(Photo: Susan Wong/WCSN)
To some, it’s really been two years since Arizona State Football played a game.
The COVID-19 shortened 2020 season featured just four games for the Sun Devils and zero fans in attendance. At times, ASU was without key players not due to injury or personal reasons, but sickness. It had a month-long break in the middle of the year. Media wasn’t ever at practice or talking to players or coaches in-person. Rather, it was through computer and phone screens.
So as the Sun Devils open up the 2021 season at home against Southern Utah on Thursday, it almost serves as a relief. Things are, for the most part, normal again.
“I’m just looking forward to watching us play,” ASU head coach Herm Edwards said Monday.
But there are things that concern Edwards ahead of the season-opener. It’s been two years since the Sun Devils played in a ruckus environment full of fans. ASU had much less reps than it anticipated last season to get young players comfortable, and install a new offense.
“This is going to be our first test this year, at home, with some fans, which will be fun,” Edwards said. “At times it won’t look pretty. I get it. It’s the first game. We’ve got to deal with all of that.”
Included in “all of that” was everything from sideline conduct and communication to tackling.
“I didn’t miss the fact that I could yell at players and tell them what was happening and they could actually hear me,” Edwards said.
Pointing to rules limiting the amount of hours players can hit for, Edwards sounded worried but understanding of potential tackling mishaps that could blip up in Thursday’s game. The Sun Devils could be labeled as rusty with only four games under their belt in 2020.
“Tackling isn’t [usually] very good the first few weeks,” Edwards said. “We don’t have enough players where we can have live tackling all the time in practice. We pick our spots. There will be some missed tackles [on Thursday], no doubt. That is kind of anticipated. As it goes on, you get better.”
Additionally, what is likely to be a wild atmosphere at Sun Devil Stadium on Thursday night could lead to some starry-eyeness or recklessness from ASU players.
“It’s passion versus emotion,” Edwards said.
“Just the sideline procedure of where you sit on the bench, the offense being over there, all the young guys… more than that is how we conduct ourselves. You don’t want all the guys on the bench drinking all the Gatorade for the guys on the field. It sounds silly, but all of it is really not. That stuff happens.”
Edwards mentioned that Sunday’s practice, which was closed to the media after 15 minutes, was a long and seemingly overwhelming one.
“My back is turned to all of that,” he said. “I can’t live on the bench. I live on the field.”
It’s certainly not all nervousness for Edwards and the Sun Devils though. Just watching Southern Utah’s game against San Jose State on Saturday night, in which the Thunderbirds lost 45-14, had ASU pumped up.
“It was fun to watch again,” Edwards said. “We anticipate a lot of excitement. It’s fun to see the fans in the stands too. It was unique.”
Playing in front of home fans for the first time has the team giddy, according to Edwards.
“It will just be fun to walk into the stadium and our crowd will be there, which is fortunate for these guys [ASU’s players],” he said.
It’s a boost the team hasn’t had behind it since 2019.
“What I’m going to like the most is the energy that fans bring to the stadium,” Edwards said. “This stadium has energy, and we have a nice fanbase.”
But even though ASU’s crowd and players are ready, Edwards is prepared for anything.
“[I] don’t know what to anticipate,” he said. “All we know is to own the day.”
Other notes from Monday’s press conference:
- Edwards said that sophomore offensive lineman Ralph Frias has a “personal medical issue” and will be out for the foreseeable future.
- Edwards also said that redshirt freshman offensive lineman Triston Miller, who transferred to ASU from North Carolina this offseason, “might retire.”
