May 18, 2013 - 03:36 pm - #Graham360 ASU head football coach Todd Graham has added a new hash tag to his social media repertoire. Adding to his #AnyChallenge and #SpeakingVictory hash tags on Twitter, Graham now has another one: #Graham360. The new hash tag incorporates the idea of “the full development of the student athlete,” according to Assistant Athletics Director of Recruiting Sherman Morris. “Coach Graham has a unique approach when it comes to developing student athletes,” Morris said. “He believes that in order to develop a student athlete you gotta be able to touch him in every aspect of his life." “We want to make sure we’re developing him as a student, we’re touching him from a social standpoint, we’re challenging him in every area in order to make him a productive citizen beyond the game.” The development of the student beyond the field is something that Graham has been trying to promote and is a message that Morris wants to continue to deliver. “For us, it’s important that everyone understand exactly what coach Graham is all about: His goals, his vision for this program and the direction that this program is moving in,” Morris said. “It’s important that we communicate that because, in absence of that, other individuals will communicate that for us and they won’t be able to tell the full story of what coach Graham is really all about.” When selling a product, say a football program, it’s important to be where the consumer is. Namely, that means social media sites. “If you think about social media, that’s where the prospects (are) and that’s where the younger generation is basically communicating,” Morris said. “In order for us to effectively recruit a student athlete it is important for us to make sure that we are in those environments as well.” Recently, college football programs have become rather clever in their social media campaigns. Florida hosts a prime example. So does Morris plan to emulate the Gators? In his own words, “Absolutely not.” “We’re not really looking to follow anyone else’s lead.  Coach Graham wants to be a leader in this area and that’s the direction we need to go in,” Morris said. In 2012 ASU had the 38th-ranked recruiting class according to Rivals.com and that ranking increased to No. 34 in 2013. There is little doubt that this coaching staff has put a bigger emphasis and year-round focus on recruiting than we have seen for years. It's a 24/7/365 operation. Strike that- it's a 24/7/#360 operation. Gotta break for a couple holidays. #Graham360. Use it when you Speak Victory on Twitter (and Instagram) to remind top football prospects of what Todd Graham and his staff stand for.

May 16, 2013 - 12:33 pm - With spring games and practices all wrapped up, questions still abound throughout the Pac-12 North & South, but this is what we think we know so far.   Oregon and Stanford The top two teams in the conference are still Oregon and Stanford, and there’s no likelihood that’ll change. Mark Helfrich looks to pick up right where Chip Kelly left off with few changes in the coaching staff. Oregon will still have one of the nation’s most explosive offenses with Heisman contender quarterback Marcus Mariota playing field-general, and running back De’Anthony Thomas likely to see significantly more snaps. The Ducks’ questions are on defense. They have to replace defensive end Dion Jordan as well as linebackers Kiko Alonso and Michael Clay. Defensive End Taylor Hart returns after leading Oregon in sacks a year ago, and cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is primed for a big year. The Ducks’ biggest hurdle in the conference comes from Pac-12 North foe and fellow national title contender Stanford. The Cardinal are set at quarterback with Kevin Hogan at the helm, and he will be protected by one of the country’s most talented offensive lines. Stanford’s defense looks to be the Pac-12’s best again with eight returning starters from last years 14th-ranked scoring defense. The Ducks’ and Cardinal’s biggest challengers, aside from each other, come from the Pac-12 South. Sun Devils & Bruins ASU and UCLA, ranked third and fourth respectively in ESPN’s Pac-12 Blog’s Post-Spring Power Rankings, have high hopes coming into 2013, and both can contend for a Rose Bowl spot. Both teams are eerily similar. They both have very good quarterbacks: Taylor Kelly for the Sun Devils and Brett Hundley for UCLA. They both have exceptional defensive playmakers: Defensive Tackle Will Sutton for ASU and linebacker Anthony Barr for the Bruins. The key for the Sun Devils is addressing the lack of depth at wide receiver while the Bruins focus on tightening up their secondary, which gave up the second most passing yards in the Pac-12 last season (3,320). While ASU and UCLA are the Pac-12 South front-runners, you can’t count out USC. Looking forward to doing this after the UCLA game this season!! Trojans The Trojans have the best wide receiver in the country in Marquise Lee and fellow wideout Nelson Agholor had an exceptional spring. The only problem is that Lee and Agholor can’t pass to themselves. The Trojans are in the midst of a quarterback battle between Cody Kessler and Max Wittek although both have shown they could be starters. The installation of a new defense also raises questions for the men of Troy. Oregon State Cody Vaz and Sean Mannion are competing for the keys to Oregon State’s passing attack that ranked second in the Pac-12 in passing yards (3,798) and passing yards per game (316.5) last season. The Beavers’ defense will be stalwart yet again with seven starters returning from the Pac-12’s second-best unit in 2012.  