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With training camp in the rearview mirror and it is full speed ahead toward the season opener next Saturday vs. Wyoming, ASU football hopes there will be good results to come after all the hard work that they have put in.
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The Sun Devils finished 3-9 last season, the second consecutive year with that exact record. Head coach Kenny Dillingham is heading into his second year in charge of the program, new additions to his coaching staff like Hines Ward are getting the best out of their players, the players – new or returners – themselves buying in and the overall energy around the team has shifted in a more positive direction.
Since the start of camp until now, Dillingham has praised his team for their persistent effort in learning and improving. No matter if someone makes a mistake or if they make a spectacular play, they haven’t dwelled on any moment and are ready for the next one.
When asked after practice on Saturday about what he feels has changed from last year to being just a week away from the first game, Dillingham stated that the players have a similar mindset when it comes to passion for the sport.
“This year’s team is focused man. They love football, they absolutely love football,” Dillingham said. “It’s not just they like when they are on the field, it’s not when they like it when they are on social media, they love football. This year’s team, they come out and work. The leaders of this team love football, this is what they do. I see guys with their cars parked outside at 6:30 a.m. getting treatments. They just love everything that goes with football.”
“This year’s team is focused man, they love football.”
Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham on how his team’s energy this year is different from the last. #ASU #SunDevils #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/vla1PLb7N5
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) August 24, 2024
Whether it is a pass breakup by defensive back Keith Abney or a touchdown catch by wide receiver Troy Omiere, both the offense and defense have shown flashes of potential through practices and training camp over the past few weeks. A few seconds later, their ASU teammates swarm them after a big play and celebrate before they are right back into a formation.
Knowing what it takes to succeed at a high level and needing his players’ best effort, Dillingham explained that he wants people on his team who understand football and have a burning desire for it.
“It’s hard to convince people to love football,” Dillingham said. “You can create an environment that gets people to love it but eventually whatever environment you create, football is a hard game. We can have more fun than anyone working hard in the country, but football is hard. It gets difficult and challenging. We can make it fun, we can do competitions but if you don’t love the process, there are going to be days that you will be down.
“I truly believe you have to recruit to people that love the game. I know everyone says that, but do you actually do it is the hard part. Do you say, ‘This guy is an inch taller, but this guy loves the game this much more,’ who are you going to take? You have to be willing to take those guys that you think love this game with a passion.”
“You have to recruit to people that love the game.”
Noting how difficult football is, ASU coach Kenny Dillingham wants players that are heavily invested in going through the grind of the sport.#ASU #SunDevils #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/y9vrVUcyDR
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) August 24, 2024
Time will tell for when the Sun Devils get on the same page in games, but the players have embraced each other thus far and have given out pointers so someone can improve in a certain drill or area.
With the season one week away, the coaching staff likes where the team is at as a whole and will make sure it remains that way.
Chemistry is going to be key if ASU wants to achieve any success this year and defensive coordinator Brian Ward made it clear that it is something that has evolved and will continue to evolve every day.
“When I think about football teams that I was a part of, it was all about the camaraderie, the brotherhood, the friendship and those ties and those bonds that you make being part of a group,” Ward said. “It’s fun to see our growth as a football team, a combination of the offseason, summer, fall camp, Camp Tontozona and now leading up to this game week. People’s true colors really come out once the season sets hold. I am excited to see this group continue to move.”
“When I was on football teams, it is all about the camaraderie, the brotherhood, the friendships.”
Our @AlecCipollini asked ASU defensive coordinator Brian Ward about how the camaraderie has grown from the starting training camp to now.#ASU #ForksUp #SunDevils pic.twitter.com/g01fteiIEO
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) August 24, 2024
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, the Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
