[ADPinWDC]

Somehow some in the media keep talking about "Oregon's Playoff chances not ruined"... They won't win the North! 
Oregon State (4-1) -- if they develop some passing game -- could unseat the Ducks; Beavs just hosed the Huskies in Corvallis. 
Jonathan Smith takes Coach of the Year easily this season.  Their O-Line is killing people, like us in 2009. 
Beavers can beat the other teams on their schedule... except AZST.  They already thumped Troy in LA. 
 
UCLA (3-2) just lost the tiebreaker to AZST in the South.  U$C is a strange mess, could blow up or get streaky hot.  
UTAH (2-2)?  Brewer left the team, after being benched vs SDST -- a loss in OT. 

AZST (4-1) gets my vote as #1 in Pac-12, and we get 'em in Tempe on FRIDAY night as a 10-point Road Dog.  
Sun Devils do not face the Ducks or Bears during the season.  
https://sportspac12.com/week-six-2021-pa...-rankings/

[ADPinWDC]

Somehow some in the media keep talking about "Oregon's Playoff chances not ruined"... They won't win the North! 
Oregon State (4-1) -- if they develop some passing game -- could unseat the Ducks; Beavs just hosed the Huskies in Corvallis. 
Jonathan Smith takes Coach of the Year easily this season.  Their O-Line is killing people, like us in 2009. 
Beavers can beat the other teams on their schedule... except AZST.  They already thumped Troy in LA. 
 
UCLA (3-2) just lost the tiebreaker to AZST in the South.  U$C is a strange mess, could blow up or get streaky hot.  
UTAH (2-2)?  Brewer left the team, after being benched vs SDST -- a loss in OT. 

AZST (4-1) gets my vote as #1 in Pac-12, and we get 'em in Tempe on FRIDAY night as a 10-point Road Dog.  
Sun Devils do not face the Ducks or Bears during the season.  
https://sportspac12.com/week-six-2021-pa...-rankings/

[CTcard]

Oregon State (4-1) -- if they develop some passing game -- could unseat the Ducks; Beavs just hosed the Huskies in Corvallis. 

Jonathan Smith takes Coach of the Year easily this season.  Their O-Line is killing people, like us in 2009. 

Beavers can beat the other teams on their schedule... except AZST.  They already thumped Troy in LA.

Beavs didn't hose the Huskies. They were down 7 mid fourth quarter and won on a FG as time expired. And were outgained.
That's a Husky team that also lost to Montana, got smoked by Michigan, but did beat something called Arkansas State and 1-4 cal.

The Beaver QB, Chance Nolan, has the best PER in the conference, 12th in the country. 7th in ESPN's QBR.
However, he was quite poor vs UW.
Nolan vs SC: 15-19, 213 yds, 4 TDs, 2 INTs, PER=221.5
Nolan vs UW: 7-15, 48 yds, 0 TDs, 1 INT, PER=60.2

Not quite sure what to make of the Beavs or their QB.
Despite struggling vs UW, I do think their offense is pretty good.

[CTcard]

Oregon State (4-1) -- if they develop some passing game -- could unseat the Ducks; Beavs just hosed the Huskies in Corvallis. 

Jonathan Smith takes Coach of the Year easily this season.  Their O-Line is killing people, like us in 2009. 

Beavers can beat the other teams on their schedule... except AZST.  They already thumped Troy in LA.

Beavs didn't hose the Huskies. They were down 7 mid fourth quarter and won on a FG as time expired. And were outgained.
That's a Husky team that also lost to Montana, got smoked by Michigan, but did beat something called Arkansas State and 1-4 cal.

The Beaver QB, Chance Nolan, has the best PER in the conference, 12th in the country. 7th in ESPN's QBR.
However, he was quite poor vs UW.
Nolan vs SC: 15-19, 213 yds, 4 TDs, 2 INTs, PER=221.5
Nolan vs UW: 7-15, 48 yds, 0 TDs, 1 INT, PER=60.2

Not quite sure what to make of the Beavs or their QB.
Despite struggling vs UW, I do think their offense is pretty good.

[MinnySunDevil]

Somehow some in the media keep talking about "Oregon's Playoff chances not ruined"... They won't win the North! 
Oregon State (4-1) -- if they develop some passing game -- could unseat the Ducks; Beavs just hosed the Huskies in Corvallis. 
Jonathan Smith takes Coach of the Year easily this season.  Their O-Line is killing people, like us in 2009. 
Beavers can beat the other teams on their schedule... except AZST.  They already thumped Troy in LA. 
 
UCLA (3-2) just lost the tiebreaker to AZST in the South.  U$C is a strange mess, could blow up or get streaky hot.  
UTAH (2-2)?  Brewer left the team, after being benched vs SDST -- a loss in OT. 

AZST (4-1) gets my vote as #1 in Pac-12, and we get 'em in Tempe on FRIDAY night as a 10-point Road Dog. 
https://sportspac12.com/week-six-2021-pa...-rankings/

Oregon State was really feisty last year.  They had a losing record, but all of their losses besides the ASU blow out at the end were 1 score games.  It's not surprising they're coming around- Clearly well coached.

ASU is, on paper, probably up there with Oregon in terms of who should be the best team in the conference.  We probably were the best team on the field in all 4 games we played last year and should have gone 4-0, but it's just excuses for a weird 2-2 season.  The team returned largely intact with several draftable players forgoing the draft to win a championship, though the loss of Lole (probably the best player on the team) to injury is enormous. We have a very good roster that is getting better as the passing game improves and gets more comfortable.  Daniels and his receivers haven't really clicked just right yet, but it's trending to upwards.  Lots of athletes, and a defense that's got tons of guys who've been around forever.

I'm still a little confused why we played so poorly at BYU.  Things just weren't working right yet.  Seems like it's trending in the right direction though and this year and last year were supposed to be the years where Tempe really kind of returned to the spotlight after a pretty long absence.  We've got some serious dudes everywhere except WR, and there's still lots of talent there.  It should be the best team ASU's rolled out since the Tillman era.  It just hasn't quite come together yet.  Maybe it won't.

