ASU Football: Ahead of Territorial Cup, ASU coaches reflect on old rivalries

Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN

With the Pac-12 South title out of their grasp, the Arizona State Sun Devils and first-year head coach Herm Edwards turn their attention to the Arizona Wildcats and the Territorial Cup.

Fans on both sides have come to expect a bitter rivalry in the traditional last game of the season, but Edwards and most of his staff are newcomers to the historic game that dates back to 1899.

On Monday, just days before the final regular season game of the season, Edwards, defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales and offensive coordinator Rob Likens took a trip down memory lane and discussed some rivalries they’ve been in in the past.

Edwards dug deep into his past to his first rivalry, which dates back to his high school days.

“The biggest rivalry for me growing up was the Monterrey Toreadores versus the Seaside Spartans,” he said. “Never lost to the Spartans, 3-0 versus the Spartans in high school. They were pretty good, too.”

Edwards and his old rivalry go far behind the play inside the lines of a football field. Edwards was set to attend Seaside High in California, but due to the desegregation rules, he attended Monterrey High School instead.

“That’s where it all started for me,” he said. “I should have went to Seaside High. And everybody will tell you in that town that, you know what, one of the best players ever in our town had to go across the tracks to play at another school. So it was kind of bittersweet, because I grew up thinking I was going to Seaside High and then, ‘not so fast.’”

Gonzales, a former player and coach at the University of New Mexico, reflected on his rivalry with the New Mexico State University Aggies.

“The town of Las Cruces is no fun to be in,” Gonzales said. “That’s my opinion as a young man born and raised in Albuquerque.”

Gonzales said the team dreaded staying in Las Cruces, to the point where they often wouldn’t, driving back to Albuquerque after the game.

Likens, the only one of the three to have experienced a Territorial Cup, got his taste of the rivalry last season as ASU’s wide receiver coach. He said he was looking forward to another go-around with the Wildcats.

“Well I’ve only been here one year so last year was my first year and we won, which was a lot of fun,” Likens said. “But man, it was exciting last year. It was an awful lot of fun. It was like a bowl game atmosphere to me.”

For the Wildcats, it will need to be like a bowl-game atmosphere if they hope to notch their sixth win and secure bowl eligibility.

Likens also added that he is an avid New York Yankees fan and feels the passion in rivalries.

“As a fan, I respect rivalries and understand them to the highest degree,” he said.

Despite the stakes, Edwards held the same composure he has had all season and said a win in the rivalry game wouldn’t give him any added satisfaction.

“I don’t know about that,” Edwards said. “I don’t want to get into that. It’s more about just winning the game.”

Edwards, his group of young players, and most of his staff will get their first crack at the Territorial Cup this Saturday in Tucson.