We Bleed Maroon and Gold

After a two week break we are back and pleased to announce we are 3-0. However, the upcoming three games are going to be insanely tough (Cal, Oregon, and USC). Let me be the first to say I truly do not like the commentators that Fox Sports have put togerther today. They refered to us as 'A State', not cool.

• Great, Burgess is not playing today. Neck injure. This sucks.
• Play-Action pass to T-Rich. He drops it. Is that a suprise to anyone? I thought for sure he would have a monster season at WR this year. I was wrong.
• This is not going to be good, I just heard that Kegean has a hammy issue.
  
• 3rd and 7 (ASU): I love Zach Miller.
• The TV has just been muted. I can't take these guys anymore and we are just 3 minutes into the game.
  
• Play-Action: Horrible pass by Rudy to McGaha. Looks like Rudy is pissed at McGaha, should be with a name like that.
• WOW! T-Rich caught a ball! For a first down! GO DEVILS!
• We need to ride the ToRAIN today. This kid is good. We need him today.
• TOUCHDOWN!!!! Beautiful Drive. Beautiful screen pass.
• Our special team is weak. Every time they are on the field I get scared.
• Ok, the D needs to STEP UP.
• 18 Sacks this season. Leads the nation.
  
• 3rd and 5 (CAL): Incomplete pass. Punt time.
• T-Rich got no where. I have to give props to Cal, great punt coverage.
• Da,m it, I un-muted the TV. First thing said, 'A-State'. I do not like that name. Calls us something cool, 'The Devils'.
• ToRIAN leveled the Cal Safety.
• SUPRISE! T-Rich ran the wrong route!
• Horrible call. Kimbrough did not block him in the back. When did the shoulder become the back?
• We are running the ball very well right now.
• Holding. We are leading the Pac in penalty yards.
• RUN THE RIGHT ROUTE! T-Rich!
• We have to punt now. Great. All your fault T-Rich.
• Lynch is good. Real good.
  
• I think Cal's Offensive may have woken up.
  
• This is going to be a shoot out. It is official. Offensive shoot out.
• Touchdown Cal. Unbelievable. They moved the ball so easy against our D. This has the makings of a long day.
• 
  

Just mixed up a screwdriver, picked up my computer and begin to attempt a live-blog for the first game of the year. I promise nothing but drunken banter, misspelled words, announcer criticism and a plethora of cursing. Without further adu....here we go.

• Looks like we finally have our own pre-game show. At least now I can watch something Sun Devil related while I booze it up. Wanna play a drinking game? Take a swig everytime they mention "Sun Devils" in the pre-game show.
• Ooooo....Qwest FSN Live. Not only do we get the worst announcers in the country for four hours. Now we get them for an extra hour, 30 min. before and after the game. Oh god. Trey Bender looks like a child molester. I already don't like these guys. What happened to Van Rapporst and the other guy.
• I have had enough of the empty analysis. Time for drink number dos. Let's start the game already.
  
• So Stinky just said Carpenter goes to the sideline after every play to talk to Koetter. Um, every quarterback (Keller, Walter included) have gone to the sideline to get the plays. These announcers must watch football games as much as Joe Morgan watches baseball games.
• The buzzsaws are gone. About time Sparky is on the 50-yard line.
  
• First play. Carpenter to Burgess. Little quick burner. This is going to be like playing a pee-wee league squad. Second play to The Truth. So much talent, not enough footballs. Tuitama would already have had a touchdown according to Kirk "I smoke more weed the Snoop" Herbstreit.
• Carpenter just threw a pick. Not good.
• Who smokes more pot? Herbstreit or the coach at NAU? Trick question. They smoke together. Fake punt from the endzone. Sun Devil ball at the 7-yard line.
• Seriously. Will we ever be successful from short yardage? Four tries and nothing. Turnover on downs.
• New drinking game. Take a shot (swig) everytime ASU makes a mistake. I'm about to puke. Touchdown NAU on blown coverage by ASU.
• Keegan Herring just jacked up an NAU player. Broken wrist for sure. The guy deserved it. He fucking jumps right before a block and gets thrown in the air like Nicole Ritchie was playing. Bye bye.
• So the offense ranked second in the nation last year to USC. We haven't scored yet against NAU. I see a slight problem.
• See my post in the srimmage. Torain and Tryon = Legit.
  