The fact that you guys beat Oregon and smoked USC is pretty worrisome.  Getting USC coaches Tarmac'd is supposed to be our job. We've certainly lost plenty of games to Stanford that I thought we'd win in the past, and the fact that your QB just isn't throwing picks makes me concerned.  Herm likes his games close and grindy, and I worry he won't really use what I suspect is a significant athletic advantage in favor of caution and a slow, dragged out possession game.  I think we have the better team and the better athletes, but Oregon probably thought the same thing and look what happened to them.

[MinnySunDevil]

Somehow some in the media keep talking about "Oregon's Playoff chances not ruined"... They won't win the North! 
Oregon State (4-1) -- if they develop some passing game -- could unseat the Ducks; Beavs just hosed the Huskies in Corvallis. 
Jonathan Smith takes Coach of the Year easily this season.  Their O-Line is killing people, like us in 2009. 
Beavers can beat the other teams on their schedule... except AZST.  They already thumped Troy in LA. 
 
UCLA (3-2) just lost the tiebreaker to AZST in the South.  U$C is a strange mess, could blow up or get streaky hot.  
UTAH (2-2)?  Brewer left the team, after being benched vs SDST -- a loss in OT. 

AZST (4-1) gets my vote as #1 in Pac-12, and we get 'em in Tempe on FRIDAY night as a 10-point Road Dog. 
https://sportspac12.com/week-six-2021-pa...-rankings/

Oregon State was really feisty last year.  They had a losing record, but all of their losses besides the ASU blow out at the end were 1 score games.  It's not surprising they're coming around- Clearly well coached.

ASU is, on paper, probably up there with Oregon in terms of who should be the best team in the conference.  We probably were the best team on the field in all 4 games we played last year and should have gone 4-0, but it's just excuses for a weird 2-2 season.  The team returned largely intact with several draftable players forgoing the draft to win a championship, though the loss of Lole (probably the best player on the team) to injury is enormous. We have a very good roster that is getting better as the passing game improves and gets more comfortable.  Daniels and his receivers haven't really clicked just right yet, but it's trending to upwards.  Lots of athletes, and a defense that's got tons of guys who've been around forever.

I'm still a little confused why we played so poorly at BYU.  Things just weren't working right yet.  Seems like it's trending in the right direction though and this year and last year were supposed to be the years where Tempe really kind of returned to the spotlight after a pretty long absence.  We've got some serious dudes everywhere except WR, and there's still lots of talent there.  It should be the best team ASU's rolled out since the Tillman era.  It just hasn't quite come together yet.  Maybe it won't.

The fact that you guys beat Oregon and smoked USC is pretty worrisome.  Getting USC coaches Tarmac'd is supposed to be our job. We've certainly lost plenty of games to Stanford that I thought we'd win in the past, and the fact that your QB just isn't throwing picks makes me concerned.  Herm likes his games close and grindy, and I worry he won't really use what I suspect is a significant athletic advantage in favor of caution and a slow, dragged out possession game.  I think we have the better team and the better athletes, but Oregon probably thought the same thing and look what happened to them.

[BostonCard]

Thanks for visiting MinnySunDevil, and for your candid assessment; it is much appreciated.

I laughed at "Getting USC coaches Tarmac'd"  I will have to borrow that.  Which coach will get tarmac'd after the season? 

BC

[BostonCard]

Thanks for visiting MinnySunDevil, and for your candid assessment; it is much appreciated.

I laughed at "Getting USC coaches Tarmac'd"  I will have to borrow that.  Which coach will get tarmac'd after the season? 

BC

[CTcard]

I laughed at "Getting USC coaches Tarmac'd"  I will have to borrow that.  Which coach will get tarmac'd after the season? 

If it's after the season, is it really Tarmac'd?

[CTcard]

I laughed at "Getting USC coaches Tarmac'd"  I will have to borrow that.  Which coach will get tarmac'd after the season? 

If it's after the season, is it really Tarmac'd?

[ADPinWDC]

Uh -- Why wasn't UW Coach Jimmy Lake not TARMAC'D coming back from Corvallis?  
After being pantsed by Montana -- in Seattle?!

[ADPinWDC]

Uh -- Why wasn't UW Coach Jimmy Lake not TARMAC'D coming back from Corvallis?  
After being pantsed by Montana -- in Seattle?!

[BostonCard]

I laughed at "Getting USC coaches Tarmac'd"  I will have to borrow that.  Which coach will get tarmac'd after the season? 

If it's after the season, is it really Tarmac'd?

It depends on how specific to your definition of tarmac’d is.  Can non-USC coaches get tarmac’d?  Can it occur if you were beaten as a home team? Do you have to go on to become an assistant to Nick Saban? Does it have to be mid-season?

I’d argue that any coach who is fired after a particularly disastrous game is “tarmac’d”, but bonus points if it was mid-season, on the road or involves USC.

BC

[BostonCard]

I laughed at "Getting USC coaches Tarmac'd"  I will have to borrow that.  Which coach will get tarmac'd after the season? 

If it's after the season, is it really Tarmac'd?

It depends on how specific to your definition of tarmac’d is.  Can non-USC coaches get tarmac’d?  Can it occur if you were beaten as a home team? Do you have to go on to become an assistant to Nick Saban? Does it have to be mid-season?

I’d argue that any coach who is fired after a particularly disastrous game is “tarmac’d”, but bonus points if it was mid-season, on the road or involves USC.

BC

[MinnySunDevil]

I laughed at "Getting USC coaches Tarmac'd"  I will have to borrow that.  Which coach will get tarmac'd after the season? 

If it's after the season, is it really Tarmac'd?

It depends on how specific to your definition of tarmac’d is.  Can non-USC coaches get tarmac’d?  Can it occur if you were beaten as a home team? Do you have to go on to become an assistant to Nick Saban? Does it have to be mid-season?

I’d argue that any coach who is fired after a particularly disastrous game is “tarmac’d”, but bonus points if it was mid-season, on the road or involves USC.

