Arizona Desert Swarm - ASU vs. Arizona: 2012 Duel in the DesertYour No. 1 free source for all things Arizona Wildcatshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46873/ds-fave.png2012-11-23T22:46:19-08:00http://www.azdesertswarm.com/rss/stream/34416272012-11-23T22:46:19-08:002012-11-23T22:46:19-08:00Turnovers turn cheerful Arizona lead to loss
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<figcaption>Christian Petersen</figcaption>
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<p>The Arizona State Sun Devils used fourth-quarter turnovers to drop the Arizona Wildcats on Friday in Arizona Stadium.</p> <p>As rivalry games go, and especially as those in the Duel in the Desert, the script of the season leading into the final regular season game won't hint at much to do with the task at hand.</p>
<p>The ASU Sun Devils and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/arizona-wildcats">Arizona Wildcats</a> went back and forth in the 2012 battle for the Territorial Cup, but Matt Scott turnovers gave Todd Graham's squad touchdowns as it beat UA, 41-34, in Tucson on Friday night.</p>
<p>Scott finished with 19-of-39 yards, 230 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions and a fumble, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135340/ka-deem-carey">Ka'Deem Carey</a> playing sparingly in the second half <a href="https://twitter.com/ryan_finley/status/272207132173139969" target="_blank">because of a shoulder injury or collarbone bruise didn't help.</a> Carey put up 172 yards on 25 carries on the night.</p>
<p>The Wildcats first scored on a 1-yard Carey burst on their second possession of the game as Arizona went early and often to the sophomore running back.</p>
<p>Bonano missed the point after, a seemingly bad sign for the night to come. Special teams issues were only part of it by game's end.</p>
<p>Carey earned 19 carries in the first half while eclipsing the 100-yard mark, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77388/daniel-jenkins">Daniel Jenkins</a> took over in the second half while Carey worked out an apparent shoulder injury.</p>
<p>Jenkins rushed for 22 yards on 78 carries and Carey attempted a comeback in the second half but couldn't be his usual, productive self.</p>
<p>Scott struggled mightily in the first half, hitting 7-of-18 passes and throwing two interceptions. Both resulted in second-quarter touchdowns as ASU went ahead 14-6, but Bonano hit a 33-yard field as time expired before the half to see UA trail 14-9.</p>
<p>Scott and company opened the third quarter with force. While ASU's Jon Mora hit a 26-yard field goal less than three minutes into the third, Scott threw touchdown passes to Austin Hill and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112729/garic-wharton">Garic Wharton</a> for two scores in the heart of the second, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77396/john-bonano">John Bonano</a> ran in a fake extra point after the second touchdown catch to give Arizona a 24-17 lead.</p>
<p>Bonano snuck in a 23-yard field goal later in the third to give Arizona a 27-17 lead, and Mora answered early in the fourth with his own field goal, but then the turnover virus struck. Scott fumbled while attempting to leap a blocker, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162475/marion-grice">Marion Grice</a> -- 18 carries for 156 yards on the night -- rushed it in for a quick ASU score to tie the game at 27.</p>
<p>A blocked punt at Arizona own 15-yard line led to another ASU touchdown, and then a Scott interception returned 66 yards to UA's 2-yard line before another score with just less than three minutes remaining. The Wildcats would score on a quick drive but failed on a onside kick.</p>
<p>The loss brings a damper to what should have, could have, might have been a stellar season. The Stanford loss, the Oregon State loss and the showing against the Sun Devils on Friday all represented how close Arizona was, with just one more win, might've been a storybook season.</p>
<p>Luckily, a senior class led by Scott and an injured <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37903/dan-buckner">Dan Buckner</a> can salvage the disappointment with a bowl game on the horizon.</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2012/11/23/3684564/asu-vs-arizona-recapKevin Zimmerman2012-11-23T19:00:23-08:002012-11-23T19:00:23-08:00Gamethread: Wildcats face team that can't spell
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<figcaption>"Why would I spent time learning words and numbers when they don't mean anything?" | Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Join us as the Arizona Wildcats host the Arizona State Sun Devils in the 2012 Duel in the Desert.</p> <p>This is all you need to know about today. Bear down on spelling bees and football games.<br><br> <a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1785837/azdesertswarm.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1785837/azdesertswarm_medium.jpg" alt="Azdesertswarm_medium"></a> <br id="1353724149389"></p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/2012/11/23/3684132/gamethread-arizona-state-cant-spell-wildcats-face-team-that-cannotKevin Zimmerman2012-11-23T08:59:03-08:002012-11-23T08:59:03-08:00Duel in the Desert Q&A with House of Sparky