Washington Washington is a wild card. The Huskies return 10 offensive starters including underrated running back Bishop Sankey, who ran for 1,439 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2012. If quarterback Keith Price can return to his 2011 form when he tossed for over 3,000 yards and 33 touchdowns, the Huskies could be a surprise in the Pac-12 North. Golden Bears and Cougars The other two teams in the Pac-12 North still have some ground to make up. Cal is making a polar shift in philosophy under new head coach Sonny Dykes. They’re going from a pro-style offense to an up-tempo spread, and defensively the Golden Bears are moving from a 3-4 front to a 4-3. Cal isn’t set a quarterback either, although it appears Zach Kline is the favorite. Running back Brandon Bigelow, while ultra-talented, isn’t healthy and their schedule is brutal. Next year the Golden Bears could be good but this year shouldn’t hold high expectations. The same holds true, although a little brighter, for Washington State. The Cougars passed for a Pac-12 best 3,965 yards but only scored 20.4 points per game, second-worst in the conference. Washington State does return nine starters on both sides of the ball. It’s something to build on. Buffaloes Speaking of building, Colorado has a lot of that to do. The Buffaloes had both the worst offense and defense in the conference last year due in part because a lot of freshmen saw field time. Their offensive line is a question mark, and starting quarterback Jordan Webb is out indefinitely with an ACL tear. Wildcats The biggest news since Spring is that Arizona wide receiver Austin Hill tore his ACL. The likelihood of him seeing the field in 2013 is in question. Missing Hill and with no clear successor at quarterback to Matt Scott, the passing game is a concern in Tucson. On the bright side, last year’s NCAA rushing leader Ka’Deem Carey (1,929 yards) returns along with the entire defense. Yes, the wildcats’ defense was terrible last season but a second year in the 3-3-5 system and 11 returning starters will improve that. Utes Finally, there’s Utah. Travis Wilson is entrenched as the starting quarterback, but there’s no stand out receiver. The Utes also lost talented running back John White. Utah has a goliath offensive line but the D-line is full of questions after losing Star Lotuleilei in the first round of the NFL draft. Head coach Kyle Whittingham said he expects his front four to be one of the best in the Pac-12 but only time will tell.  

May 15, 2013 - 02:11 pm - The Barracks Upon Coach Todd Graham's arrival in Tempe after the 2011 season, he proclaimed that he was a big fan of college football tradition, specifically those housed within the ASU football program. Truthfully, there is none bigger for the universities in Arizona than the Sun Devils heading up the hill 13 miles beyond Payson in the fall to resume what legendary coach Frank Kush initiated in 1960.  After a four year hiatus between 2008-2011, the Sun Devils returned for an abbreviated "Camp T" stint before the 2012 season that culminated in a memorable Saturday scrimmage. Sun Devil Nation had ponied up the funds to restore the practice site, and backed that up with over 5,000 fans attending what turned out to be our first glimpse of last season's 8-5 Sun Devils. Sun Devil Family Tontozona, at 5,312 foot elevation offers a reprieve from the sweltering heat in the desert, but more importantly, a chance for players and coaches to leave behind all of the distractions in Tempe. No cell phone service, no television, rudimentary housing conditions, team bonding and that ever-so-anticipated cracking of the pads that only a fall camp can provide. It is an invaluable "back-to-the-basics" venue that must be credited to Coach Graham’s work at overhauling ASU Football’s culture. The 2013-2014 Devils have been tabbed by many as favorites to win the Pac-12 South Division and challenge for a Rose Bowl birth. The extended stay in the pines this year will be a positive segue heading into what is sure to be one of the more memorable football seasons in decades.  ASU is coming off of impressive wins in the final two games of the 2012 regular season and a complete domination of Navy in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. Momentum, expectations, optimism and talent levels across the roster are all solid. Brandon Magee at Camp If you were at Camp Tontozona last year, you are fully aware that many of the all-time Sun Devil greats were in attendance and certainly will be this year. They fully back this great tradition having been a part of it during their playing days. To a man they will tell you that it was one of the best experiences of their playing career at ASU... not IN SPITE of the tough conditions, but BECAUSE of the tough conditions. This is a tradition like no other for both the fans and the student-athletes, and in a way, the line separating the two fades away on the field cut out of the mountain. Andrew Walter with Mom & Dad Last year right after the Saturday scrimmage, the Sun Devil gods sent a torrential downpour to give us a final cool down before heading back to the valley. I ran for cover under a pine tree and found myself with one other person, Coach Frank Kush. You would think it was the sunniest day of Camp when looking at the big smile on the good ol' coach's face... and mine. Attendees of Camp T are DieHard Devils. Are you? Prove it.  *  *  * Camp Tontozona Dates:  August 12-17 with scrimmage on 8/17. DieHardDevil.com will post practice and scrimmage information heading into Fall Camp. Stay tuned. For more pictures from last years Camp, check out the gallery. The Culmination of Camp Tontazona

May 10, 2013 - 07:12 pm - #87 Chris Coyle By Eric Smith for DieHardDevil.com One thing that can not be over-stated is that, in a single season, the 2012 Sun Devils established a new identity for the ASU Football program. Here is a snap-shot of ASU’s 13 performances. As we look forward to a big 2013, these serve as reminder’s of the game-to-game trends that evolved into an 8-5 campaign under first year head coach, Todd Graham. Can this years team solidify ASU's identity and push it a step further up the hill?   Aug. 30, 2012 vs. NAU: W 63-6   Marion Grice led all rushers with 107 yards on 14 carries and three touchdowns The Sun Devils rushed for a combined 305 yards on 51 attempts (5.98 per attempt) Taylor Kelly made his first career start going 15-19 for 247 yards and one touchdown. Kelly also rushed six times for 43 yards. Brandon Magee made two tackles and one interception, which he returned 45 yards for a touchdown. It was his first and only career pick six. ASU allowed 237 total yards (88 rushing, 149 passing)    Sept. 8, 2012 vs. Illinois: W 45-14   The Sun Devils forced three interceptions, two from freshman linebacker Carlos Mendoza. A shoulder injury would end Mendoza’s season against the Illini QB Michael Eubank threw five passes completing all of them for 69 yards and tossing two touchdowns. Eubank also ran seven times for 51 yards and another score. TE Chris Coyle hauled in 10 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns. ASU sacked Illinois six times for 35 yards. ASU racked up 510 total yards of offense, (192 rush, 318 pass)   Sept. 15, 2012 @ Missouri: L 20-24     Taylor Kelly was 14 for 23 passing for 178 with one touchdown and two interceptions. Kelly had a team-high 15 rushes for 59 yards. The Sun Devils were held to 113 yards rushing, their second lowest total of the season. LB Brandon Magee recorded his second interception in three games. Magee led all Sun Devils with 12 total tackles. ASU controlled time of possession, holding the ball the ball for 34:51 to Missouri’s 25:09 The Sun Devils were lights-out on third down, allowing Missouri to convert only twice in 12 attempts.   Sept. 22, 2012 vs. Utah: W 37-7    Head Coach, Todd Graham Utah’s two-time 1,000 yard rusher, John White, was shut down by ASU’s defense, gaining only 18 net yards on 14 carries. ASU’s defense allowed only 129 yards of total offense. The defense only allowed two drives of more than 26 yards. 21 of ASU’s 37 points came in the first quarter. QB Taylor Kelly threw 326 yards on 19 completions as well as three touchdowns and one interception. RB D.J. Foster rushed a team-high seven times and 70 yards as well as catching one pass for 26 yards. LB Brandon Magee had a game-high 10 tackles as well as a forced fumble that he recovered.   Sept. 29, 2012 @ Cal: W 27-17 ASU sacked Cal QB Zach Maynard seven times, tied for the most in a game all-season DT Will Sutton and DE Junior Onyeali combined for five of the seven sacks. The Sun Devil offense ran a whopping 94 offensive plays for 409 yards. Of those 94 plays, ASU ran the ball 48 times (51%) but only gained 116 yards (2.4 yards per rush) and didn’t score a rushing touchdown. K Alex Garoutte had a rough day going 2 for 5 on field goals, one of which was blocked. ASU fumbled the ball three times but didn’t lose any of them. WR Kevin Ozier caught three passes for 41 yards and two touchdowns.   Oct. 11, 2012 @ Colorado: W 51-17 The Sun Devils put on their second-best offensive performance of the year with 593 yards of offense (261 rush, 332 pass) Taylor Kelly passed for 308 yards on 20-28 passing and tossed five touchdowns. RB Marion Grice did most of his damage as a receiver, catching five passes for 101 yards and three touchdowns. RB Cameron Marshall rumbled for 98 yards on 13 carries. RB D.J. Foster led the team with 132 all-purpose yards (61 rush, 71 receiving) LB Brandon Magee made a game-high nine solo tackles as well as sacking Colorado QB Jordan Webb twice DT Will Sutton also chipped in two sacks.   