BC

Some coaches get fired.  Only USC or other blue blood programs with disastrous in season losses get Tarmac'd.  It's an especially USC thing, because they always wait until it's become a complete disaster before pulling the trigger.

---

Uh -- Why wasn't UW Coach Jimmy Lake not TARMAC'D coming back from Corvallis?  
After being pantsed by Montana -- in Seattle?!

Like USC, let's hope potentially strong programs keep hiring bad coaches.  ASU has absolutely dominated Washington over the last 2 decades.  11-2, including 3-2 while Peterson was there.  I like my Huskies humble. Good, furry, well-trained puppies who know when to lay down. Cute and harmless.

Edit:  Your messageboard structure threw me for a loop so I originally had responded to the wrong posts.  Cue the "ASU dumb" jokes.

[MinnySunDevil]

I laughed at "Getting USC coaches Tarmac'd"  I will have to borrow that.  Which coach will get tarmac'd after the season? 

If it's after the season, is it really Tarmac'd?

It depends on how specific to your definition of tarmac’d is.  Can non-USC coaches get tarmac’d?  Can it occur if you were beaten as a home team? Do you have to go on to become an assistant to Nick Saban? Does it have to be mid-season?

I’d argue that any coach who is fired after a particularly disastrous game is “tarmac’d”, but bonus points if it was mid-season, on the road or involves USC.

BC

Some coaches get fired.  Only USC or other blue blood programs with disastrous in season losses get Tarmac'd.  It's an especially USC thing, because they always wait until it's become a complete disaster before pulling the trigger.

---

Uh -- Why wasn't UW Coach Jimmy Lake not TARMAC'D coming back from Corvallis?  
After being pantsed by Montana -- in Seattle?!

Like USC, let's hope potentially strong programs keep hiring bad coaches.  ASU has absolutely dominated Washington over the last 2 decades.  11-2, including 3-2 while Peterson was there.  I like my Huskies humble. Good, furry, well-trained puppies who know when to lay down. Cute and harmless.

Edit:  Your messageboard structure threw me for a loop so I originally had responded to the wrong posts.  Cue the "ASU dumb" jokes.

[BostonCard]

Yeah, USC seems particularly adept at keeping the coaching controversy going through the end of a bad year, declaring that the coach has one more year to right the ship, and then either firing him midway through that year, or see him get a reprieve by doing a bit better, at which point everyone is convinced that he has the program headed "in the right direction", before watching it spectacularly crater and firing the coach mid-season.

I think Helton was almost fired in 2018 after USC went 5-7, and then things were looking up after he went 8-4 in 2019 with Slovis as their QB of the future and a new offensive coordinator, and 5-1 last year.  And then the Stanford game.  There were rumors of Kiffin too being fired in 2012 after he went 7-6, but then he got the dreaded vote of confidence before becoming the original Tarmac'd coach.

I'll leave Sarkisian out of this because his departure was due to substance use issues.  I forgot that it later emerged that he coached drunk against you guys.

BC

[BostonCard]

Yeah, USC seems particularly adept at keeping the coaching controversy going through the end of a bad year, declaring that the coach has one more year to right the ship, and then either firing him midway through that year, or see him get a reprieve by doing a bit better, at which point everyone is convinced that he has the program headed "in the right direction", before watching it spectacularly crater and firing the coach mid-season.

I think Helton was almost fired in 2018 after USC went 5-7, and then things were looking up after he went 8-4 in 2019 with Slovis as their QB of the future and a new offensive coordinator, and 5-1 last year.  And then the Stanford game.  There were rumors of Kiffin too being fired in 2012 after he went 7-6, but then he got the dreaded vote of confidence before becoming the original Tarmac'd coach.

I'll leave Sarkisian out of this because his departure was due to substance use issues.  I forgot that it later emerged that he coached drunk against you guys.

BC

[MinnySunDevil]

Yeah, USC seems particularly adept at keeping the coaching controversy going through the end of a bad year, declaring that the coach has one more year to right the ship, and then either firing him midway through that year, or see him get a reprieve by doing a bit better, at which point everyone is convinced that he has the program headed "in the right direction", before watching it spectacularly crater and firing the coach mid-season.

I think Helton was almost fired in 2018 after USC went 5-7, and then things were looking up after he went 8-4 in 2019 with Slovis as their QB of the future and a new offensive coordinator, and 5-1 last year.  And then the Stanford game.  There were rumors of Kiffin too being fired in 2012 after he went 7-6, but then he got the dreaded vote of confidence before becoming the original Tarmac'd coach.

I'll leave Sarkisian out of this because his departure was due to substance use issues.  I forgot that it later emerged that he coached drunk against you guys.

BC

I'd note that Sark's substance abuse issues came to light after he was shit-faced drunk at ASU.  As such, even though ASU lost, I'm still claiming at least a portion of credit for getting him fired.  Had he not had so much fun in Tempe that he was drunk during the game, perhaps he'd still be there and never have gone to the Isle of Misfit Coaches that Saban collects every year.

We take a very perverse and enjoyable claim on whatever USC destruction we can, even when it comes at our own expense. Outside of the trailer trash in Tucson, there isn't any body of people we hate more.

As an aside, NEVER get in between ASU and U of A fans. There is a hatred there that is very difficult to explain from the outside looking in. It goes to the political. Arizona tried to stop ASU from being a full fledged university multiple times. Even more recently, they blocked an ASU attempt at starting its own medical school. Then, using the battery that was a U of A loaded board of regents (which governs ASU, Arizona and NAU together), they started a medical school in the same Phoenix area ASU wanted as a conglomerate- Only to run off ASU and NAU before it was even certified. Despite the fact that Arizona's Tucson medical school is becoming a running joke. My sister and her husband took offers there from Johns Hopkins, and ran for the hills within a year. Absolute disaster in multiple fields. But it's more important nobody else plays ball on their turf, at least until Mayo showed up. It can get really, really ugly in AZ.

