Field Goal Fest Goes To The Sun Devils 19-16 Over Utes

The kickers were the star of the show at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona Saturday night.

Utah's Andy Phillips was good from 50, 36 and 44 yards in regulation time

Arizona State's Zane Gonzalez was good from 20, 45 and 30 yards in regulation time but missed a 50 yarder in the second quarter.

With the game going into overtime and both offenses having an off night the game would come down to the kickers.

Utah received the ball first in the OT period and this is when Andy Phillips picked the wrong time to miss a field goal.

Phillips' kick sailed wide left.

When Zane Gonzalez had a chance to nail the game winner in overtime he did.  His 36 yard field goal split the uprights and the Sun Devils were winners over the Utes 19-16.


"Zane is a big time kicker"  Arizona State head coach Todd Graham said.

“We were extremely confident."  Arizona State defensive back Jordan Simone said. "He's the best kicker in the country. We believe that and he believes that, and he proved that tonight."

While Gonzalez was celebrating his good fortune he was also looking toward the other locker room and feeling for Andy Phillips.

"Andy Phillips is a great kicker." Gonzalez said.  "I don’t know if any of you know about him, but tremendous respect to that guy. He’s a great kicker. I just hope he doesn’t be too hard on himself tonight.”

"No one is harder on themselves than I am on myself for not putting the ball through the uprights." Utah kicker Andy Phillips said.

Sun Devils Sarafin Comes Out: Just How Big A Deal Is This Now...???

((HT: AZCentral.com/Haller))

Chip Sarafin has been a part of the Arizona State football program for the last four seasons as a non-scholarship offensive lineman. And in an article released today in Tempe, Arizona-based Compete magazine Sarafin told writer Joshua Wyrick that he is gay.

Serafin told Wyrick that he started telling his teammates that he's gay back in the spring. The news became public with the release of the magazine on Wednesday.

According to the article, there has been no issue with Sarafin and is Sun Devil teammates since his announcement and it is thought that he is the first-ever Division I football player to announce he is gay during his activity on campus.

Here's the first look from Dan Bickley:
((HT: KPNX-TV))
ASU head coach Todd Graham released a statement: "We are a brotherhood that is not defined by cultural and personal differences, but rather an individual's commitment to the Sun Devil Way. Chip is a fifth-year senior and a Scholar Baller, a graduate and a master's student. His commitment to service is unmatched and it is clear he is on his way to leading a successful life after his playing career, a goal that I have for every student-athlete. Diversity and acceptance are two of the pillars of our program, and he has full support from his teammates and the coaching staff." Vice President for Athletics Ray Anderson said Sarafin has ASU's support: "The entire athletics department is extremely proud of Chip and is unequivocally supportive of him. His undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering, his pursuit of a master's in the same field, his research involving football-related concussions, and his heavy involvement in the community with both youth sports in Arizona and the Tillman Scholars embodies all the characteristics that set our student-athletes apart and allows our university to maintain an environment of inclusiveness and progression."
And the larger question is: Is this THAT big a deal in its progressive behavior...???

The HQ lauds Sarafin and the stance of ASU at present and we hope it continues...

Pac-12 Review: Wazzu Goes Pass Happier Than Normal, Stanford Stays Up, ASU Blows Out Washington

((HT: Pac-12 Network/FS1))

The Ess-E-Cee didn't have all the fun as conferences go on Saturday...

First, let's go to the records... and it didn't have anything to do with Oregon...

The HQ will give the Ducks credit for the pink touches to their amalgam of uniform combinations and permutations Saturday. But after a bit of a scare, they put the pedal down and beat Washington State as they should. The big story was Wazzu QB Connor Halliday, who set a D1 record for pass attempts with 89, breaking a record held previously by Drew Brees. Halliday also tied a record for completions with 58, tying the mark set by Andy Schmitt.

Admittedly, it's hard to pin down a 63-28 game to 1:40 with all that went down. But, here you go...


And, so you know, Washington State only had two yards rushing...

Oregon DC Nick Aliotti was less than happy about the efforts of the Pirate late in the game...
((HT: Campus Insiders))


Elsewhere, the HQ was keeping a keen eye on Boulder early Saturday afternoon as Charleston Southern was only down 22-10 in the first half. That didn't finish so well for the Bucs in the 43-10 loss...

Who knew Todd Graham had what his Sun Devils had in their system as they blew the living hell outta Washington (who won't be ranked anymore) after losing 53-24...

Ted Robinson and Glenn Parker confine their talk to 2:00...


Stanford knocked off UCLA in what a lot of folks didn't even consider an upset, and USC fans will have to try and figure out Coach O and what he'll say about the team's loss to Notre Dame in South Bend...

Late Night CFB: Oregon sprints past Arizona State

Oregon was down 7-0 after fumbling on their 1st play from scrimmage.

It would be the only time they trailed Thursday night. The Ducks used 143 yards rushing from Kenjon Barner and 135 from QB Marcus Mariota to fuel a 43-21 rout over Arizona State which quite honestly, wasn't that close.

Oregon's defense forced 4 turnovers and Arizona State's supposed #1 Pac 12 defense (if there is such a thing) couldn't stop the Quack Attack from doing whatever it wanted to.

There was concern...at least by the 4-letter pundits that Oregon might struggle because of Mariota's inexperience and it being his 1st road game. And...raising that question did a good job of drumming up interest.

But there's a difference. Oregon easily justified their #2 ranking in the Weeks OSG Sports Dirty Dozen and now climb to 7-0. They still face games with USC, Stanford and a really tough Oregon State team that could knock them off. But it would be a surprise if that happens.

As for the Sun Devils, they drop to a very respectable 5-2 under 1st year wandering coach Todd Graham. The program, which had been struggling under previous coach Dennis Erickson seems to have found some footing, drawing 70,000 to a Thursday night game in the "Valley of the Sun".

KVAL-TV in Eugene provides us with some highlights:

Green With Envy: Oregon Infiltrates Tempe Mountain

((HT: AZCentral.com))

The HQ knows that Oregon is heading to Tempe to take on Arizona State for a nationally-televised game tonight...

And, as people say, Thursday night is where ranked teams go to die...

So, Oregon fans, knowing where the home game is played, took their pride to the mountain top (literally) this morning to paint their colors over the "A"...

Evidence below...

Apparently, it has been painted over since the initial color changing...
Back to black...

Here's Todd Graham talking about the game... before he goes somewhere else...
((HT: ArizonaSports620))

DEVELOPING: Todd Graham To Arizona State

Hey, Todd Graham is changing addresses again...

What a shock...

Signs a 10-year deal with Tulsa, leaves for Pitt, texts his players a little after noon telling them he's heading to Tempe...

Graham told Joe Schad: "Coaching there has always been a dream of ours and we have family there..."

yeah, sure...

More when we know more... but this shows you how desperate ASU is to get a head football coach after turning away June Jones and Todd Haley...