Oct 18, 2012 vs. No. 2 Oregon: L 21-43 ASU scored on its very first offensive play, a 28-yard strike from QB Taylor Kelly to WR Kevin Ozier. The Sun Devil defense was gashed for a season-high 406 rushing yards. ASU suffered demoralizing injuries to DT Will Sutton and DE Junior Onyeali in the first quarter. The Sun Devil defnese gave up touchdown runs of 71 and 86 yards. QB Taylor Kelly was 10 of 18 passing  for 93 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He was also sacked five times. QB Michael Eubank didn’t fare much better, going 10 for 19 passing for 123 yards, one touchdown and two picks. S Alden Darby led ASU in tackles with 12. The Sun Devils outscored Oregon 14-0 in the second half but it was too little too late by then.   #1 Marion Grice Oct. 26, 2012 vs. UCLA: L 43-45   ASU had trouble containing UCLA RB Johnathan Franklin who had 164 rushing yards on 26 carries and two touchdowns. RB D.J. Foster led the Sun Devils in receiving with 107 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions. It was his only 100 receiving-yard game. Foster also led the team in rushing yards with 61 yards on 13 carries. QB Taylor Kelly threw for 315 yards and four scores on 25 for 35 passing with one interception. RB Marion Grice caught two touchdowns on six receptions for 69 yards. CB Osahon Irabor made nine solo tackles, his most in a game all season. The Sun Devils managed to sack UCLA QB Brett Hundley five times but also gave up four sacks on Kelly. With 1:33 left, ASU led the Bruins 45-43. Hundley would lead a 12-play, 60-yard drive setting up UCLA to kick a game-winning field goal as time expired.   Nov. 3, 2012 @ No. 13 Oregon State: L 26-36   DT Will Sutton returned to action. QB Taylor Kelly struggled against one of the Pac-12’s best defenses, posting his lowest pass efficiency rating of the season (88.18) Kelly was 22-41 for only 153 yards and one touchdown and one interception. The defense struggled against the run again, allowing 146 yards on 19 carries to OSU RB Terron Ward. However, the defense did manage to sack OSU QB Cody Vaz six times. For the third straight game ASU gave up 400+ yards of offense. The Sun Devils only converted four third downs on 17 attempts (23%) LB Brandon Magee posted another double-digit tackle performance registering 12 total tackles and a sack.   Nov. 10, 2012 @ No. 21 USC: L 17-38   In a recurring theme, stopping the run was an issue against the Trojans. USC RB Curtis McNeal racked up 163 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. Additionally, USC WR and Biletnikoff Award winner Marquise Lee hauled in 10 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown. QB Taylor Kelly was sacked a season-high seven times. ASU was held to a season-low 71 rushing yards. TE Chris Coyle led all Sun Devil receivers with five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. The Sun Devils turned the ball over four times: one fumble lost and Taylor Kelly threw three interceptions.    Nov. 17, 2012 vs. Washington State: W 46-7   In four previous games, ASU allowed an average of 250 rushing yards per game. Against WSU, they allowed one. QB Taylor Kelly was exceptional, going 20-23 for 246 yards and four touchdowns and an efficiency rating of 234.19. WR Rashad Ross snagged eight catches for 79 yards and two scores. TE Chris Coyle, had three catches for 53 yards and another two touchdowns. ASU’s defene sacked Washington State’s quarterbacks a combined seven times. DE Davon Coleman led the team with two sacks. RB Cameron Marshall led all rushers with 77 yards on 16 carries. S Keelan Johnson intercepted two passes and returned them for a combined 35 yards.   Ready to take the field in Tucson Nov. 23, 2012 @ Arizona: W 41-34   The Sun Devils forced four UA turnovers that led to 28 points. With ASU leading 34-27 in the fourth quarter Robert Nelson had a critical interception that he returned 66 yards to the Arizona two-yard line setting up a Michael Eubank rushing touchdown. ASU had less total yards of offense that UA in the win (460-522) RB Marion Grice was named the Bob Moran Game MVP with 18 rushes for 156 yards and three touchdowns. S Keelan Johnson had an interception as well as forced a fumble. LB Brandon Magee was all over the field making 17 total tackles, 14 solo. ASU had seven penalties for 86 yards.    Dec. 29, 2012 vs. Navy: W 62-28    The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl performance against Navy was by far ASU’s best all year, posting 648 yards of total offense. After the tragic shooting death of his brother, RB Marion Grice had a standout rushing performance, racking up 159 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns. QB Taylor Kelly threw for 267 yards on 17-19 passing with four touchdowns. WR Rashad Ross had his best game of the season, snagging four passes, three for touchdowns and 139 yards. DT Will Sutton chipped in 2.5 sacks, brining his total on the year to 13. ASU’s Defense allowed only 37 passing yards but surrendered 313 rushing yards to Navy’s option-style running attack. On their 68 offensive plays, the Sun Devils averaged 9.5 yards per play.   We can only imagine the nature of the battle summaries we’ll be reviewing in a year.   With a calendar that includes the Badgers, Cardinal, Trojans and Irish, that new identity formed by last year’s team will be tested about as hard as any college football fan could ask. It is the long, hard road necessary to produce a Championship team. Will that be Todd Graham’s Sun Devils?   