I understand this is a completely unprompted response. I just think it's very important for other Pac 12 fans to understand that Tucson is full of inveterate trash that should be ground to an absolute pulp.

[MinnySunDevil]

Yeah, USC seems particularly adept at keeping the coaching controversy going through the end of a bad year, declaring that the coach has one more year to right the ship, and then either firing him midway through that year, or see him get a reprieve by doing a bit better, at which point everyone is convinced that he has the program headed "in the right direction", before watching it spectacularly crater and firing the coach mid-season.

I think Helton was almost fired in 2018 after USC went 5-7, and then things were looking up after he went 8-4 in 2019 with Slovis as their QB of the future and a new offensive coordinator, and 5-1 last year.  And then the Stanford game.  There were rumors of Kiffin too being fired in 2012 after he went 7-6, but then he got the dreaded vote of confidence before becoming the original Tarmac'd coach.

I'll leave Sarkisian out of this because his departure was due to substance use issues.  I forgot that it later emerged that he coached drunk against you guys.

BC

I'd note that Sark's substance abuse issues came to light after he was shit-faced drunk at ASU.  As such, even though ASU lost, I'm still claiming at least a portion of credit for getting him fired.  Had he not had so much fun in Tempe that he was drunk during the game, perhaps he'd still be there and never have gone to the Isle of Misfit Coaches that Saban collects every year.

We take a very perverse and enjoyable claim on whatever USC destruction we can, even when it comes at our own expense. Outside of the trailer trash in Tucson, there isn't any body of people we hate more.

As an aside, NEVER get in between ASU and U of A fans. There is a hatred there that is very difficult to explain from the outside looking in. It goes to the political. Arizona tried to stop ASU from being a full fledged university multiple times. Even more recently, they blocked an ASU attempt at starting its own medical school. Then, using the battery that was a U of A loaded board of regents (which governs ASU, Arizona and NAU together), they started a medical school in the same Phoenix area ASU wanted as a conglomerate- Only to run off ASU and NAU before it was even certified. Despite the fact that Arizona's Tucson medical school is becoming a running joke. My sister and her husband took offers there from Johns Hopkins, and ran for the hills within a year. Absolute disaster in multiple fields. But it's more important nobody else plays ball on their turf, at least until Mayo showed up. It can get really, really ugly in AZ.

I understand this is a completely unprompted response. I just think it's very important for other Pac 12 fans to understand that Tucson is full of inveterate trash that should be ground to an absolute pulp.

[Phogge]

Perhaps but given the choice of Phoenix or Tucson I’d live in Tucson.

[Phogge]

Perhaps but given the choice of Phoenix or Tucson I’d live in Tucson.

[Austroturf]

Somehow some in the media keep talking about "Oregon's Playoff chances not ruined"... They won't win the North! 
Oregon State (4-1) -- if they develop some passing game -- could unseat the Ducks; Beavs just hosed the Huskies in Corvallis. 
Jonathan Smith takes Coach of the Year easily this season.  Their O-Line is killing people, like us in 2009. 
Beavers can beat the other teams on their schedule... except AZST.  They already thumped Troy in LA. 
 
UCLA (3-2) just lost the tiebreaker to AZST in the South.  U$C is a strange mess, could blow up or get streaky hot.  
UTAH (2-2)?  Brewer left the team, after being benched vs SDST -- a loss in OT. 

AZST (4-1) gets my vote as #1 in Pac-12, and we get 'em in Tempe on FRIDAY night as a 10-point Road Dog. 
https://sportspac12.com/week-six-2021-pa...-rankings/

Oregon State was really feisty last year.  They had a losing record, but all of their losses besides the ASU blow out at the end were 1 score games.  It's not surprising they're coming around- Clearly well coached.

ASU is, on paper, probably up there with Oregon in terms of who should be the best team in the conference.  We probably were the best team on the field in all 4 games we played last year and should have gone 4-0, but it's just excuses for a weird 2-2 season.  The team returned largely intact with several draftable players forgoing the draft to win a championship, though the loss of Lole (probably the best player on the team) to injury is enormous. We have a very good roster that is getting better as the passing game improves and gets more comfortable.  Daniels and his receivers haven't really clicked just right yet, but it's trending to upwards.  Lots of athletes, and a defense that's got tons of guys who've been around forever.

I'm still a little confused why we played so poorly at BYU.  Things just weren't working right yet.  Seems like it's trending in the right direction though and this year and last year were supposed to be the years where Tempe really kind of returned to the spotlight after a pretty long absence.  We've got some serious dudes everywhere except WR, and there's still lots of talent there.  It should be the best team ASU's rolled out since the Tillman era.  It just hasn't quite come together yet.  Maybe it won't.

The fact that you guys beat Oregon and smoked USC is pretty worrisome.  Getting USC coaches Tarmac'd is supposed to be our job. We've certainly lost plenty of games to Stanford that I thought we'd win in the past, and the fact that your QB just isn't throwing picks makes me concerned.  Herm likes his games close and grindy, and I worry he won't really use what I suspect is a significant athletic advantage in favor of caution and a slow, dragged out possession game.  I think we have the better team and the better athletes, but Oregon probably thought the same thing and look what happened to them.

The big difference between our upcoming game in Tempe and the Oregon game last Saturday is that the Sun Devils have home field advantage. Yes, even though Stanford has recently had a lot of success on the road, being on our home field made the upset against the Ducks more likely.  That advantage is gone this Friday evening.  As has been noted elsewhere on this blog, Stanford currently has the chops to hang with just about any team in the conference (Oregon, USC) and the ability to look hopeless, as well (UCLA).    

I also noticed that our former offensive lineman, Henry Hattis, is still on the roster at ASU.  It would be nice to have him back.  I read an article stating that Hattis chose Stanford over ASU when he graduated from high-school, then decided to give ASU a try after graduating from Stanford.  The Covid-shortened season of 2020 gave him a chance to come back for a second "graduate transfer" year.  Anyway, it would be valuable to have him in Stanford's current O-line rotation.

