- Slug: Sports-ASU Big 12, 740 words.
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By Jack Reeves
Cronkite News
LAS VEGAS – In its second year under coach Kenny Dillingham, the Arizona State football team looks to continue building a culture, even while it adapts to a new conference, the Big 12.
Dillingham participated in the Sun Devils’ first Big 12 Football Media Day at Allegiant Stadium Tuesday along with four of his players: defensive back Xavion Alford, offensive lineman Leif Fautanu, running back Cameron Skattebo and defensive lineman Clayton Smith.
“Super excited to be in the Big 12,” Dillingham said. “Excited to play in all these unbelievable cities, with the unbelievable atmospheres for our guys to play in. I think this is one of the best coached conferences in the league. From top to bottom, I think every game is a grind and I’m really excited to be a part of it.”
The Big 12 has 16 teams for the first time in conference history. Texas and Oklahoma have left, while Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah joined as this year’s newcomers.
In the preseason poll, Utah is picked to win the conference with 906 points, while Arizona State is picked to finish last with 141.
Even with low expectations from the media, ASU plans to forge ahead. Dillingham reflected on the goals for his team heading into fall camp.
“For us, it’s continuing to establish a culture of toughness,” Dillingham said. “I think that’s the number one thing, that if you watch this league and you look at the teams that have continually won in this league, it’s teams that are tough. It’s training and teaching our kids how to respond to adversity, the good and the bad.”
To prove the preseason poll and the doubters wrong, the Sun Devils will need to grow from last year. But the poll is something the players are well aware of and hope to use as fuel.
“Definitely looking forward to playing everybody,” Fautanu said. “Coming here, we’re picked last in the media poll. It motivates us to show everybody what we’re about. We’re definitely trying to prove people wrong.”
There are evident changes needed from last year’s 3-9 team in order to improve, things that may seem simple but are critical to success and the development of the program.
“I think one is the guys know each other’s names,” Dillingham said. “It sounds like a little thing, but they know each other, they have relationships with each other. And two is just pure strength. … The size and strength of our football team is something we focused on, and now that we have hit our summer goals from that perspective, I’m excited to see it translate to football.”
Last year, only two players could squat over 600 pounds, Dillingham said. Now they have six. They also only had 44 guys who could squat 400 pounds. Now they have more than 65.
Those improvements in the weight room should lead to a more physical football team for 60 minutes on game day. That is exactly what the Sun Devils need. Each minute next season is critical, as coaches and players know the importance of finishing strong in close games.
In 2023, ASU lost close matchups with USC, Cal, Colorado and Washington, which eventually played for the national championship.
“I think our guys have to learn how to win in the biggest moments,” Dillingham said. “It sounds cliche, ‘Well how do you learn how to win?’ It just happens. It happens through going through adversity. It happens through happening. And once they get that belief they can do it, that’s when your program flips.”
If ASU is to win more games this fall, the returning players will add the much-needed experience and leadership in those moments.
“As far as being a defensive player, this year we need to get key stops,” Alford said. “Same with the offense, trying to be explosive and score points. It’s really just the little things we really have to focus on. Being the best us. We have to focus on finishing games.”
Expectations are low that the Arizona State football team will make any waves in the Big 12. But if the Sun Devils can finish some of those games and continue to grow the culture under Dillingham, they could see the program start to turn around.
“Our coaches aren’t our best recruiters, our players are our best recruiters,” Dillingham said. “Our players are selling our brand, our players are telling them our coaching staff doesn’t change. Our players are telling us the standards that are being set. It’s not us recruiting, it’s our players recruiting, and I think that’s what excites me the most.”
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