[ad_1]
Game preview: Southern Utah vs ASU
ASU football kicks off it’s 2021 season against Southern Utah and azcentral’s Michelle Gardner, Greg Moore and Kent Somers share what they are looking for and offer predictions.
Michelle Gardner, Greg Moore, Kent Somers and Brian Snyder, Arizona Republic
Arizona State senior corner back Chase Lucas admits he used to be one of the first players out of the tunnel when the team rushed past the Pat Tillman statue and onto the Sun Devil Stadium field.
But Lucas concedes that when it comes time to do so at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday night in the Sun Devils season opener against Southern Utah (0-1), that won’t be the case.
“I used to be one the first guys out but I really think I’m going to be one of the last. I just want to be able to take it all in,” said Lucas who has evolved as the team’s vocal and spirited leader.
The Chandler High School graduate is in his sixth year, one of the many Sun Devils taking advantage of the extra season of eligibility the NCAA awarded players in light of the circumstances surrounding the 2020 season.
He knows he only has a handful of games left on that field so he is going to cherish every moment.
More: ASU football unveils new Valley Heat Reverse Retro uniform for game vs. Colorado
“It’s amazing how fast it goes. I told the guys to enjoy it because you only have so many games out there and it’s gone before you know it,” he said.
It’s been 20 or so months since ASU last hosted a football game in front of a crowd. The Sun Devils played only four games in the shortened 2020 campaign and three of those were on the road. UCLA was the lone home opponent and the only spectators in attendance for that one were a limited number of players’ families.
The Sun Devils, 2-2 in the abbreviated 2020 season, will have about two dozen players who will be suiting up in ASU uniforms at Sun Devil Stadium in front of a partisan crowd for the first time. Among those is defensive lineman Travez Moore, a graduate transfer from LSU.
“I can barely sleep. I’ve been up just dreaming about it, tossing and turning. I got my alarm set to wake up at like 5 on Thursday,” he said.
“We’re ready to play. Coach Rod (Robert Rodriguez) is telling us to bring the juice, bring the energy. That’s what we’re going to need on Thursday. The stadium is going to be loud, the fans are going to be there. It’s going to be ramped up so we have to bring the energy.”
ASU has a handful of coaches on staff who have not experienced a true ASU home crowd either. Among those are offensive coordinator Zak Hill and defensive line coach Robert Rodriguez, who joined Herm Edwards staff before the 2020 season.
“The coaches are extremely excited. I think our families are excited just to get back out there and fill the stadium up again and feel that energy of a game day,” Hill said. “Last year was just so different, going out there and playing games in empty stadiums, you just lacked the energy, lacked the vibe, and so as a coach or a player, you crave that and that’s part of what you’re doing it for, is the game day feel, and the energy and all that, so it’ll be really nice getting back into a stadium of fans.”
More: ASU football not holding back in season opener against Southern Utah
ASU has won 21 straight home openers dating back to 1999 (excluding the unusual circumstances of 2020 that didn’t see ASU open at home until December). That streak is the fourth-longest active streak in the nation behind Florida (31), Wisconsin and Oklahoma State (25).
ASU is 78-28-2 all-time in season openers and 60-15-1 when opening games played at home.
The No. 25 Sun Devils are the overwhelming favorite against an opponent that went just 1-5 last season, which in the case of Big Sky Conference teams, was contested in the spring. It has been a quick turnaround for the Thunderbirds, who lost their season opener 45-14 to San Jose State Saturday night.
It will be the first meeting between the schools.
“We can’t take them for granted. We’re just excited to get out there,” said senior offensive lineman Kellen Diesch. “We have been waiting for this.”
According to Mike Meitin, ASU Senior Associate Athletic Director for Ticketing, a crowd of about 45,000 is expected.
The game will be televised by the Pac-12 Network with Yogi Roth and Ted Robinson calling the action.
More: ASU football vs. Southern Utah odds, picks, predictions: Who wins college football game?
Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602 444-4783. Follow her on Twitter @MGardnerSports.
Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
[ad_2]
Source link