As for the enmity between ASU and U of A, I am unfamiliar with the sordid history.  That said, I have had positive experiences in both Tucson and Tempe: my parents retired to Tucson and lived there for 14 years.  We went to a number of Wildcat football games during this period and got to know the 'Zona zoo.  More recently, I was working with ASU's NASA group on a project related to the new Masctcam-Z camera on the 2020 Mars Perseverance Rover.  Great people!

[Austroturf]

Somehow some in the media keep talking about "Oregon's Playoff chances not ruined"... They won't win the North! 
Oregon State (4-1) -- if they develop some passing game -- could unseat the Ducks; Beavs just hosed the Huskies in Corvallis. 
Jonathan Smith takes Coach of the Year easily this season.  Their O-Line is killing people, like us in 2009. 
Beavers can beat the other teams on their schedule... except AZST.  They already thumped Troy in LA. 
 
UCLA (3-2) just lost the tiebreaker to AZST in the South.  U$C is a strange mess, could blow up or get streaky hot.  
UTAH (2-2)?  Brewer left the team, after being benched vs SDST -- a loss in OT. 

AZST (4-1) gets my vote as #1 in Pac-12, and we get 'em in Tempe on FRIDAY night as a 10-point Road Dog. 
https://sportspac12.com/week-six-2021-pa...-rankings/

Oregon State was really feisty last year.  They had a losing record, but all of their losses besides the ASU blow out at the end were 1 score games.  It's not surprising they're coming around- Clearly well coached.

ASU is, on paper, probably up there with Oregon in terms of who should be the best team in the conference.  We probably were the best team on the field in all 4 games we played last year and should have gone 4-0, but it's just excuses for a weird 2-2 season.  The team returned largely intact with several draftable players forgoing the draft to win a championship, though the loss of Lole (probably the best player on the team) to injury is enormous. We have a very good roster that is getting better as the passing game improves and gets more comfortable.  Daniels and his receivers haven't really clicked just right yet, but it's trending to upwards.  Lots of athletes, and a defense that's got tons of guys who've been around forever.

I'm still a little confused why we played so poorly at BYU.  Things just weren't working right yet.  Seems like it's trending in the right direction though and this year and last year were supposed to be the years where Tempe really kind of returned to the spotlight after a pretty long absence.  We've got some serious dudes everywhere except WR, and there's still lots of talent there.  It should be the best team ASU's rolled out since the Tillman era.  It just hasn't quite come together yet.  Maybe it won't.

The fact that you guys beat Oregon and smoked USC is pretty worrisome.  Getting USC coaches Tarmac'd is supposed to be our job. We've certainly lost plenty of games to Stanford that I thought we'd win in the past, and the fact that your QB just isn't throwing picks makes me concerned.  Herm likes his games close and grindy, and I worry he won't really use what I suspect is a significant athletic advantage in favor of caution and a slow, dragged out possession game.  I think we have the better team and the better athletes, but Oregon probably thought the same thing and look what happened to them.

The big difference between our upcoming game in Tempe and the Oregon game last Saturday is that the Sun Devils have home field advantage. Yes, even though Stanford has recently had a lot of success on the road, being on our home field made the upset against the Ducks more likely.  That advantage is gone this Friday evening.  As has been noted elsewhere on this blog, Stanford currently has the chops to hang with just about any team in the conference (Oregon, USC) and the ability to look hopeless, as well (UCLA).    

I also noticed that our former offensive lineman, Henry Hattis, is still on the roster at ASU.  It would be nice to have him back.  I read an article stating that Hattis chose Stanford over ASU when he graduated from high-school, then decided to give ASU a try after graduating from Stanford.  The Covid-shortened season of 2020 gave him a chance to come back for a second "graduate transfer" year.  Anyway, it would be valuable to have him in Stanford's current O-line rotation.

As for the enmity between ASU and U of A, I am unfamiliar with the sordid history.  That said, I have had positive experiences in both Tucson and Tempe: my parents retired to Tucson and lived there for 14 years.  We went to a number of Wildcat football games during this period and got to know the 'Zona zoo.  More recently, I was working with ASU's NASA group on a project related to the new Masctcam-Z camera on the 2020 Mars Perseverance Rover.  Great people!

[Embo]

I'd note that Sark's substance abuse issues came to light after he was shit-faced drunk at ASU.  As such, even though ASU lost, I'm still claiming at least a portion of credit for getting him fired.  Had he not had so much fun in Tempe that he was drunk during the game, perhaps he'd still be there and never have gone to the Isle of Misfit Coaches that Saban collects every year.

We take a very perverse and enjoyable claim on whatever USC destruction we can, even when it comes at our own expense.  Outside of the trailer trash in Tucson, there isn't any body of people we hate more.

As an aside, NEVER get in between ASU and U of A fans.  There is a hatred there that is very difficult to explain from the outside looking in.  It goes to the political.  Arizona tried to stop ASU from being a full fledged university multiple times.  Even more recently, they blocked an ASU attempt at starting its own medical school.  Then, using the battery that was a U of A loaded board of regents (which governs ASU, Arizona and NAU together), they started a medical school in the same Phoenix area ASU wanted as a conglomerate- Only to run off ASU and NAU before it was even certified.  Despite the fact that Arizona's Tucson medical school is becoming a running joke.  My sister and her husband took offers there from Johns Hopkins, and ran for the hills within a year.  Absolute disaster in multiple fields.  But it's more important nobody else plays ball on their turf, at least until Mayo showed up.  It can get really, really ugly in AZ.

I understand this is a completely unprompted response.  I just think it's very important for other Pac 12 fans to understand that Tucson is full of inveterate trash that should be ground to an absolute pulp.

Hi, Minny.  This is indeed an awesome, educational post.  We're not privy to the goings on in AZ.  I know politics in this state can be crazy (I can still remember Governor Ev Mecham becoming a national joke in the 80's) but this medical school feud goes beyond the pale.  Thanks!  Post any time.