• FINALLY. Carpenter's first touchdown to Dewitty. Great catch by Dewitty. Ball went behind him. Backtracks, picks it up and runs it in from 20-yards. First touchdown ever.
• I don't know what this says about our defense, but we are getting some good pressure on the quarterback. Without Tranell "The Tree" Morant and others, this is at least encouraging.
• Our first replay of the year. Coaches challenge on a pussy ass push off by the NAU receiver. After reviewing the play, the play stands. Out of bounds.
• Quick sidenote we've got an ISU (Iowa State) fan in the house tonight. His squad may go into overtime against Toledo, yes Toledo. Apparently, ISU's coach shits the bed quite regularly. But they do own Iowa, who we knocked up like Leinart knocked up his girl for 44 points. www.firecoachmack.com is about to launch. Stay tuned for details.
• Burgess gets a 15-yard penalty and NAU just scored to make it 14-7. Almost halftime. Time for shots.
• This is ISU guys first glance at ASU. Comment: "Is your defensive coordinator a circus clown?" No comment.
• 14-7. I feel like I'm watching the Fuskies. At least their QB has dreads.
  
• Oh my god. A non-third down conversion. Not because of the ASU defense.
• Screeen pass to Torain for a touchdown. Tied 14-14. If we didn't answer and score to tie the game before the half, not only would I predict a loss, but I would also kill the Vodka handle I purchased from Costco ($16 for you alchies).
• So I think the color man took too many hits as a Chicago Bears player. And I quote "These stats are not recorded, but I guarantee you that quarterbacks do not like having 300-pound lineman on top of them." So yeah. Aren't color guys supposed to provide COLOR to the game and not obvious statements a drunk ASU Alumni could provide from his hater couch?
• Herb Sendek. The best thing that has happened yet tonight. Is it basketball season yet? I'm glad the IQ level in the south is so low that they let this guy go. Five straight years, five NCAA tournaments in the ACC? Please.
  
• Second half kickoff. Tackle out of bounds. Fifteen yard penatly. Eh.
• "Massive penetration" according to the announcers. Once again we get pressure on the QB. I'm impressed by the pressure this year, even though this is NAU. Take away our two mistakes and we dominate. Psychologically we don't seem to be in it.
• The fact that NAU continues to make plays down the field to their WR worries me. I know its the first game of the year, but its NAU. We should have greater success against a team the caliber of NAU.
• 8:45 left in the 3rd quarter. Still 14-14. I'm not one to question our coach, but senior QB's rule the Pac-10. The only non-senior quarterbacks to win the conference were Ryan Leaf and Matt Leinart. This is why we needed Sam Keller. However, I don't know the behind the scenes transgressions that occurred. But, man....
• Another sack by Derron Ware. He is all over the place and causing havoc.
  
• However we continue to play down to the level of NAU. Or is NAU playing up to the level of ASU. I continue to have faith in our program. We bring in better players, but the results do not follow.
• TOUCHDOWN!!!! Chris Baloney takes back an interception from 35-yards to start the 4th quarter. I've have been asking for a big play, finally it happens.
• This is why I like Dewitty. He sees contact, invites it and dropps his shoulder to punish the defender. Attitude is what this team has been lacking in the past. I hope a backbone develops and the actions are contagious.
• Reggie Bush ain't got shit on me. Keegan Herring hit the up-up-down-down-circle-triangle on the run back. Nothing doing on the run play leads to improvizing from the speedy back who takes it back the other way displaying speed not seen on this squad in a while for a touchdown. For the first time tonight I feel comfortable. Fourth quarter up 14.
• Nice completion to "The Truth" across the middle. Can we get some more of this please.
• I see a healthy dose of running plays from here on out. Nice to see Dimitri Nance get in the game.
• Nance busts off a nice run for 15-yards.
• Final score: 35 - 14. ASU wins it. A win-is-a-win as Carpetner said in the post-game. However, if lofty expectations are met this year a much better performance is needed from the entire team. A post-game report will be coming soon.
  

Fork 'em.

