arthurracoon
The Cardinal Smiles
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/columns/articles/1015p2main1015.html
Big television money, the Bowl Championship Series, polls and computer rankings sometimes make us forget that college football still is played by kids.
And for them.
It's nice to know that Arizona State Athletic Director Gene Smith keeps that perspective. advertisement
We heard recently that Smith met five ASU students near Sun Devil Stadium after ASU beat Oregon State last month.
The four sophomores and a freshman were painted up in maroon and gold.
However, they were evidently in the dumps because they told Smith they really wanted to be at the Southern California game coming up Saturday but couldn't afford the tickets.
"They worked me," Smith admits. "And I eventually broke down. They were crying the blues and I gave in. They hit my soft spot."
They sure did - Smith's wife, Sheila, whom Smith insists gave in before he did.
Sophomore Garrett Rader said Smith finally told him and his friends - Kalen Rickard, Kyle Moon, Drew Jones and Steve Finocchiaro - that he'd buy the tickets for them.
Rader gave Smith his phone number, and two days later he got a call informing him that the tickets were waiting.
"We're leaving (today)," Rader said. "It's going to be an awesome time.
"Gene Smith is obviously one of the nicest people. He helped us out a lot."
You'll know Rader and his buddies if you see them at the Los Angeles Coliseum. They'll be the five kids painted up to spell out A-S-U- #-1.
Big television money, the Bowl Championship Series, polls and computer rankings sometimes make us forget that college football still is played by kids.
And for them.
It's nice to know that Arizona State Athletic Director Gene Smith keeps that perspective. advertisement
We heard recently that Smith met five ASU students near Sun Devil Stadium after ASU beat Oregon State last month.
The four sophomores and a freshman were painted up in maroon and gold.
However, they were evidently in the dumps because they told Smith they really wanted to be at the Southern California game coming up Saturday but couldn't afford the tickets.
"They worked me," Smith admits. "And I eventually broke down. They were crying the blues and I gave in. They hit my soft spot."
They sure did - Smith's wife, Sheila, whom Smith insists gave in before he did.
Sophomore Garrett Rader said Smith finally told him and his friends - Kalen Rickard, Kyle Moon, Drew Jones and Steve Finocchiaro - that he'd buy the tickets for them.
Rader gave Smith his phone number, and two days later he got a call informing him that the tickets were waiting.
"We're leaving (today)," Rader said. "It's going to be an awesome time.
"Gene Smith is obviously one of the nicest people. He helped us out a lot."
You'll know Rader and his buddies if you see them at the Los Angeles Coliseum. They'll be the five kids painted up to spell out A-S-U- #-1.