[Embo]

I'd note that Sark's substance abuse issues came to light after he was shit-faced drunk at ASU.  As such, even though ASU lost, I'm still claiming at least a portion of credit for getting him fired.  Had he not had so much fun in Tempe that he was drunk during the game, perhaps he'd still be there and never have gone to the Isle of Misfit Coaches that Saban collects every year.

We take a very perverse and enjoyable claim on whatever USC destruction we can, even when it comes at our own expense.  Outside of the trailer trash in Tucson, there isn't any body of people we hate more.

As an aside, NEVER get in between ASU and U of A fans.  There is a hatred there that is very difficult to explain from the outside looking in.  It goes to the political.  Arizona tried to stop ASU from being a full fledged university multiple times.  Even more recently, they blocked an ASU attempt at starting its own medical school.  Then, using the battery that was a U of A loaded board of regents (which governs ASU, Arizona and NAU together), they started a medical school in the same Phoenix area ASU wanted as a conglomerate- Only to run off ASU and NAU before it was even certified.  Despite the fact that Arizona's Tucson medical school is becoming a running joke.  My sister and her husband took offers there from Johns Hopkins, and ran for the hills within a year.  Absolute disaster in multiple fields.  But it's more important nobody else plays ball on their turf, at least until Mayo showed up.  It can get really, really ugly in AZ.

I understand this is a completely unprompted response.  I just think it's very important for other Pac 12 fans to understand that Tucson is full of inveterate trash that should be ground to an absolute pulp.

Hi, Minny.  This is indeed an awesome, educational post.  We're not privy to the goings on in AZ.  I know politics in this state can be crazy (I can still remember Governor Ev Mecham becoming a national joke in the 80's) but this medical school feud goes beyond the pale.  Thanks!  Post any time.

[Mick]

As an aside, NEVER get in between ASU and U of A fans.  There is a hatred there that is very difficult to explain from the outside looking in.  It goes to the political.  Arizona tried to stop ASU from being a full fledged university multiple times.  Even more recently, they blocked an ASU attempt at starting its own medical school.  Then, using the battery that was a U of A loaded board of regents (which governs ASU, Arizona and NAU together), they started a medical school in the same Phoenix area ASU wanted as a conglomerate- Only to run off ASU and NAU before it was even certified.  Despite the fact that Arizona's Tucson medical school is becoming a running joke.  My sister and her husband took offers there from Johns Hopkins, and ran for the hills within a year.  Absolute disaster in multiple fields.  But it's more important nobody else plays ball on their turf, at least until Mayo showed up.  It can get really, really ugly in AZ.

I understand this is a completely unprompted response.  I just think it's very important for other Pac 12 fans to understand that Tucson is full of inveterate trash that should be ground to an absolute pulp.

I figured there was quite a rivalry there.  I worked for a law firm based in Detroit but with a very significant Phoenix office.  The ASU law school is very strong, we had a lot of ASU grads, and the founding partner of the Phoenix office was very tied in with the ASU law school.

[Mick]

As an aside, NEVER get in between ASU and U of A fans.  There is a hatred there that is very difficult to explain from the outside looking in.  It goes to the political.  Arizona tried to stop ASU from being a full fledged university multiple times.  Even more recently, they blocked an ASU attempt at starting its own medical school.  Then, using the battery that was a U of A loaded board of regents (which governs ASU, Arizona and NAU together), they started a medical school in the same Phoenix area ASU wanted as a conglomerate- Only to run off ASU and NAU before it was even certified.  Despite the fact that Arizona's Tucson medical school is becoming a running joke.  My sister and her husband took offers there from Johns Hopkins, and ran for the hills within a year.  Absolute disaster in multiple fields.  But it's more important nobody else plays ball on their turf, at least until Mayo showed up.  It can get really, really ugly in AZ.

I understand this is a completely unprompted response.  I just think it's very important for other Pac 12 fans to understand that Tucson is full of inveterate trash that should be ground to an absolute pulp.

I figured there was quite a rivalry there.  I worked for a law firm based in Detroit but with a very significant Phoenix office.  The ASU law school is very strong, we had a lot of ASU grads, and the founding partner of the Phoenix office was very tied in with the ASU law school.

[Maple Leaf]

As an aside, NEVER get in between ASU and U of A fans.  There is a hatred there that is very difficult to explain from the outside looking in.  It goes to the political.  Arizona tried to stop ASU from being a full fledged university multiple times.  Even more recently, they blocked an ASU attempt at starting its own medical school.  Then, using the battery that was a U of A loaded board of regents (which governs ASU, Arizona and NAU together), they started a medical school in the same Phoenix area ASU wanted as a conglomerate- Only to run off ASU and NAU before it was even certified.  Despite the fact that Arizona's Tucson medical school is becoming a running joke.  My sister and her husband took offers there from Johns Hopkins, and ran for the hills within a year.  Absolute disaster in multiple fields.  But it's more important nobody else plays ball on their turf, at least until Mayo showed up.  It can get really, really ugly in AZ.

I understand this is a completely unprompted response.  I just think it's very important for other Pac 12 fans to understand that Tucson is full of inveterate trash that should be ground to an absolute pulp.

I figured there was quite a rivalry there.  I worked for a law firm based in Detroit but with a very significant Phoenix office.  The ASU law school is very strong, we had a lot of ASU grads, and the founding partner of the Phoenix office was very tied in with the ASU law school.

I have a relative who has their master's from the UA and their PhD from ASU.   After their experience with the politics at UA they did not even bother to give their program a sniff but opted for ASU even though their program was just starting.  As it turned out ASU was heading in the right direction as far as private industry was concerned and UA was not.

I have worked with a number of UA grads in architecture/engineering profession(s) one of whom is excellent but the others not so much, ASU's programs though a bit younger in years, seemed to produce better grads both in terms of current knowledge and team building skills.

Does anyone know what the "N" in Nebraska stands for?

