‘Today’s environment is really tough’

Jake Plummer isn’t saying Arizona State should or shouldn’t make a football coaching change after this season.

But the former ASU quarterback, one of the hero’s of the 1996 Pac-10 championship team that fell just short of winning a national title, lends perspective to where the current Sun Devils stand.

“Today’s environment is really tough,” Plummer said after an appearance at the Nissan Heisman House before Saturday’s game against Oregon. “Guys don’t get much of a chance. I probably would have been benched after the USC first half in my senior year in today’s environment. That’s a good question for fans to ponder. What would happen today if we played USC on primetime TV in the sun and I threw three picks in the first half? I’d say fans would be yelling for me to get benched.

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“It puts a lot more pressure on these kids and some people forget they are student-athletes that are balancing life, school and sports. It’s a little heavy when you’ve got people saying things that aren’t very nice, and you’re trying your best. That’s sounds like I’m playing the violin for these guys. They’re growing up fast. You learn quickly who you can count on, and that’s your teammates.”

Plummer and Keith Poole, one of Plummer’s main targets in 1996, are preaching player accountability and cohesion as central to this year’s Sun Devils improving on a 1-2 start (12-16 since 2015) and handling a brutal Pac-12 schedule.

“I haven’t broken down the film and looked at where they may be not completing the block or protecting a gap or even filling a gap on defense,” Plummer said. “There’s so many things that go into successful football. But you can overcome some of those if you’re playing hard, playing as a team and you care about each other.

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“That’s where the players have to shift the focus to. Players have to take it upon themselves, hold each accountable and go out and play ball. That should help execution, that should be help the proficiency and make guys show that they care and play hard.”

As to what he’s looking for from ASU in Saturday’s game and going forward, Plummer had this to say:

“Go out and compete is what I want to see. I want to see all four quarters, hard-nosed, tough football, like they believe they can win. If they don’t, Hey, at least the fans see them trying and that’s where they can keep them somewhat behind them.”

Plummer was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 1996, finishing third in voting behind Florida’s Danny Wuerffel and Iowa State’s Troy Davis. He then played 10 years in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos. From one quarterback to another, Plummer likes what he’s seeing from ASU junior Manny Wilkins.

“I love Manny’s game,” Plummer said. “I think he can make every throw you need from the pocket. He’s got great ability to make guys miss and extend plays. He’s got all the abilities that everyone is raving about from the kid in California, Sam Darnold. Maybe not quite that much of a pocket presence, but he still makes plays. That’s what he’s got to do. Be smart with it, don’t jump, don’t get hurt because you’re pretty key right now to this team.”