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<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>SBNation Arizona State blog House of Sparky joined Desert Swarm to talk Duel in the Desert 2012. </p> <p> </p>
<div style="color: #222222;">Brad Denny of <a href="http://houseofsparky.com" target="_blank">House of Sparky</a> joined Desert Swarm to talk about the Duel in the Desert. Both the Sun Devils and Wildcats embarked on new eras in 2012, making this year's battle for the Territorial Cup particularly intriguing. We gained insight on ASU's thought about Todd Graham, building to the future, outstanding defensive lineman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77518/will-sutton">Will Sutton</a> and much more.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222;">Be sure to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.houseofsparky.com/2012/11/21/3673350/asu-vs-arizona-preview">read our end of the Q&A over at House of Sparky</a>.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222;"><b>Q: How do you gauge Todd Graham's first season? Piggybacking off that, how did perception of the hire change (or gain validation) from the hot start? Have the struggles since changed that? </b></div>
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<b>House of Sparky: </b>Despite the recent freakout that much of the fanbase went through during the four-game losing streak, this season has been quite a success. He inherited a program in utter disarray, and within a few months had secured an impressive recruiting class, appeased a fan and alumni base that was near revolt and infused optimism in the community. Since then, he's had the team show traits—mental toughness, discipline, giving 100% on every snap—that had long been lost. Those point to a bright future.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">The Sun Devil fanbase is very fairweather by nature, so during the 5-1 start, people were ready to deify Graham and turn his "Speaking Victory" mantra into the new gospel. During the losing streak—which was to a very tough run of Oregon, UCLA, at Oregon State and at USC—there was a large segment that began the nonsensical talk of wondering if Graham was a mistake. A win over Arizona, regardless of the bowl performance, would put a major statement on what has been a great first year.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222;"><b>Q: How much has the injury against Oregon impacted Will Sutton? </b></div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"><font face="arial, sans-serif" color="#222222"><b>HoS: </b>His injury completely changed the face of the defense, as losing a legitimate All-American contender tends to do. Without his dominating presence in the middle, the Sun Devil attack was often neutralized, and with that pressure held at bay, teams were able to make plays downfield in the passing game and find running lanes that typically were closed down. Thankfully for ASU, Sutton now seems to be back to his former self, and the Sun Devils will need him at 100% in order to have a shot at slowing down the Wildcat offense.</font></div>
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<div style="color: #222222;"><b>Q: What factors have gone into the RB situation, with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77506/cameron-marshall">Cameron Marshall's</a> workload cutting back from last season and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162479/dj-foster">DJ Foster</a> getting opportunities? Who gives ASU the best chance to win? </b></div>
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<b>HoS: </b>Heading into the year, it was expected that Marshall would build upon his 1,000-yard, 18-touchdown junior year. However, nagging leg injuries and a battle with fumble slowed him down early, which allowed <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">D.J. Foster</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162475/marion-grice">Marion Grice</a> to thrive. That duo of newcomers—Foster a true freshman and Grice, a juco transfer—has emerged as the team's top offensive weapons. Foster is an explosive home run threat that is used out of the backfield and in the slot, and no running back in the nation has more receiving touchdowns than Grice's eight. Marshall has shown signs of getting back on track as a dynamic runner in recent weeks, and his final regular season game may be the long-awaited breakout.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222;"><b>Q: Before that monstrous game last week, how much push was there to give <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135481/mike-bercovici">Mike Bercovici</a> a look? When can we expect to see him - and in that same vein, do you feel Kelly's the best fit for the system, in general? </b></div>
