge supporter of athletics. That's the problem. He's too involved. I'd much prefer someone who hired an AD they could trust and stay out of it.

 

[Gaddabout]

Rich Rod demoted/fired Graham in favor of Casteel way back when was the reason I heard.

This is true.

 

[Zobaczcie suki]

This is true.

http://tucsoncitizen.com/wildcatrep...reset-rich-rodriguez-todd-graham-go-way-back/

ok, here is the whole story:

 

[ASUCHRIS]

There's one staff hire I think he'll make that would make this mess look a lot better. Waiting word ...

Who? At least give us some hope.

 

[Covert Rain]

Strong words from Suggs.
https://mobile.twitter.com/untouchablejay4/status/147100835279679488

This just is not a former player perception either. We are getting every major news outlet, former players, boosters and former coaches all thinking the same thing.

Isn't this a red flag?

 

[Zobaczcie suki]

Petro on Foxsports radio said this was a great hire.

Funny, Graham pointed out Suggs at the press conference today as an example of ASU's great tradition and how they Graham wanted ASU to play defense.

 

[Lefty]

Another unflattering article. Lisa Love really hit the jackpot on this hire. Still don't understand why not give it to English. At least he has integrity.
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2011...ham-shows-his-true-character-trait-cowardice/

 

[Gaddabout]

OK, Lefty, we get it. Lucky you, you don't have to root for the team he coaches. I'm ready to move on since I actually have something at stake here.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

This just is not a former player perception either. We are getting every major news outlet, former players, boosters and former coaches all thinking the same thing.

Isn't this a red flag?

Suggs rescinded that comment later and responded with:

hey, if ya'll say he's the guy for the job, THEN I'M ALL FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He started taking a lot of heat from ASU fans who were saying he should support the University no matter who the coach is.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

So UofA fans don't think much of the guy ASU hired.

I'm not shocked.

Most non-UofA fans aren't impressed with Rich Rod either.

We'll just have to wait and see how both of these hires pan out, IMHO.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

So UofA fans don't think much of the guy ASU hired.

I'm not shocked.

Most non-UofA fans aren't impressed with Rich Rod either.

We'll just have to wait and see how both of these hires pan out, IMHO.

Most ASU fans don't think much of the guy ASU hired.

But yeah, these things are incredibly tough to predict and you won't know for a few years.

 

[HooverDam]

I really don't understand this insane "We have to support whomever ASU hires" mentality. Its like some kind of bizarre Stockholm Syndrome. It reminds me of the people who no matter how awful a job a President is doing say "well he's the President of my country, I have to support him!"

ASU is never going to be excellent until we demand excellence. If we all fall in line and keep the money flowing in when mediocre hires are made and bring us the expected mediocre results, then we're too stupid to deserve anything better. If 48 Hours ago I would've floated Graham's name everyone would've been apoplectic and/or laughed at me, but now since Lisa Love has hired the guy, we have to try to dilute ourselves into liking him?

Thats not to say I'm going to stop watching ASU, but until this guy proves he's not a total scum bag, my investment in the team is going to be much less than it otherwise would be if they brought in a classy winner (i.e. English). Like most folks, my sporting budget is limited, I'll still go to an ASU game or two per year, but the Diamondbacks (the only team in the Valley that seems to have it together) just got a lot more of my money.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I really don't understand this insane "We have to support whomever ASU hires" mentality. Its like some kind of bizarre Stockholm Syndrome. It reminds me of the people who no matter how awful a job a President is doing say "well he's the President of my country, I have to support him!"

ASU is never going to be excellent until we demand excellence. If we all fall in line and keep the money flowing in when mediocre hires are made and bring us the expected mediocre results, then we're too stupid to deserve anything better. If 48 Hours ago I would've floated Graham's name everyone would've been apoplectic and/or laughed at me, but now since Lisa Love has hired the guy, we have to try to dilute ourselves into liking him?

Thats not to say I'm going to stop watching ASU, but until this guy proves he's not a total scum bag, my investment in the team is going to be much less than


it otherwise would be if they brought in a classy winner (i.e. English). Like
most folks, my sporting budget is limited, I'll still go to an ASU game or two
per year, but the Diamondbacks (the only team in the Valley that seems to
have it together) just got a lot more of my money.

Because it's a done deal. Because even if he fails from day one we're stuck with him for at least a few years. And because he will fail if we don't support him. And if he fails that!s just one more nail in the ASU coffin. At least, that!s the way I see it. Go Devils, in Graham I sort of trust!!!

Steve

 

[Covert Rain]

I really don't understand this insane "We have to support whomever ASU hires" mentality. Its like some kind of bizarre Stockholm Syndrome.

