On the vibe around the program this week
“Very little said. This is a game that is very important to our fan base and is the most important game to our coaches and our staff and everyone. There’s not much to be said. Just go into work to prepare and win.”
On staying focused for a rivalry game
“The key is you can’t be different every week. One of the things that give me a lot of confidence. I think there is three games where our guys have played on the road that they have had laser focus. It just shows the maturity of our guys; 2014 vs USC where we beat them -- 2013 vs UCLA where we clinched the Pac-12 South and then this Oregon trip. These guys were laser focused. The first time since I've been here. I always walk up and ask our strength coach, coach (Shawn Griswold) Grizz, ‘Hey, these guys ready.’ I do that every game and I don’t ask. Our guys were really dialed in and focused. There is no doubt in my mind they will be this week. We have values from which we go by and live by in our program and that creates consistency. Obviously, there is unique challenges every week and there is definitely some this week so you have to make sure to prepare to adapt to what you have to face that week.”
On the challenges Khalil Tate poses
“The big thing is you go into any game plan, you have to take away what the other team does best and sometimes that is a big challenge, especially when you’re dealing with very talented players. The key is to go by our fundamentals we teach and our systems and adapt. You learn from different teams and different things. You can’t have the flavor of the week either, you can’t just invent something every week. You have to do what you do and do it well, but you do have to adapt. That is a big part into formulating a game plan to stop their best player. Just like on offense, we are trying to exploit there less guys. That is kind of the chess match. The intangibles is what is in the hearts and minds of your players. He is definitely a special player.”
On Tashon Smallwood’s meaning to the program
“He has been awesome. I told him the other day I was just reflecting, my wife and I have spent a lot of time talking these last few weeks -- you can always tell it hits the seniors about two to three weeks before pretty hard. I remember going and doing every one of their home visits and obliviously I remember going to Tashon's house. Getting to meet his family, his mom, and his dad -- their special people. What an incredible kid, its been great honor to coach him, as well with the other seniors. To see him grow, he has really grown into a man -- a fine man, a man with great character. It's like a family atmosphere, that’s why I enjoy coaching these guys. I can't think of a year I have had more fun because there hasn’t been any drama. These guys go to work every day and bust their tail and do a great job for me.”
On finishing with a winning record
“It’s the territorial cup. It is the most important game. We emphasize that. There is a clock in our building. There is only one team that has special things for them, everything else is about winning the Pac-12 Championship. For us to win this game, and get the Territorial Cup back, is the number one priority for us and our players. Our guys are measured by this. I have had the privilege to meet a lot the former players going way back and the ones that get it done in this game talk about it and the ones that don’t, don’t like talking about it. I have been on both sides of it and there is only one option.”
On difficulties of last year’s performance vs Arizona
“There is nothing more miserable than losing this game. I really don’t spend much time thinking about it. You spent a lot of time over the offseason with a bad taste in your mouth about it. Our focus is there is much to do to prepare and so many challenges you don’t spend much time thinking about that. This is all about the 2017 football team and getting it done. You don’t ever have to mention what It means to get it done. The first thing you have to do to get it done is win this game. That is how our guys are measured. I talk to a lot of former players that have done great things, set records, been to Rose Bowls, won Rose Bowls and all of them talk about this game and how significant it is. It starts this week. The great privilege I had spending time with coach (Frank) Kush, he always showed up this week and made sure to let me know how important it was. He made sure I know the history of it. He made sure I knew the struggles of the referendum and all the things that went on back in the 50’s when that was going on and how important it was to win this game. This is what I love about being involved in college football. This is what college football is all about.”
On traditions that make this rivalry special
“I think the deep-rooted passion that is in every fan that I’ve met. I’ve never been anywhere, whether it be all over the country or anywhere I meet fans where this game is not mentioned. Even coaches and former coaches that have coached here, I know former coaches that coach down south and they all talk about this game.”
On challenges Kalhil Tate poses running the ball
“Its pretty obvious. He is very dynamic. The thing you cant lose sight of is how efficient they are with their tailbacks. They are definitely a dominate running football team but he does a great job of extending plays as well, he throws the ball extremely accurate down the field. He is a complete package. He has a lot of challenges and you have to be very adaptive to what our guys can execute to make sure you keep him contained.”