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<b>HoS: </b>Bercovici was expected to win the job as the team entered fall camp, but he continually violated Graham's No. 1 rule of protecting the ball with too many interceptions. That opened the door for Kelly, and as a result, Bercovici has not seen the field this year and will redshirt. With Kelly, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135485/michael-eubank">Michael Eubank</a> and top recruit Josh Dobbs coming in next year, Bercovici may next see the field at another school.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">As for Kelly, he's vastly surpassed expectations this year, going from an afterthought in the three-man quarterback derby to a legitimate threat to be the long-term answer. He has good, not great, physical tools, but his intangibles are incredible. He's shown great poise, command of the offense and a clutch playmaking ability. As with any first-year starter, he's had some major growing pains, but I think he's shown enough to go into spring ball as the clear starter.</div>
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<div style="color: #222222;"><b><span style="line-height: 9.75px;">Q: </span><span style="line-height: normal;">What has most impressed you about the new coaching staff? </span></b></div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"><font face="arial, sans-serif" color="#222222"><b>HoS:</b> The last few years of the Dennis Erickson era were plagued by a stark lack of discipline. Whether it was sloppy play, missed chances or penalties (ASU led the nation in penalties in two of the last three years), ASU was often their own worst enemy. </font></div>
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"><font face="arial, sans-serif" color="#222222">In less than a year, the entire culture of the program has changed completely. Major progress has been made in all areas, and as Graham becomes more entrenched in the program, it figures that those attributes will only be strengthened.</font></div>
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<div style="color: #222222;"><b>Q: With Graham and Rodriguez both seeking to establish his program as the premiere one in Arizona, how significant is winning the Territorial Cup? </b></div>
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<b>HoS: </b>It's huge and a critical necessity in any season, but with each school having new regimes, it's taken to new heights. Both coaches already have succeeded in surpassing the preseason expectations, re-energizing their fans and laying the foundation for future success. But that will be incomplete without the Territorial Cup in their possession. While this is not a "must win" in the traditional sense, it comes as close to one as a first-year head coach can face.</div>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/2012/11/23/3682410/duel-in-the-desert-q-a-with-house-of-sparkyKyle Kensing2012-11-23T04:00:33-08:002012-11-23T04:00:33-08:00ASU vs. Arizona: Time, TV, odds and injury report
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<figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Arizona Wildcats face the Arizona State Sun Devils in Tucson on Friday night.</p> <p><strong>Time</strong>: 8 p.m.</p>
<p><strong>TV</strong>: ESPN</p>
<p><strong>UA Radio:</strong> Arizona Radio Network, 1290 AM Tucson</p>
<p><strong>UA Spanish Radio:</strong> 990 AM</p>
<p><b>Satellite Radio</b>: SIRIUS 91, XM 91 (UA radio broadcast)</p>
<p><strong>Odds</strong>: The Wildcats <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/odds" target="_blank">opened as three-point favorites.</a></p>
<p><strong>Injury</strong>: Linebacker <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135339/hank-hobson">Hank Hobson</a> remains out after suffering a scary neck injury against UCLA. Dominique Austin and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77414/terrence-miller">Terrence Miller</a> are out for the year.</p>