May 07, 2013 - 08:56 pm - Tempe, AZ – The Arizona State baseball team has performed to mixed reviews this season. On one hand, they lead the Pac-12 conference in hits (472), home runs (34) and slugging percentage (.453). They are also second in the conference with a .299 team batting average. On the other hand, their defense and fielding percentage ranks near the bottom of the conference.  Sun Devil pitching falls somewhere in the middle with a team ERA of 3.94. Current Pac-12 baseball standings as of May 7th. Those numbers are an interesting combination of stats that have allowed the Devils to beat some of the best teams in the nation, yet also blow some big leads and lose games because of poor defense and untimely errors. As ASU baseball heads down the home stretch with 11 games left in the 2013 regular season, it’s hard to predict where the team will end up when it’s all said and done. The remaining games include road trips to Cal and Washington, and the Devils will host Texas Tech, Arizona and BYU at Packard Stadium. Looking back at the season to this point, the inconsistent defense has been the achilles heel for the 2013 Sun Devils. If they are able to tighten things up in the field and reduce the amount of errors, this team has the potential to do some special things in the coming months. Currently, ASU sits at fourth place in the conference behind Oregon State, Oregon and UCLA.  At their current pace, they should remain as one of the top 5 teams in the conference and will keep post season play on the agenda. Anything less would be unacceptable for the Arizona State baseball program. Remaining schedule for ASU Baseball.

May 02, 2013 - 03:29 pm - Brandon Magee has been a fan favorite of Sun Devil Nation over the course of his five years in Tempe. #8 wreaked havoc on opposing offenses from his linebacker position. But there is so much more to the man that has embodied the prototypical student-athlete. He's an extremely proud Sun Devil, a leader, a family man and a hero to many grade school kids who he proactively sought out to advise on the virtue of being the best they can be in everything they do. Last night at ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism downtown campus, a 27-minute documentary, “Unbreakable", was showcased chronicling the life and times of not only Brandon's college football career, but his larger-than-life personality off the field. Master Tesfatsion, an ASU journalism student, writer for the State Press and intern for Rivals.com’s ASUDevils, followed the last several weeks of Magee's life as he prepared for the NFL combine, ASU Pro Day and an BOOM!... Sack by #8 at Colorado. NFL Draft party this past weekend in Newport Beach, CA. It was in in-depth look at the player, student, workout warrior and true leader that some of us have had the pleasure of meeting. As great of a job that Master and his colleagues did, it is certain that 27 minutes barely scratched the surface. I'd still love to see what ended up on the cutting room floor. Described by friends and family as a never-quit, humble “regular” guy who has lived his life doing nothing but maximizing his God-given potential, Brandon has exceeded expectations at every turn. The documentary caught a glimpse of a person who has overcome great odds to become a star on and off the field of the ASU campus. His parents, who instilled in Brandon basic old-fashioned values, took in many of his friends from Centennial High School in Corona, CA who needed support and a family structure. Linebackers Vontaze Burfict and Shelly Lyons, Brandon’s teammates in High School and at ASU, were just a couple of the young men that the Magee family took in without blinking an eye. Coach Todd Graham took over the ASU program for the 2012 season while Brandon was still recovering from an Achilles tendon rupture that robbed him of his true senior season. Graham knew about Magee and sought him out within 48 hours of his arrival. The things that the new coach stood for resonated with Brandon, and he immediately responded by becoming the emotional leader of his team despite doubts that Magee could return to his pre-injury form. Any time Magee was asked if he could return to his pre-injury form, his resounding response that included a larger than life smile was always, "NO. I'll be better!" And that he was during a dominant 2012 season that culminated in a 17-tackle performance against our in-state rival that almost defined who Mr. Brandon Magee is as not only a player, but an individual. Something that I was not previously aware of was that when Graham started to rally the team trailing 27-17 going into the 4th quarter, Magee stepped in and said, "Coach, I've got this."  Only the players on the roster know what Magee said, but we all know the outcome of that game. Brandon had been in contact with several NFL teams heading into the draft, and was confident that he would be taken by one of them. As the draft was finishing, Magee was left out in the cold when one name after another was called that weren't his. Shortly thereafter, he received a few calls from teams including the Dallas Cowboys who ended up offering him an unprecedented contract for a free-agent. Brandon has stated that he selected the Cowboys because of how he fit into their 4-3 defensive scheme versus the paycheck. I believe him. And the many programs that passed on him entirely will surely remember his name when he exceeds expectations and meets them on the field. Great advocate for ASU. Great leader. Great linebacker. Die-Hard-Devil. Here's a clip of Brandon in true form after the 2010 Territorial Cup Victory:  *  *  * Side note:  The first time I met Brandon was out one night after the 2011 season when he was with his brother Angelo right after ASU’s Pro Day. I introduced myself, and Brandon did nothing but tell me about how well Angelo had done during his evaluation in front of the scouts. I've since had a number of run-ins with him off the field, and I'm not sure I've ever seen him without a smile on his face. DHD will present “Unbreakable” Documentary upon it's YouTube release in the coming week. Master's twitter handle is @MasterTes. * * * Many rock songs could represent how #8 played for ASU. We chose this one, Led Zeppelin's "Achilles Last Stand" (live at Knebworth 1979). It hits hard and it's relentless. Can you think of a more appropriate cut? Post it in the DieHard Forums.