Two days ago I was having a wonderful day. It just seemed like everything was falling into place. As I was putting an end to my day I thought I would catch a little SportsCenter, as usual. About 15 minutes into my SportsCenter watching, the College Gameday cast came on to discuss normal bullshit about Ohio State, Oklahoma, and the devil’s team Norte Dame. Then somehow out of nowhere they started discussing the Pac-10, “fucking shocked”. This is where my day went straight to hell (Thanks), Kirk Herbstreit said the most talented player in the Pac-10 is….wait for it….wait for it….none other than U of A quarterback Willie Tuitama. No, I am not making this shit up. Immediately, I checked to see if Herbstreit’s eyes were cashed from the fat bong rips he had to have been doing before this segment…They looked fine. I credit Visine with this great assist.

Did Herbtreit forget about the Nations Most Efficient Passer in Rudy Carpenter? Seriously,what the fuck? Before I go ballistic lets compare some statistics.

	Rudy Carpenter	Willie Tuitama
Passing Percentage	68.4%	57.7%
Efficiency	175.01	136.99
Touchdowns	17	9
Interceptions	2	5
Total Yards	2273	1105
Yards Per Game	252.6	221.0

Yup, what I thought? Carpenter has no talent.

Now, let me be the first to say that Carpenter played in a 9 games last year, five of which he started. Tuitama played in a total of 5 games last season, making Herbstreit’s ‘most talented player’ comment even more ignorant.

I now present the Top Ten More Talented Players than Willie Tuitama in the Pac-10 (in no order):

1. Dwayne Jarett – WR – USC
2. Rudy Carpenter – QB – ASU
3. Ben Olson – QB – UCLA
4. Hershel Dennis – RB – USC (Cheap shot)
5. Marshawn Lynch – RB – CAL
6. Jason Hill – WR – WSU
7. Jonathan Stewart – RB – WHOREgon
8. Zach Miller – TE – ASU
9. Keith Rivers – LB – USC
10. Isaiah Stanback – QB – UW (yeah, I am serious. Plus he has dreads)

* = Rather we have reason to believe so.

Well, we do not even know where to start on this one. Dirk stated that the quarterback who would come out with the first-team at the scrimmage on Friday would be the teams starting quarterback. Sam Keller ran out with the first-team and, presumably was the starter. Enter Lee Corso: not so fast my friends. Dirk Koetter has officially changed his quarterback selection from Sam Keller to Rudy Carpenter. Koetter officially dismissed Sam Keller from Sunday’s practice so he could weigh his options. The East Valley Tribune is reporting that two high level ASU officials have confirmed that Sam Keller will transfer elsewhere. At any level, his status is in question. He has not officially transferred but isn’t with the team. Any way you look at this, this is not good for Arizona State University Football. Koetter’s sudden change of mind could possibly damage his trust with his players.

Rumors are swirling all over the place. The damage has been done. There is something fishy here and nothing of this situation reeks of professionalism. Whether Keller or Carpenter threatened to transfer is immaterial. This is not good.

After the original decision to make Sam Keller the starting quarterback, rumors quickly started flying that Rudy Carpenter started weighing his options regarding his future at ASU. IF THE RUMORS ARE TRUE and Rudy Carpenter was thinking about transferring to another school, we feel Koetter changed his mind (assuming he knew Rudy was debating on leaving) on quarterback when he realized that the future of ASU football could would severely damaged after this season. Another likely scenario is the meeting with the players who subsequently voiced their loyalty to Rudy. Sam catches wind of this and decides he doesn’t deserve this treatment and transfers. Now, if Sam Keller leaves the No. 2 quarterback is a true freshman. This leaves very little room for error, and could potentially destroy ASU’s season if Carpenter gets injured.

We would like to think that Koetter knows what he is doing in this situation. Right now, we are going to give him the benefit of the doubt until all the information comes out.

The scrimmage on Friday confirmed what we already know: our offense will be close to unstoppable this year and our defense needs to improve. The past three years you could have written this same sentence at this exact point in time before the season. Sam Keller is your starting quarterback as he entered the scrimmage at the helm of the first-team. Sam and Rudy both played incredibly well. Sam would make a great play only to have Rudy respond and match it. Here are some random notes from the scrimmage.

• On the first play of the scrimmage Keller completed a pass to Richardson. I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more of this tandem this year.
  