[Maple Leaf]

As an aside, NEVER get in between ASU and U of A fans.  There is a hatred there that is very difficult to explain from the outside looking in.  It goes to the political.  Arizona tried to stop ASU from being a full fledged university multiple times.  Even more recently, they blocked an ASU attempt at starting its own medical school.  Then, using the battery that was a U of A loaded board of regents (which governs ASU, Arizona and NAU together), they started a medical school in the same Phoenix area ASU wanted as a conglomerate- Only to run off ASU and NAU before it was even certified.  Despite the fact that Arizona's Tucson medical school is becoming a running joke.  My sister and her husband took offers there from Johns Hopkins, and ran for the hills within a year.  Absolute disaster in multiple fields.  But it's more important nobody else plays ball on their turf, at least until Mayo showed up.  It can get really, really ugly in AZ.

I understand this is a completely unprompted response.  I just think it's very important for other Pac 12 fans to understand that Tucson is full of inveterate trash that should be ground to an absolute pulp.

I figured there was quite a rivalry there.  I worked for a law firm based in Detroit but with a very significant Phoenix office.  The ASU law school is very strong, we had a lot of ASU grads, and the founding partner of the Phoenix office was very tied in with the ASU law school.

I have a relative who has their master's from the UA and their PhD from ASU.   After their experience with the politics at UA they did not even bother to give their program a sniff but opted for ASU even though their program was just starting.  As it turned out ASU was heading in the right direction as far as private industry was concerned and UA was not.

I have worked with a number of UA grads in architecture/engineering profession(s) one of whom is excellent but the others not so much, ASU's programs though a bit younger in years, seemed to produce better grads both in terms of current knowledge and team building skills.

Does anyone know what the "N" in Nebraska stands for?

[CTcard]

As an aside, NEVER get in between ASU and U of A fans.  There is a hatred there that is very difficult to explain from the outside looking in.  It goes to the political.  Arizona tried to stop ASU from being a full fledged university multiple times.  Even more recently, they blocked an ASU attempt at starting its own medical school.  Then, using the battery that was a U of A loaded board of regents (which governs ASU, Arizona and NAU together), they started a medical school in the same Phoenix area ASU wanted as a conglomerate- Only to run off ASU and NAU before it was even certified.  Despite the fact that Arizona's Tucson medical school is becoming a running joke.  My sister and her husband took offers there from Johns Hopkins, and ran for the hills within a year.  Absolute disaster in multiple fields.  But it's more important nobody else plays ball on their turf, at least until Mayo showed up.  It can get really, really ugly in AZ.



I understand this is a completely unprompted response.  I just think it's very important for other Pac 12 fans to understand that Tucson is full of inveterate trash that should be ground to an absolute pulp.

Hi, Minny.  This is indeed an awesome, educational post.  We're not privy to the goings on in AZ.  I know politics in this state can be crazy (I can still remember Governor Ev Mecham becoming a national joke in the 80's) but this medical school feud goes beyond the pale.  Thanks!  Post any time.

Yes, I am quite shocked to see the partisans of one school state something negative about their rival.
Just as I would never expect to see an unkind word on this board about cal, $c, and the university of south bend.

[CTcard]

As an aside, NEVER get in between ASU and U of A fans.  There is a hatred there that is very difficult to explain from the outside looking in.  It goes to the political.  Arizona tried to stop ASU from being a full fledged university multiple times.  Even more recently, they blocked an ASU attempt at starting its own medical school.  Then, using the battery that was a U of A loaded board of regents (which governs ASU, Arizona and NAU together), they started a medical school in the same Phoenix area ASU wanted as a conglomerate- Only to run off ASU and NAU before it was even certified.  Despite the fact that Arizona's Tucson medical school is becoming a running joke.  My sister and her husband took offers there from Johns Hopkins, and ran for the hills within a year.  Absolute disaster in multiple fields.  But it's more important nobody else plays ball on their turf, at least until Mayo showed up.  It can get really, really ugly in AZ.



I understand this is a completely unprompted response.  I just think it's very important for other Pac 12 fans to understand that Tucson is full of inveterate trash that should be ground to an absolute pulp.

Hi, Minny.  This is indeed an awesome, educational post.  We're not privy to the goings on in AZ.  I know politics in this state can be crazy (I can still remember Governor Ev Mecham becoming a national joke in the 80's) but this medical school feud goes beyond the pale.  Thanks!  Post any time.

Yes, I am quite shocked to see the partisans of one school state something negative about their rival.
Just as I would never expect to see an unkind word on this board about cal, $c, and the university of south bend.

[Goose]

Yes, I am quite shocked to see the partisans of one school state something negative about their rival.
Just as I would never expect to see an unkind word on this board about cal, $c, and the university of south bend.

Trust me, the ASU UofA situation isn't at all similar to anything Stanford fans have experienced or can even imagine. Unlike our athletic rivals, the "rivalry" between ASU and UofA has roots in real political, social,  and economic issues that affect the basic welfare of both schools. Stanford and U$C are not locked in a real struggle for resources. The Arizona schools are and continue to be.

UNR and Nevada Southern were for quite a while in the same situation. The "winner" of that battle became quite obvious but it took longer than anybody expected. For various reasons the battle in Arizona is taking even longer. Sad really that two fine educational institutions are locked in a zero sum game (at least as they see it).

[Goose]

Yes, I am quite shocked to see the partisans of one school state something negative about their rival.
Just as I would never expect to see an unkind word on this board about cal, $c, and the university of south bend.

Trust me, the ASU UofA situation isn't at all similar to anything Stanford fans have experienced or can even imagine. Unlike our athletic rivals, the "rivalry" between ASU and UofA has roots in real political, social,  and economic issues that affect the basic welfare of both schools. Stanford and U$C are not locked in a real struggle for resources. The Arizona schools are and continue to be.

UNR and Nevada Southern were for quite a while in the same situation. The "winner" of that battle became quite obvious but it took longer than anybody expected. For various reasons the battle in Arizona is taking even longer. Sad really that two fine educational institutions are locked in a zero sum game (at least as they see it).

[BostonCard]

Does anyone know what the "N" in Nebraska stands for?

"Nowledge"?

BC

[BostonCard]

Does anyone know what the "N" in Nebraska stands for?