Apr 30, 2013 - 01:44 pm - HUB Tower overlooks Frank Kush Field from the southwest Tempe, AZ – By now, you have most likely noticed the towering building under construction that has changed the skyline near Sun Devil Stadium. Just across the light rail tracks from where ASU Football plays on Saturdays, this new, urban residential tower called the HUB on Campus is being custom built for the students of Arizona State University.However, this isn’t your standard student housing. This exciting new project is taking the Sun Devil student lifestyle to another level. Think Las Vegas contemporary style meets the culture of Arizona State to create one of the coolest places to live not only on the ASU campus, but any college campus across the country. Always looking to take advantage of the warm, sunny weather in Tempe, the project design includes some custom amenities that will fit right in with the Sun Devil student culture. Melissa Flath, Leasing Manager for the project added, “There is a 40,000 square foot amenity deck that hosts a layout pool with island, swimming pool, hot tub, sand volleyball court, tanning salon, sauna and an enormous indoor/outdoor fitness center." In addition to the progressive design features of the rooms and the outdoor pool area, another attractive feature is all the unique views that surround the project. “The most impressive aspects of the building (besides the penthouse units with private hot tubs) are the views. Looking in any direction, residents are likely to see downtown Phoenix, Tempe Town Lake, Mill Avenue, mountains, ASU Tempe campus and into the Sun Devil Stadium.” The HUB is currently 78% pre-leased for the fall 2013 semester. The project is scheduled to be completed in early August so students can HUB on Campus start moving in to their new home on the ASU campus. “Hub On Campus is a privately owned, fully furnished, 19-story apartment complex that offers studio, one, two, three, four and five bedroom options as well as penthouses with private outdoor hot tubs in the unit,” added Flath. “There’s certain aspects of the building that just cannot be duplicated like the location, views and sense of community.” Click here for more information on the HUB Tower on Campus The HUB on Campus will feature unique views of Sun Devil Stadium. Conceptual rendering of the pool area. Future home for Sun Devil undergrads. Conceptual rendering of the "Vegas style" pool area and amenities.    

Apr 29, 2013 - 07:23 pm - Now that Spring Ball has ended, DieHard Devil will satisfy your Sun Devil Football Fix, otherwise known as "S.D.F.F." until ASU's Fall Camp begins on Tuesday, August 2. In the meantime, download your 2013 PAC-12 Helmet schedule and tack it up in your office. It'll serve as a healthy distraction from the summer heat. Plus, you can get a jump on the seven best tailgates at Sun Devil Stadium next season, all yours of course. The Sun Devils game #1 of fourteen, yep 14, kicks off on Thursday, September 5 when ASU hosts Sacramento State -- translated into more helpful terms: in 128 days -or- 4 months, 6 days from today. The 2012, 6-5 Hornets will look to play "sleeper" and rush out of Tempe with an upset over the Maroon & Gold. On the other hand, the team than comes out of Tillman Tunnel that night may be one of the most focused and prepared squads we have seen in quite a long time. Until then, we're all in this next four months together. God-speed. Download your own via the link below..  2013 PAC-12 Helmet Schedule      

Apr 28, 2013 - 09:41 pm - Now that the 2013 NFL Draft has come and gone, it’s time to take a quick look back at the performance of the Pac-12 conference overall and more importantly, the Arizona State Sun Devils. 2013 NFL Draft inlcuded 254 players drafted over seven rounds. A total 254 players were selected in seven complete rounds of the 2013 NFL Draft. Of the 254 players selected, 26 were from the Pac-12 conference, or roughly 10% of the total number. This translates to an average of about 2 players per Pac-12 team.  Some teams in the conference had more players selected than others and some teams missed out all together this year, like the Sun Devils. That’s right, not one ASU player was taken in the first seven rounds of the 2013 NFL Draft. This is the first time that has happened since the 1960’s. Not to worry though, plenty of Sun Devils were picked up and will be given a chance as undrafted free agents this year. Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Here is the list: Brandon Magee – Dallas Cowboys Cameron Marshall – Miami Dolphins Keelan Johnson – Miami Dolphins Deveron Carr – Tampa Bay Buccaneers Brice Schwab – Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rashad Ross – Tennessee Titans Jamal Miles – Jacksonville Jaguars Good luck gentlemen as you “Prove It” in the NFL.