• First drive by Keller ended in a touchdown pass to, who else, T-Rich. The drive also featured impressive runs from Torain and Herring. Herring displayed his blazing speed, while Torain illustrated how he will be a valuable asset to this squad.
• On Carpenter's first series he came out firing by completing his first pass to McGaha. Nothing flashy.
• The punters were unimpressive. A couple of punts stuck in my mind. Johnson booted one off the side of his foot and it went nowhere. Not a lot of hang time. Ainsworth also hit some off the side of his foot that went out of bounds too soon. However, Ainsworth looked solid with field goal duties and kickoffs. The shorter tees don't look to have much affect on Jesse's huge leg.
• I like Dewitty: he sees contact and instead of avoiding contact and quickly falling to the ground, he lowers his shoulder and brings the pain. It may be tough to see the field with Torain playing out of his mind.
• Keller made a beautiful floating corner route from 30-yds out to T-Rich. This is getting repetitive.
• Not to be outdone....Carpenter to Kimbrough for 60 yds. Beautiful 1 vs. 1 by Kimbrough, broke away from the defender with a blaze of speed. This kid can flat out run.
• McKensie almost picks off a Carpenter pass to McGaha, but McGaha snatches it as he took a hit on the helmet and sprints to the sideline for a nice gain.
• Preston Jones breaks off a nice 40-yd run.
  
• Derron Ware makes a huge hit on Keegan - WOW. Massive pop with helmet to helmet. Keegan bounces right back up.
• Keller looked back to call a timeout. Koetter viciously throws his hat to the ground and continues to ride Keller with obscenities.
  
• Justin Tryon = Legit.
• Carpenter to Kimbrough II: 80 yds. TD.
  

About a week ago I got a hard-on when when the Sun Devils landed James Harden from Artesia, Ca. I called family and friends to let them know ASU should no longer be considered a Division II opponent who also happens to be a member of the Pac-10. Beating the likes of UW and UCLA for the services of a pure scorer tickled me like I was the Pillsbury dough boy. I thought finally, finally, we could build something that would last. Finally, we would become a contender and take a game or two from Northern Mexico University. Then, this happens. I'm sorry I must have wet my pants.

Sendek brings in Jamelle McMillan, son of former N.C. State and Seattle Sonics guard Nate McMillan, who currently coaches the JailBlazers. Jamelle mentioned the fact that he would have followed Sendek to N.C. State. Nate stayed close to the Wolfpack program and to Sendek. After Sendek left, McMillan opened his recruitment but ended up following Sendek to ASU. A telling quote from the article:

""I was actually going to follow (Sendek) to N.C. State and then he did the move in April," said Jamelle, who averaged 13.5 points and six assists as a junior. "It completely made my options wide open again. I didn't know anything about Arizona State at the time. He and his staff did a tremendous job with their recruiting. When they want something, they really go get it. They're honest, loyal guys. I can't ask for a better coaching staff to work with me with this process. It's a big deal."

One of the top players in the country at his position and son of a former NBA player is giving massive props to our coach. He is genuinely excited to be playing with aggressive active players next year (see harden, boateng). Three players are on board for the 2007 recruiting class, Sendek's first. One more player is on the radar: Clint Chapman. Another big body at 6'9" from the green state of Oregon. I have heard that he had connections to UCLA, who recently dropped his recruitment. I would gladly schedule him up and let him know who he could be teamming up with in the years to come.

This isn't supposed to happen. Not to the program that went through the point-shaving scandal with "headache." Somebody pinch me.

Do you want the good news, or the bad news? Let's start with the bad news. Martin Tevaseu is most likely out for the year and will have to redshirt. I was hoping he would be the run-stopper we have been looking for, but it looks like we will have to wait until next year. At least Martin can redshirt this year and have three years to contribute to the d-line. An added surprise is the play of DT David Smith. Smith has put on some weight and is up to about 280 and continues to push for more playing time. As any follower of Sun Devil football over the past few years would admit, any healthy active body is welcomed on the defensive line. But back to the scrimmage.