ASU is never going to be excellent until we demand excellence. If we all fall in line and keep the money flowing in when mediocre hires are made and bring us the expected mediocre results, then we're too stupid to deserve anything better. If 48 Hours ago I would've floated Graham's name everyone would've been apoplectic and/or laughed at me, but now since Lisa Love has hired the guy, we have to try to dilute ourselves into liking him?

Great post. I have to agree that until the fans stop accepting mediocrity and start demanding that the school be more committed to making the program better, the fans can't complain about ASU being an average program year in and year out.

If you support mediocrity you will get mediocrity.

 

[HooverDam]

Because it's a done deal. Because even if he fails from day one we're stuck with him for at least a few years. And because he will fail if we don't support him. And if he fails that!s just one more nail in the ASU coffin. At least, that!s the way I see it. Go Devils, in Graham I sort of trust!!!

Steve

I'm not saying you have to cheer against ASU, I won't. I'm also not saying to pull all your money out of ASU stuff, I just am totally bewildered by people who I read about over on places like Devils Digest who have called the Athletic Department to INCREASE their donations. This was Love's back up to the back up plan at the very best, and what has she ever done to gain our trust anyhow?

This is really a worst case scenario hire for ASU. I'm terrified that this guy is going to really mire ASU in a mediocre middle ground. If he goes 8-4 in his first two years here, we can't fire him, but thats also not good enough for Texas, USC, etc to have any interest. I feel like Graham's ceiling is pretty limited and at the very best ASU will be like Purdue in the Tiller era, that was probably great for Purdue but I do have slightly higher aspirations for the Devils.

Though maybe if he goes 8-4 next year and Tommy Tuberville craps the bed at TTU, Graham would be lured to Lubbick. I'm sure its his "dream job" and he probably "has family there" and would love to go home.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I do find it amusing how easy it is to sway the fence-sitting masses with these scripted introductory press conferences that come off more like a politician sucking up for votes than anything informative.

Like Rich Rod's: "Something, something Desert Swarm. Something, something Rose Bowl. Something, something Bear Down." Crowd erupts in cheers and back-slapping about he is one of us! In reality Rich Rod couldn't name more than Tedy Bruschi off those Swarm teams and had never uttered 'Bear Down' until that morning.

Or Todd Graham's: "Something, something Frank Kush. Something, something Pat Tillman. Something, something Rose Bowl." Crowd exclaims how passionate he is for the university and understands the traditions of ASU unlike his predecessors! In reality Todd Graham up until yesterday couldn't even tell you what number Pat wore at ASU and 24 hours prior was lauding the great past of Pitt.

 

[HooverDam]

^Agreed 100%. Its amazing how gullible people are. You know damn well Graham was on Wikipedia on the plane reading about ASU or being told by some advisor "make sure to mention Frank Kush, Pat Tillman, etc".

You can tell he's full of it in the presser when he mentions Kush for the 1st time. He says (paraphrasing) "Im so excited to be coaching a program that was built by the great (pregnant pause) Frank Kush." It didn't really roll off the tongue like all his other BS, seemed like he had to pause and make sure he had the name right. He said all the same stuff about seeing Pitts National Title trophy's, Tony Dorsett memorabilia, etc.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

I do find it amusing how easy it is to sway the fence-sitting masses with these scripted introductory press conferences that come off more like a politician sucking up for votes than anything informative.

Like Rich Rod's: "Something, something Desert Swarm. Something, something Rose Bowl. Something, something Bear Down." Crowd erupts in cheers and back-slapping about he is one of us! In reality Rich Rod couldn't name more than Tedy Bruschi off those Swarm teams and had never uttered 'Bear Down' until that morning.

Or Todd Graham's: "Something, something Frank Kush. Something, something Pat Tillman. Something, something Rose Bowl." Crowd exclaims how passionate he is for the university and understands the traditions of ASU unlike his predecessors! In reality Todd Graham up until yesterday couldn't even tell you what number Pat wore at ASU and 24 hours prior was lauding the great past of Pitt.

Funny thing is, you essentially could copy and paste the exact press conference he gave yesterday, rewind 13 months, replace Tillman and Suggs with Ditka and Dorsett, and it was almost replicated word by word.

 

[az jam]

Funny thing is, you essentially could copy and paste the exact press conference he gave yesterday, rewind 13 months, replace Tillman and Suggs with Ditka and Dorsett, and it was almost replicated word by word.

That is the disturbing thing. Why would our crack coach search team even consider this guy? They they even bother to check him out??? He was not even a full year at Pitt.