Apr 26, 2013 - 04:26 pm - Needless to say, everything turned out as a “win-win” for both Brock Osweiler and the ASU Football program. But what if Brock decided to play at Sun Devil Stadium for one more year in 2012? It could have set off a chain of events that would put the Sun Devils in a very different situation than the one we have today heading into the 2013 season. Taylor Kelly wouldn’t have gained valuable experience As the senior returning starter, Brock would have gotten the majority of the snaps in the first transition year for new Head Coach Todd Graham. At first glance, playing Brock in the new system would reduce the risk of turnovers while having a proven leader on the field to guide the offense. Considering Taylor Kelly was in third position on the depth chart after spring practice, he would have had an even tougher battle to see playing time in 2012. As it turns out , with Brock gone, he was able to earn the starting spot, implement the new ASU offense, gain valuable experience and put up some very solid numbers (3,039 yards passing, 516 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns). Not to mention, he gained the respect of his teammates. Former Sun Devil QB, #17 Brock Osweiler. ASU Football would have a different look on offense With Osweiler not a serious running threat (don’t get me wrong, he is very athletic and can run if necessary), his speed and quickness wasn’t the perfect fit for Mike Norvell and the high octane offense. This would have given opponents one less thing to worry about and allow them to focus on the running backs and receivers. More plays would have been designed to showcase Brock’s arm strength, but with an average receiving corps, maybe more opportunities for turnovers. The play calling might have been more limited and that could have translated to some different results for wins and losses. One or more of the current quarterbacks would have transferred It’s crazy to think of this now, but it’s very possible that Taylor Kelly could have transferred to another school. Fighting his way up the depth chart and with plenty of existing competition with Mike Bercovici and Michael Eubank, if Brock stayed, the situation could have seemed hopeless.  As a result, the most logical thing for Kelly at the time would have been to leave ASU and start at another program. Along with Kelly, Eubank wouldn’t have seen the field much at all in 2012 and could have shared similar thoughts.  If that series of events took place, your opening day starter for the 2013 season would be Mike Bercovici. Although Berco is a very capable option, Coach Graham now has three quarterbacks on the roster that can all lead and execute. Current Sun Devil QB, Taylor Kelly. Brock would have been drafted in the second round or lower in 2013 Since only one quarterback was taken in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft, and the ones that are still available aren’t getting NFL teams too excited, this would have most likely meant a lower draft position for Osweiler if he came out this year instead of last. Also, it would have been tough to eclipse his 4,000+ passing yards in 2012 in a new system with a new coach, without Gerrell Robinson and Aaron Pflugrad catching his passes. Also, if he waited another year, he wouldn’t have found himself in the fortunate position with the Denver Broncos where he got to sit and watch in 2012, and learn from one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, Peyton Manning. It’s hard to imagine a better situation for Brock moving forward. Looking back, I was one of the people that was very surprised when Brock made his announcement to enter the NFL draft in 2012. It seemed to make perfect sense for him to return to ASU and lead the new direction of the football program under Coach Graham. As it turns out, Brock made the right decision for himself and the ASU Football program, and set off the chain of events that we have today: A confident starting quarterback with experience and success that the team and fans can believe in for a promising 2013 season…Mr. Taylor Kelly. Brock just tweeted this Photo from the Denver Broncos locker room. @BrockOsweiler 17's back!! Appreciate @Acaldwell17 making the trade. #LYL

Apr 24, 2013 - 03:40 pm - Packard Stands By Nate McWhorter for DieHardDevil.com History When I was 7 years-old growing up in Phoenix, my family moved from Ahwatukee to Cave Creek. Now that move from the South-Valley suburb to the North-Valley suburb may seem like a ridiculous thing to be upset about now, but to a 7 year-old kid, I might as well have been moving to Cave Creek, Afghanistan. I had the same feeling today when ASU officially announced that beginning in 2015, Phoenix Municipal, not Packard Stadium would be the home of Sun Devil Baseball. I understand the reasons why they have decided to make the move, but it doesn't mean I like it. Just like I understood that my Dad got a new job and we needed to move closer to his workplace, but I still didn't like it. Sun Devil Baseball, like my Dad all those years ago, has a new job...and it pays. Maybe the main