<p>Defensive end <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135344/reggie-gilbert">Reggie Gilbert</a> is questionable with a twisted ankle, and safety Wayne Capers (illness), offensive guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77408/chris-putton">Chris Putton</a> (concussion) and receiver <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37903/dan-buckner">Dan Buckner</a> (ankle) are probable.</p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. SB Nation created some <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/2012/11/22/3679964/the-list-thanksgiving-food-power-rankings">power rankings for Thanksgiving food</a>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Head over to <a target="_blank" href="http://uofarejects.com/">UofARejects.com</a>. Click it, just click it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">The lead editors at SB Nation made <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2012/11/21/3675140/college-football-rivalry-week-2012">a somewhat scientific power rankings of rivalries</a>, and the Duel in the Desert didn't go unnoticed, coming in as the 10th most hateful rivalry in the nation.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Here's a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2012/11/21/3666848/week-13-viewers-guide">viewers guide for this weekend</a>.</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Ryan Finley wrote this nice send-off piece for Matt Scott's</span><a href="http://azstarnet.com/sports/football/college/wildcats/arizona-football-he-s-been-through-a-lot/article_a0ca7a2d-a3d9-5834-b418-30b65dbfafa9.html" target="_blank"> final game as a Wildcat</a>, which by the way feels very much premature.</li>
<li>Greg Hansen's fun read on <a href="http://azstarnet.com/sports/football/college/wildcats/greg-hansen-can-all-red-ua-avoid-fate-of-all/article_48f2d14e-4245-56d0-b4e0-e2b76017a893.html" target="_blank">all these silly uniform changes.</a> </li>
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<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DLOgQJUwm3I" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2012/11/23/3680592/asu-vs-arizona-time-tv-odds-injuryKevin Zimmerman2012-11-21T17:00:22-08:002012-11-21T17:00:22-08:00Arizona Line Must Contain Blitzing Sun Devils
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<figcaption>Christian Petersen</figcaption>
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<p>Arizona State's top ranked sacking defense poses a challenge for the Wildcat front five. </p> <p>Arizona State tackle <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77518/will-sutton" class="sbn-auto-link">Will Sutton</a> is one of the premiere pass rush defenders in college football. Were it not for an injury suffered on the first possession vs. Oregon on Oct. 17, he might very well lead the nation in sacks. As it is, he has an impressive 10.5.</p>
<p>Sutton is almost a one-man blitz package on his own. Combine his abilities with those of linebackers <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35250/brandon-magee" class="sbn-auto-link">Brandon Magee</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/112775/carl-bradford" class="sbn-auto-link">Carl Bradford</a>, as well as end Junior Onyeali, and the concern <a href="#" class="sbn-auto-link">Rich Rodriguez</a> expressed at his weekly press conference is justified.</p>
<p>"It's over 50 percent of the time that they bring pressure, but they also bring pressure without blitzing," he said. "In the last game [ASU's 47-7 win over Washington State], they had a three-man rush which brought a lot of pressure.</p>
<p>"They have great defensive players like Will Sutton, who is a potential first-round draft pick," Rodriguez continued. "They are a big pressure team. They are able to get pressure without bringing extra guys and that is a big concern for us."</p>
<p>ASU is the most prolific sacking team in the nation, with a ridiculous 47 combined. Dialing up pressure is a calling card of Sun Devil head coach Todd Graham. His Pittsburgh team was No. 3 in the nation with 43 sacks a season ago; his Tulsa teams never ranked out of the top 50 from 2008 to 2010.</p>
<p>Rodriguez's zone-read spread offense is designed to lure away defenders on play action, and give the quarterback options should the pocket collapse. A veteran Wildcat line has largely been successful protecting quarterback Matt Scott, but a worrisome sign for UA heading into the 2012 installment of the Duel in the Desert is in its last loss, Arizona surrendered four sacks. That's nearly one-fourth of the team's total yield this season.</p>
<p>UCLA brought an aggressive approach that stifled Arizona from the outset, and ultimately knocked Scott out of the game. The Bruins were also successful in getting to the backfield to snuff out rushes, accruing eight total tackles for loss.</p>
<p>Expect a similarly tenacious pursuit from the Sun Devils, though that's hardly a deviation from their typical game plan. The blitz won't come as a surprise, but the challenge is addressing it.</p>