• Defense outplayed the offense, which is great news. It usually takes the offensive side of the ball longer to work in new players, install new plays and get the gel rollin'. Defenses insert athletes and make plays, which was evident form theThe defense got some great play from true freshman Ryan McFoy (USC tried to greyshirt) who had three pass breakups to lead the defense, Grant Crunkleton (two pass breakups) and Justin Tryon.
• Sam Keller and Rudy Carpenter both tried to do too much, which is to be expected as both quarterbacks are fighting for the No. 1 job. Sam or Rudy could start for almost any other school in the country, but only one can start as ASU. This illustrates the luxury of talent and depth we have at the quarterback position. Enjoy.
• Gerald Munns continues to impress. He will not redshirt and will push for a starting spot.
• Dimitri Nance stole the show posting two touchdowns in the scrimmage. With DeWitty, Herring and Torain having productive days as well, I am beginning to think we may actually have a running game this year. There is so much depth and versatility on the roster....wait, I can't get too far ahead of myself. Let's just say they looked good and hope it translates over to the regular season.
• Brandon Smith led the receivers with 113 yards and a touchdown. We need Brandon Smith or another receiver to step up. The receivers who have seperated themselves from the rest of the pack are Richardson (obviously, is there a better return man in the country?), Burgess, Lewis and Jones. It would be nice to see Kimbrough, Smith or McGaha step up and provide some depth.
• Dane Guthrie, Loren Howard, Chris Baloney, Littrele Jones and Robert James sat out the scrimmage. Howard is my only concern....we need him for the season. Guthrie has to get more reps to back up Miller Times Two.

Overall, we should all be optimistic about this season as we stand right now. The defense is ahead of the offense, which is always good. Hopefully the team continues to progress through the end of camp.

As I sit and watch Nelson Cuevas score the second goal for Club America against Barcelona in a sport where the use of hands is not allowed, I post about the commitment of James Harden to Arizona State. Although the commitment is non-binding and unofficial until signing day, the significance of the event is evident. Herb Sendek, in the span of a few months, has fans thinking the impossible: that Arizona State basketball cannont only be competitive, but a major player on the national scene.

I remember hearing Seth Davis announce the decision of ASU to hire Sendek from North Carolina State. No fan of ASU even had a sneaking suspicion that Sendek could be the next coach. Thoughts of Rick Majerus (I think fat bastard has a better working heart), Bob Huggins (is it safe to say Tarkanian would be a better hire?) and Jaime Dixon (nothing bad to say, smart man used leverage to his advantage) floated the internet to no avail. However, what eventually happened was the steal of the century.

After five straight appearances in the NCAA tournament in arguably the best basketball league in the country (even without the Dick Vitale Homerism) Sendek was destined to rescue ASU from basketball mediocirty. All he has done since his hiring is.......

• Land Jarren Shipp: the younger-brother of Cal sharp-shooter Josh Shipp, Jarren comes to ASU with the needed goods - a killer shot from the outside - to flourish in the Herb Sendek system.
• Bring in former McDonald's All-American Eric Boateng: granted the near 7-footer didn't play like a McDonald's All-American in his only season at Duke, the fact that he is 7-feet and was recruited by Coach K tells the story. He will clog the middle and change shots at the least and be a double-double machine at best. Either way, I'll take it.
• Grab Derek Glasser: don't know much about the point guard, other than the fact that he was teammates with Harden and left for the Sun Devils from the University of Spoiled Children. Seems like a knowledgeable point-guard who will do what is asked of him and try not to do much more. With playmakers like Polk and Harden, this seems like a good move.
• HARDEN: this is the biggest commitment for ASU since Ike Diogu. Ike was rated 4-stars and Harden is 5-stars. I don't buy into the star system, but I do buy into talent. Harden was recently named MVP of his squad which won the ABCD camp and those who attend the ABCD camp can BRING IT.
  

Bottom line: our talent is immensely better than it was a year ago. Herb doesn't recruit JC players either, which is good and bad. But, if you do your job and recruit out of high school you won't need JC players. There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic as an ASU basketball fan. With a successful resume in the ultra-competitive ACC and a heroin injection of new talent, a new era in ASU basketball has begun.

Fork 'em.

The We Bleed Maroon and Gold blog is dedicated to the Sun Devils of Arizona State University. We will bring you everything that is Sun Devil athletics and anything we can find that hates on the University of Northern Mexico.

We are two former ASU Alumni that will provide comments, criticisms, and bring the funny when discussing ASU Athletics. We promise not to be complete homers, but we can guarantee one thing - we will never have anything positive to say about U of A.

Occasionally, we will touch on topics that are not dedicated to ASU because either they piss us off or they are too damn funny to not talk about. Also, let us right now declare our hate for the Miami Hurricanes and Notre Dame (Our World as we know it might end if Brady Quinn wins the fucking Heisman).

Right now, we are just fucking pumped to get the college football season underway.

Fork’em Devils!