- Slug: Sports-ASU Graham, 800 words
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By OMAR SOUSSI
Cronkite News
TEMPE — From national media voices to Arizona State football fans, debate has resumed about the future of coach Todd Graham.
ASU is 5-5 with two games left in a schedule that includes victories over No. 5 Washington and No. 23 Oregon but losses, too, to San Diego State and Texas Tech.
“Lose twice, to Oregon State and Arizona, and miss out on the postseason, I think they have to make a change. There would be so little momentum and enthusiasm,” ” Jon Wilner, longtime Pac-12 reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, wrote via email. “But if they win the last two and win the bowl game and are 8-5, then you combine the strong finish with the new facilities and Graham can make the case for legit momentum (with recruits, donors and his bosses).”
The previous two seasons have been tough with the program with the team posting consecutive losing records, but that wasn’t always the case for ASU.
Its high points started right away for ASU when Graham was hired in 2012. The team went 8-5 in his first season, getting a win over rival University of Arizona and winning a bowl game against Navy.
The Sun Devils hit their peak in the Graham era from 2013-14 as they went 20-8 with an appearance in the Pac-12 Championship game in 2013 and being ranked sixth in the nation in the College Football Playoff rankings in 2014. One of the most impressive on-the-field accomplishments for Graham was changing what many felt was ASU’s identity of committing a high amount of penalties. Under Graham, ASU has become one of the least penalized teams in the nation.
The Sun Devils fell off a metaphoric cliff after they received that rankin. The team lost to Oregon State the next week and haven’t looked the same since, going 18-20 since then. ASU hit a low last year and went 5-7 with only two wins coming from within the Pac-12, and losing badly to the Wildcats 56-35. Arizona didn’t pass the ball for the entire second half.
Despite some harsh criticism from media — CBSSports.com’s Pete Prisco tweeted, “Go tell Ray Anderson it’s time for Graham to go” — players have come to Graham’s defense, including seniors linebacker DJ Calhoun and defensive lineman Tashon Smallwood. Both said they are grateful for how Graham has helped them grow not only on the field as athletes, but off the field as men.
“I feel like God put me here under him for a reason,” Smallwood said. “Things were tough, things weren’t always easy but man, I can tell you I have grown. I have gotten a lot stronger since being here.
“I listen to him when he talks. He probably doesn’t think I listen to him but I listen to him. He always talks about life beyond football, life beyond this. Things are only going to get harder”
Calhoun said Graham is “very family oriented … even when I have a baby or whatever he always wants me there for the kids and everything. You know it’s not just all about football. He wants you to get good grades and stuff, too. He just wants you to be an overall good great person.”
Although the two don’t always see eye to eye, Smallwood said, he loves Graham and “wouldn’t wish for another coach.”
Meanwhile, Calhoun said that Graham should have a chance to stay another year. On-the-field growth and getting his players on the right track isn’t the only thing that has improved. Grades have, too. ASU posted a 3.0 GPA average among its players for the first time ever and graduation rates are up.
Graham also played a large role in the revamping of the training facility and renovations of Sun Devil Stadium. More boosters have returned to put money into the athletic department and he has been heavily involved with the community.
Yet ASU’s continued inability to get over the Top 10 program hump continues to be an issue. Wilner said that the ASU program for decades have been viewed as a “second-level program, with largely untapped potential.”
A lot will become clearer with two regular-season games remaining.