<p>UCLA and Oregon effectively countered the rush with stellar performances from their tailbacks. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38186/johnathan-franklin" class="sbn-auto-link">Johnathan Franklin</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37392/kenjon-barner" class="sbn-auto-link">Kenjon Barner</a> both had standout efforts in leading their teams to 45 and 43 points against the Sun Devils; Rodriguez and co-offensive coordinators Calvin Magee and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114085/rod-smith" class="sbn-auto-link">Rod Smith</a> will find opportunities for <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135340/ka-deem-carey" class="sbn-auto-link">Ka'Deem Carey</a>.</p>
<p>However, the Wildcats must first spread the Sun Devils out of the box. That means establishing an effective passing game early. Since ASU will seek to dial in pressure, look for Scott to throw quick passes on shallow slant routes and screens early.</p>
<p>Such was the game plan Oregon employed against ASU, which eventually gave dual threat quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136013/marcus-mariota" class="sbn-auto-link">Marcus Mariota</a> breathing room to roll off nearly 13 yards per rushing attempt. Arizona won't enjoy the same luxury of facing a Sun Devil defense sans Sutton and Onyeali as Mariota did, but the passing principle remains largely in tact.</p>
<p>Scott's effective passing has typically made Arizona difficult to defend, manifested in a 37.5 point per game average. UA's is as balanced an attack as any there is in the Pac-12, a deviation from past Rodriguez-coached teams. Former Rodriguez assistant Graham touched on that when speaking with media this week.</p>
<p>"You study them and things evolve and people do different things over periods of times," he said "So they are probably as familiar with what we are doing as we are with them."</p>
<p>Translation: facing Rodriguez's offenses in practice a decade ago will mean next-to-nothing on Friday. Similarly, Arizona enjoys no schematic advantage from past connections to the ASU staff, including Magee's to Graham as Pittsburgh offensive coordinator a season ago.</p>
<p>Game planning from the past that can benefit Arizona on Friday, however, is last week's preparation for Utah. Against the Utes, the Wildcat front five faced a stout rush defense anchored at tackle. The line limited likely first round NFL Draft pick Star Lutolelei's impact, giving Carey room to break 200 yards rushing in a 34-24 Wildcat. Similar containment of Sutton is key to the offense Saturday.</p>
<p>Yet even in that, Lutolelei and Sutton are strikingly different players. Both are destined for Sundays, but Lutolelei is a space-eater who tips the scales at well over 300 pounds; at around 270 pounds, Sutton is lighter on his feet and quicker -- almost like a linebacker positioned up front.</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/2012/11/21/3675792/arizona-line-must-contain-blitzing-sun-devilsKyle Kensing2012-11-21T16:00:22-08:002012-11-21T16:00:22-08:00ASU makes Google Doc for 'A' Mountain defense
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<p>Arizona State apparently made a public Google Doc to sign people up for shifts to protect 'A' Mountain. Arizona Wildcats fans signed up ... sort of.</p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1779287/ASU1.jpg"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1779287/ASU1_medium.jpg" class="photo" alt="Asu1_medium"></a> <br id="1353540121877"></p>
<p>So that went pretty poorly. This screen grab is supposedly an ASU shift schedule created to protect Tempe's 'A' Mountain leading into the Duel in the Desert game between the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/arizona-wildcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Wildcats</a> and Arizona State Sun Devils.</p>
<p>The Sun Devil students unfortunately let the link get out. It was posted on Facebook by UofA Memes and subsequently altered by Arizona fans. Not only is the accidental publishing of this really funny, but it's of questionable need considering the game is ... uh ... in Tucson.</p>
<p>The Google Doc <a target="_blank" href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ApOpGJOXIT9adGM0bmZld2kxM2N3Sk1acWpJNmFKR3c&pli=1#gid=0">has since been locked</a>. Who knew you could make things on the Internet private?</p>
<p>Guys, let's make a "Beat ASU 'A' Mountain Guard Shift" Google Doc so that we can be organized like the ASU students. After all, you saw <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/2012/10/18/3522306/oregon-ducks-asu-sun-devils-a-mountain">what the Oregon Ducks fans did to their 'A' mountain.</a> Or was that really Oregon fans? A screenshot from an ESPN telecast showed the paint rollers painting the green A black for ASU's blackout, and one of them had GREEN SPLATTERS.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1779343/asu3.jpg"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1779343/asu3_medium.jpg" class="photo" alt="Asu3_medium"></a> <br id="1353541607459"></p>
