Edwards downplays road concerns
The road to the Pac-12 South title goes through ASU, which must clinch the championship on the road.
The Sun Devils (6-4, 4-3 Pac-12) were picked in a league media poll to finish last in the Pac-12 South heading this season, their first under coach Herm Edwards.
Now, they are in control of their own destiny, on the cusp of the division title.
To clinch the title this weekend, the Sun Devils must win at Oregon and have Utah and Arizona lose their respective games. If ASU wins and Utah takes care of business at Colorado, the Sun Devils can win the championship with a victory at archrival Arizona the following week.
ASU’s home schedule is over, and the Sun Devils are 1-3 away from Tempe, Ariz. Edwards is downplaying that fact.
“I always liked going on the road,” Edwards said during his weekly Monday press conference. “It’s just you and your guys — no distractions.”
The Sun Devils are certainly a confident bunch, winning three straight games, the last one a 31-28 escape against UCLA last week at Sun Devil Stadium.
ASU has played its last three games in the afternoon. The Sun Devils will play at night Saturday in cold temperatures at a tough place to play, Oregon’s Autzen Stadium.
Edwards said he will have his players work with wet footballs if rain is part of the forecast, but he is not concerned.
“I don’t make a whole big deal out of all of that stuff,” he said. “You don’t worry about all that nonsense. I’ve never seen too many games canceled. You go out and play. I played in some really cold, cold games and they don’t cancel it.
“You start talking and all that, why? You’re going to play, so why worry about it? Just go out there and play. It’s not like they’re playing in a bubble and we’re playing outside.”