ASU_Graham_MagSeven 5/2/12 7:20 PM Page 3
W ASU ERA Begins The new, sometimes controversial and highly-talked about head football coach of Arizona State is attempting to elevate a program from mediocrity to the Pac-12 elite By Zack Cimini
With High Expectations for
TODD GRAHAM
ANOTHER SPRING PRACTICE AND ARIZONA STATE HEAD COACH, TODD GRAHAM, is bellowing out instructions with intensity and demanding a constant motion of activity from his players. Graham is just as active as the players. He is in the middle of snaps surveying right behind the middle linebacker. Each play he dissects and addresses with high vocal range that can be heard clearly on the opposite side of the field. A change has garnered the attention of all players and bystanders watching spring practices. A new regime and era is in place at Arizona State. Graham has set a tone that commands instant attention. If you are injured, he has stationary workouts and drills for athletes to work on. The pace is just as rapid as if you were practicing on the field. Players participating in practice feel fortunate to be on the field versus doing sideline drills. Each practice, the intensity never wanes. Subtleties are pointed out and emphasized. Graham’s track record proves he has the networking and leadership skills to steer the team back to respectability, and may be just the right addition that the underachieving Sun Devil football program needs. By the end of Arizona State’s season last year, people who were leery of the firing of Dennis Erickson were no longer questioning that decision. Arizona State lost four straight games to end the season, then was thumped in the Las Vegas Bowl by Boise State, displaying just how far apart coaching and talent had become. A fresh start was needed. Other Pac-12 teams made more headlines by hiring big-name coaches. ASU almost had one as well by hiring June Jones, but that was quickly squelched, and school officials believe they struck the right match with Graham. Spurning the Pitt Panthers and leaving the Big East so abruptly raised a few eyebrows. Questioning the way he left was a main issue in many eyes. But after a 6-6 campaign – and the Big East Conference crumbling with uncertainty – who could really blame Graham for jumping to the Pac-12? Graham certainly will have his hands full rebuilding a program that has not been to a premier bowl game since 1997. Unfortunately, neither the Holiday Bowl nor Insight Bowl is enough to wow the fans. And, in order to capitalize on some of the largest enrollment numbers in the nation, Graham needs to transform this team from mediocre to competitive. This starts with Graham getting buy-in from Erickson’s former recruits, then hitting a home run with his first recruiting class.