"Nowledge"?

BC

[teejers1]

Oregon State (4-1) -- if they develop some passing game -- could unseat the Ducks; Beavs just hosed the Huskies in Corvallis. 

Jonathan Smith takes Coach of the Year easily this season.  Their O-Line is killing people, like us in 2009. 

Beavers can beat the other teams on their schedule... except AZST.  They already thumped Troy in LA.

Beavs didn't hose the Huskies. They were down 7 mid fourth quarter and won on a FG as time expired. And were outgained.
That's a Husky team that also lost to Montana, got smoked by Michigan, but did beat something called Arkansas State and 1-4 cal.

The Beaver QB, Chance Nolan, has the best PER in the conference, 12th in the country. 7th in ESPN's QBR.
However, he was quite poor vs UW.
Nolan vs SC: 15-19, 213 yds, 4 TDs, 2 INTs, PER=221.5
Nolan vs UW: 7-15, 48 yds, 0 TDs, 1 INT, PER=60.2

Not quite sure what to make of the Beavs or their QB.
Despite struggling vs UW, I do think their offense is pretty good.

Think simplest explanation for OSU performance, including QB, against UW is that the Huskies have a very, very good defense.
UW will not be the pushover W for Stanford that some assume.

And the ASU game looks to be the most difficult match up for Stanford the rest of the way (with ND right there, as well).  I expect an L for the Cardinal in Tempe on Friday night; but if Stanford pulls out a W, then it will be time to re-evaluate season prospects.

[teejers1]

Oregon State (4-1) -- if they develop some passing game -- could unseat the Ducks; Beavs just hosed the Huskies in Corvallis. 

Jonathan Smith takes Coach of the Year easily this season.  Their O-Line is killing people, like us in 2009. 

Beavers can beat the other teams on their schedule... except AZST.  They already thumped Troy in LA.

Beavs didn't hose the Huskies. They were down 7 mid fourth quarter and won on a FG as time expired. And were outgained.
That's a Husky team that also lost to Montana, got smoked by Michigan, but did beat something called Arkansas State and 1-4 cal.

The Beaver QB, Chance Nolan, has the best PER in the conference, 12th in the country. 7th in ESPN's QBR.
However, he was quite poor vs UW.
Nolan vs SC: 15-19, 213 yds, 4 TDs, 2 INTs, PER=221.5
Nolan vs UW: 7-15, 48 yds, 0 TDs, 1 INT, PER=60.2

Not quite sure what to make of the Beavs or their QB.
Despite struggling vs UW, I do think their offense is pretty good.

Think simplest explanation for OSU performance, including QB, against UW is that the Huskies have a very, very good defense.
UW will not be the pushover W for Stanford that some assume.

And the ASU game looks to be the most difficult match up for Stanford the rest of the way (with ND right there, as well).  I expect an L for the Cardinal in Tempe on Friday night; but if Stanford pulls out a W, then it will be time to re-evaluate season prospects.

[JohnR34231]

Oregon State (4-1) -- if they develop some passing game -- could unseat the Ducks; Beavs just hosed the Huskies in Corvallis. 

Jonathan Smith takes Coach of the Year easily this season.  Their O-Line is killing people, like us in 2009. 

Beavers can beat the other teams on their schedule... except AZST.  They already thumped Troy in LA.

Beavs didn't hose the Huskies. They were down 7 mid fourth quarter and won on a FG as time expired. And were outgained.
That's a Husky team that also lost to Montana, got smoked by Michigan, but did beat something called Arkansas State and 1-4 cal.

The Beaver QB, Chance Nolan, has the best PER in the conference, 12th in the country. 7th in ESPN's QBR.
However, he was quite poor vs UW.
Nolan vs SC: 15-19, 213 yds, 4 TDs, 2 INTs, PER=221.5
Nolan vs UW: 7-15, 48 yds, 0 TDs, 1 INT, PER=60.2

Not quite sure what to make of the Beavs or their QB.
Despite struggling vs UW, I do think their offense is pretty good.

Think simplest explanation for OSU performance, including QB, against UW is that the Huskies have a very, very good defense.
UW will not be the pushover W for Stanford that some assume.

And the ASU game looks to be the most difficult match up for Stanford the rest of the way (with ND right there, as well).  I expect an L for the Cardinal in Tempe on Friday night; but if Stanford pulls out a W, then it will be time to re-evaluate season prospects.

Did anyone expect Washington to be a pushover?
I know I sure didn't, and don't recall anyone claiming they would be.

[JohnR34231]

Oregon State (4-1) -- if they develop some passing game -- could unseat the Ducks; Beavs just hosed the Huskies in Corvallis. 

Jonathan Smith takes Coach of the Year easily this season.  Their O-Line is killing people, like us in 2009. 

Beavers can beat the other teams on their schedule... except AZST.  They already thumped Troy in LA.

Beavs didn't hose the Huskies. They were down 7 mid fourth quarter and won on a FG as time expired. And were outgained.
That's a Husky team that also lost to Montana, got smoked by Michigan, but did beat something called Arkansas State and 1-4 cal.

The Beaver QB, Chance Nolan, has the best PER in the conference, 12th in the country. 7th in ESPN's QBR.
However, he was quite poor vs UW.
Nolan vs SC: 15-19, 213 yds, 4 TDs, 2 INTs, PER=221.5
Nolan vs UW: 7-15, 48 yds, 0 TDs, 1 INT, PER=60.2

Not quite sure what to make of the Beavs or their QB.
Despite struggling vs UW, I do think their offense is pretty good.

Think simplest explanation for OSU performance, including QB, against UW is that the Huskies have a very, very good defense.
UW will not be the pushover W for Stanford that some assume.

And the ASU game looks to be the most difficult match up for Stanford the rest of the way (with ND right there, as well).  I expect an L for the Cardinal in Tempe on Friday night; but if Stanford pulls out a W, then it will be time to re-evaluate season prospects.

Did anyone expect Washington to be a pushover?
I know I sure didn't, and don't recall anyone claiming they would be.