<p>Maybe this Google Doc is another motivational tactic from the ASU marketing fellows. Kind of like that whole myth about Smirnoff Ice starting the underground "don't ice me bro" campaign -- except that one was actually successful.</p>
<p>Anywho, below is a another screen grab that I caught. The Google Doc was quite large.</p>
<p>Good job, good effort, Sun Devils.</p>
<p>(<i>h/t to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/arizonamemes?fref=ts">UofA Memes on Facebook</a>)</i></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1779295/ASU2.jpg"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1779295/ASU2_medium.jpg" class="photo" alt="Asu2_medium"></a></p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/2012/11/21/3677652/asu-arizona-a-mountain-defenseKevin Zimmerman2012-11-20T06:01:28-08:002012-11-20T06:01:28-08:00Treat Every Play Like It's A Play Against ASU
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<figcaption>Christian Petersen</figcaption>
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<p>Rich Rodriguez knows what beating Arizona State means to the University of Arizona. </p> <p>"Treat every play like it's a play against Arizona State."</p>
<p>Rich Rodriguez said the above this summer, before he had coached a game at Arizona. He studied his new team's performance in the 2011 Territorial Cup and saw potential.</p>
<p>In an otherwise dismal season, the Wildcats salvaged the year somewhat with an inspired performance at Arizona State. The intensity UA exhibited in its 31-27 victory gave Rodriguez an idea of what it would take to get the most out of the 2012 Wildcats.</p>
<p><i>Treat every play like it's a play against Arizona State. </i></p>
<p>The Duel in the Desert is special. The football teams from each university have met almost every year around this time since 1899, 13 years before Arizona gained statehood. From Wild West to sprawling metropolis, the Duel has been a constant institution of the Grand Canyon State.</p>
<p>With the oldest trophy in college football on the line, as well as bragging rights for an entire state, the players both in red-and-blue and maroon-and-gold know what's at stake.</p>
<p>"I don't worry about getting our guys fired up for that game. Hell, if you can't get fired up for a rivalry game, something's wrong with you," Rodriguez said.</p>
<p>Rodriguez has succeeded in getting this team to buy into that mindset of playing each down as if the Sun Devils are on the other side of the ball. Beating Utah last Saturday improved the Wildcats to 7-4, sewing up a spot in the postseason for the fourth time in the last five years and moving UA within one win of the program's season high since 1998.</p>
<p>The 2012 installment ushers in a new era with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/2012/5/18/3014631/duel-in-the-desert-year-one-rodriguez-and-graham-face-similar">each program featuring a new head coach</a>. Rodriguez and first-year Sun Devil leader Todd Graham both have their teams headed to bowl games, but success in Year One might truly be defined by Friday's outcome.</p>
<p>Rodriguez knows the importance of rivalry games well. He was involved in two of the most heated before arrivinag at UA, most recently leading Michigan against Ohio State. As head coach at West Virginia, Rodriguez's teams ended each season locked up with Pittsburgh in the Backyard Brawl.</p>
<p>"At West Virginia, Pitt was so close, a lot of the same people saw each other. A lot of the players knew each other, and you've got the same case with us and ASU," Rodriguez said. "The players know each other, and you've got a lot of [UA] folks in the Tempe area."</p>
<p>To that end, the Graham-Rodriguez era of the Duel began in earnest well before Friday.</p>
<p>The sizable presence of Arizona alumni in the Phoenix metro region <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/2012/3/20/2887619/phoenix-has-growing-importance-to-arizona-football-recruiting">prompted the Wildcats to hold practices there</a>this spring. That, coupled with billboards declaring the state Wildcat Country on every border along the interstates, expanded the Duel to a full-fledged turf war.</p>
<p>And much like UA took credit for the state, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/2012/8/6/3223441/asu-release-credits-todd-graham-for-west-virginia-turnaround">ASU gave Graham credit for West Virginia success</a>. Graham was briefly an assistant under Rodriguez at WVU.</p>
<p>Graham's tenure at West Virginia included the 2001 season, Rodriguez's first and one of three his Mountaineers lost the Backyard Brawl. A Rodriguez-coached team has never won its rivalry game in his first season.</p>
<p>After a campaign coaching the Wildcats to treat each play like it's opposite Arizona State, Rodriguez's next challenge is taking that mindset to the next level.</p>
https://www.azdesertswarm.com/2012/11/20/3669698/treat-every-play-like-its-a-play-against-arizona-stateKyle Kensing