Three Dot Thoughts…Time to Move ASU v Arizona Game, S.E. Valley Getting Another Team

Just to update my weekly reminder about the futility going on in our State when it comes to the two Pac-12 football programs.

Since beating Oregon in 2014, Arizona is 9-17 vs Power 5 programs.

Since beating Notre Dame in 2014, ASU is 9-16 vs Power 5 programs.

Time to move the Arizona v Arizona State game to earlier in the season. What is the downside?635515917096770821-asu-suggs Just because “it’s always been done this way” doesn’t mean that it’s the right way of doing business. You’d almost certainly get a bigger crowd at the stadium because the game wouldn’t be played on Thanksgiving weekend. Meet in late October with both teams coming off a bye week. Two weeks of buildup would help the rivalry. This also diminishes the chance of having two bad teams get together like this past Friday…

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Miss Arizona getting run over by Wildcat quarterback Brandon Dawkins was the ONLY highlight  that was used during one of the Networks pre-game shows on Saturday morning. I get that Arizona v Arizona State isn’t Alabama v Auburn, Michigan v Ohio State, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc(you get the general idea) but outside of certain parts of the State, the “rivalry” has turned into just another three and a half hours of Thanksgiving programming. I had to stream much of the first quarter Friday night because Texas Tech v Baylor was running long on ESPN. Guessing the start of Washington v Washington State or UCLA v USC wouldn’t be relegated to ESPN News…

 

Monday will be a good day for the S.E. Valley. Another sports team is going to announce that they are heading to the 101/202 loop area in Mesa-Tempe. Their concept of a stadium will be unique. Stay tuned…

Trace Armstrong had three very good years of football at Arizona State, including being on the 87 Rose Bowl team, before  transferring to Florida for his final season. He went on to have a solid NFL career and now he may well be someone who Ray Anderson and Greg Byrne have to take to dinner in the coming year. Armstrong represents new Texas head coach Tom Hermann, former LSU head coach Les Miles, Penn States James Franklin(Big 10 coach of the year?) Urban Meyer of Ohio State and Notre Dames Brian Kelley. At a minimum Byrne and Anderson should have Armstrong on speed dial in the next 365 days…

photo courtesy: USA TodayCalling my shot-Yasmany Tomas is in the final days of being a Diamondback…
Congrats go out to former Sun Devil quarterback Steve Campbell. He coached Williams Field to the 5A State football title on Saturday night, beating highly regarded Centennial…