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GamblingTips · Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 33

Needless to say there was unrest in Tempe this offseason as running back Loren Wade’s disruptive career, has come to an end. Both athletic director Gene Smith and head coach Dirk Koetter’s handling of Wade has come under fire in the desert. In March Wade was accused of killing former Sun Devil player Brandon Falkner, who was talking with Wade’s ex girlfriend ASU soccer player Haley van Blommestein.

Despite several violations at ASU, both Smith and Koetter had cleared Wade to practice in the spring and this was also after Van Blommestein had complained to police and her soccer coach, that Wade had threatened her life.

Anyhow the cupboard is not bare in Tempe as the Sun Devils come off an impressive 27-23 bowl victory over a talented Purdue squad, and last years backup quarterback Sam Keller was awesome with 370 yards passing. The running back picture is muddled as, Antone Saulsberry, Jarrett Sayas, Rudy Burgess and Price Wilks all can make an impression. Burgess is the leading rusher returning with 404 yards. That is a number that must improve.

The Sun Devils made just one staff change, but it is a big one, with former defensive coordinator Brent Guy taking the head-coaching job at Utah State. Bill Miller takes over and inherits the Devils' 4-3 base defense. He could bring a little more aggressiveness with additional blitz packages.

The Sun Devils will find out early if they deserve a top 20 billing with games at LSU on Sept. 10, followed by a home game against Northwestern, before playing Pac-10 games at Oregon State and then home versus two-time defending champ USC. If ASU survives this brutal part of the schedule, watch out.

Koetter was recruited to Arizona State due to his fine record at Boise State and he certainly showed great improvement in his second year. I would think that the whole Wade experience could be a major distraction, but this is college football and corruption is seen as part of the game.

Players of Note:
WR Derek Hagan — The senior needs just eight catches and 265 yards and seven more touchdown receptions to become the school's career record holder in all three categories.
LB — Dale Robinson came from nowhere to make 93 tackles, including 13.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks. A duplicate performance could get the junior to think about leaving early.
TE Zach Miller — the Pac-10 freshman of the Year caught 56 passes for 552 yards and six touchdowns last season. Don't expect those numbers to dwindle.
TOP NEWCOMERS: QB Derek Shaw — It will be difficult for a true freshman to make a run at the starting nod, but don't count the Oceanside (Calif.) High School star out. He threw for 2,805 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior.
TB Shaun DeWitty — Colorado's second leading high school rusher with 2,225 yards could be the answer to ASU's ground woes.
S Derron Ware — the transfer from Michigan State is on the field again after spending a year away from the game. As a freshman with the Spartans he played 10 games. He had 28 tackles and a sack in 2003 during his sophomore campaign.
The Sun Devils were minus at least a dozen players for the spring, including some marquee names like tight end Zach Miller. Tailbacks Randy Hill, Cornell Canidate and Preston Jones are all out. Defensive backs Josh Golden and R.J. Oliver are unavailable to practice. Add receivers Terry Richardson, Matt Miller and Moey Mutz to the injured list. Receiver Jeremy Payton has moved to safety, while tailback Rudy Burgess will rotate some at receiver.
They need to play better in marquee games against USC, California and Arizona, which they will and there is a shot at the PAC 10 title!
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