ASU in wait-and-see mode now
From the upset of 15th-ranked Michigan State in early September to being in last place in the Pac-12 South at the end of October, the season has been a rollercoaster ride for ASU and first-year coach Herm Edwards.
The Devils have gone from No. 23 in the nation after the upset of the Spartans to being 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Pac-12 with a schedule ahead that includes USC, No. 23 Utah and No. 19 Oregon in three of the next four weeks.
“You can’t panic,” Edwards said during his Monday press conference. “You cannot panic and I won’t. Look, you guys have watched me coach seven games. You seen any panic in me?
“You won’t.”
Arizona State has been competitive in all four losses — to San Diego State, Washington, Colorado and Stanford — losing each game by seven points. All but the loss to Stanford came on the road.
Senior quarterback Manny Wilkins has proven to be one of the grittiest leaders in the Pac-12. His primary target, receiver N’Keal Harry, is ready to play in the NFL right now. That combination is one of the most exciting in the Pac-12.
“I have a preview, a vision of what we are trying to do here,” Edwards said. “And I think the players understand that, the coaching staff understands that, the administration understands that. We’re all on the same page.
“And I said this when I took this job: When those players walk into that stadium, especially our stadium, and they walk by that (Pat) Tillman statue, whatever they have they’ll leave on the grass.”
Of the close loses, Edwards said, “I like the resolve. They continue to fight and they’ll continue to fight because they understand they’re that close. I feel bad for the players, I really do. Because of the effort and everything they put into it, it’s going to cash in one day.”
“It’s a process,” Edwards continued. “And you got to enjoy the process, and I do.”