reason I don't like it is because of what Packard is to become…a parking lot with plans for a commercial development. If it were to become a new facility for athletics or academics that would propel the university even further up the ranks of North American and worldwide institutions, then I probably wouldn't have such a hard time with the move. Packard Stadium Family Packard is where I grew up. We've frozen together, we've fried together, we've laughed and we've cried together. Some of my highest moments of joy (Joey DiMichele home run in the regional vs New Mexico 2011) and some of my deepest moments of sorrow (2008 defeat in the Super Regional vs Fresno State) have happened at Packard. And there are too many others to mention. At Packard, I've had friendships forged, ended and mended. I've watched kids grow up there just as folks watched me grow up in the same bleachers. Packard is family. Talk to anyone who has spent a weekend in Section A and they'll tell you the same. In the winter of 2013 I moved to Alabama, leaving behind my friends and family. Most notable among them was my Dad. The man who forced me to move to Cave Creek, who brought me to my first game at Packard (Florida State as far as I remember), who spent money we probably didn't have to buy tickets to a game we could have watched on TV at home, and who I had convinced to buy season tickets in 2012 so we could spend more time together, I had now left. He still texts me updates every inning of every game. Packard is family. Future Sentiment aside we move on. As I have discussed on DieHard Devil in the past, we must accept the university and athletics trying to keep up in the arms ASU Baseball race that is collegiate athletics. However, long ago, when ASU announced they would be leaving Packard in the near future, we started running the “what if” scenarios. Phoenix Muni was my favorite option. I promise this has nothing to do with me being a life-long A's fan, BUT Phoenix Muni is similar in style to Packard. It has a great view like Packard. It is close to campus, it has a small feel and Reggie Jackson still played there. Phoenix Muni brings its own history along with it, Willie Mays hit the first ever home run in Muni, and the Dodgers first ever Spring Training game in Arizona was played in Muni, a year or two before they moved Dodgertown to Glendale. The other benefit of Muni over other options is that it will be ours. We won't have to share it with a big league club. We'll have big league facilities which will attract even more big league recruits. We can say to top kids in the valley "Would you rather play in an old spring training park in Tucson, or right here where all your friends and family can come every weekend?” Future Home to ASU Baseball Phoenix Muni makes sense. So this is the world we live in. Even though I knew months ago what the plans were, today feels like I'm losing a home. However looking back on it, I would not have met some of my closest and dearest friends had I not moved to Cave Creek. Forever a Sun Devil, The Guy with the Beard. Video: The Future Home to Sun Devil Baseball Phoenix Municipal Stadium, prior home to the Oakland A's Spring ballpark

Apr 22, 2013 - 01:16 pm - Going into the 2012 season, many Arizona State fans figured that the running back duties would belong Cameron Marshall. After having an outstanding 2011 season, he seemed poised to finish with a bang in his senior season. While Marshall did lead the Sun Devils in rushing, JUCO-transfer Marion Grice and freshman D.J. Foster both emerged as high octane, outstanding options not only in 2012, but for 2013. Now that year one is in the books for the talented Foster, just how good was he, and how good will he be? D.J. Foster diving catch for TD in Boulder, Colorado  From the very beginning, Foster showed that he was ready to help Arizona State. Although he is listed at running back, he actually had 40 more yards receiving the ball in 2012. Overall, he finished the year with 1026 yards (rushing/receiving) and six touchdowns while sharing the backfield with two other players. Those statistics made him one of the most promising freshmen in Arizona State football history, and with his ideal size and overall skill, he could really explode in the coming years. Compared to past first year Sun Devils, Foster and defensive lineman Jaxon Hood, both born and bred in Arizona, became only the fifth and sixth true freshmen to start in their first-ever opportunity. Foster more than lived up to the hype after having an outstanding high school career in the state. He became the school’s freshman leader in all-purpose yardage, while finishing second in ASU history to another AZ talent, TE Zach Miller, in receptions and receiving yards. Pretty good for a non-wide receiver/tight end.  With highly-skilled Marion Grice looking to prove his worth to play on Sundays, D.J. might not truly explode with his numbers in 2013 and be a solid FanDuel Fantasy Football pick, until 2014. He will still get plenty of opportunities to be a playmaker though, and his future is one of the brightest in some time in Tempe.