On expected emotions for seniors in last game
“It means a lot to them. You only get one time to do it. As a coach, your very fortunate cause you get to do it every year. I can tell ya I love coaching -- Its nothing like playing. Every person in this room that has participated, played and competed, there is nothing like being in the arena, especially the football arena. The physicality, the rigor that it takes, the mental toughness, the ups and downs, the injuries and coming back from injuries. Just all kinds of challenges and it goes by so fast, it really jumps on them fast. I really try to emphasize to our coaches how important it is that every one of these kids only gets four years to play. We max it out for them and especially the guys in there last year because are going to remember this for the rest of their life. It’s something that is very important and were maxing out every moment we can. This is the last time the 2017 Sun Devils will play in this stadium in a big game and a game that means a lot.”
On the possibility of finishing second in the South
“I think we have made tremendous progress. I know as a staff it has been a lot of fun getting to build these guys. I couldn’t be more proud of the job they have done. You look at the things we have done and the teams we have beaten and the progress we have made is very impressive. We are most proud of our players. There patience and dealing with that. It's never easy having new people and new things. I kind of feel like we are playing our best football. Really proud of the leadership on this team. I am really proud of Manny (Wilkins). I think he has really grown and progressed. It is his football team. I think he has thrown four interceptions – I think that leads the country. He has done a tremendous of managing the game and just really being a guy that epitomizes what we're trying to do as a program. Guys like Demario Richards and DJ Calhoun and their leadership. And I guess the thing that I like about all of three of those guys is they don’t say much, they just lead by example. I have seen tremendous growth. I like seeing that in our best players. Guys like Demario that I think have had a tremendous year. Not just for him individually, but what he has meant for our football team. DJ the same way.”
On perspective comparing this year to last year
“It’s just different. Obviously, last year we had so many injuries and things like that. That kind of plagued our thought process and we’ve been pretty healthy this year. We’ve lost some key guys: Marcus Ball, (Koron) Krump, and Joey Bryant. We’ve had some losses, but it wasn’t of the same magnitude. It’s just been very different. The mindset has been different. I think we’re a very confident team coming in and a team that is very close. Not that we weren’t close last year, the difference would be all of the things that kind of aligned because we had so many different lineups and different people, it kind of disrupted our continuity. This year, we’ve got continuity and solid direction.”
On impact of having Territorial Cup at home
“I love playing right here. We’ve had a tremendous home record here and there is just no place like it. It’s pretty special. I love the fact that our seniors get to have their last game on senior day on this field and in this game. That’s why I like that they make this game the last game of the year.”
On the senior's takeaway's from playing Sun Devil Football
“Enjoy it and just maximize every snap. Even though I’m an old man, I can remember looking at the clock. I turned around and looked at the clock my senior year and watching it tick down from 13 seconds all the way down. So, until its over, you don’t realize how precious it is to you. So, I just tell them to maximize every moment.”
On stories from Frank Kush about the Territorial Cup
“He would talk to me a whole lot about his record and how he got it done. There was only one way to do it.”
On thoughts of what Frank Kush would say now
“He would say the same thing. You can’t argue with it. He flat out got it done in this game. The first two years I was here when we won in 2012 and 2013, I never really understood because he would just tell me how awful it was to lose this game and that would be the PG version. Then, I got to experience that in 2014 and I kind of realized what he was talking about. You don’t realize it until after you experience it. A lot of the things he talked about I think are exactly right. A hall of fame coach like that who has won that many games, he had great wisdom about consistency and how to win consistently. He was very accurate. All the things he has told me has been correct.”
On positives team can take away from Saturdays win
“Rival games are games in which it doesn’t matter what you did last week or last month. You would surely like to come in playing your best football and come in being healthy. Also, you’d like to be ready to go because this game is going to be a game that has common factors every year such as, turnover ratio and explosive plays. You guys are probably tired of me saying it. But, whoever has won the turnover ratio, wins this game every year.”
On N’Keal Harry's absence in the beginning of Saturday's game
“We just had a script and a plan that we were using and that’s what we were doing. Coach Napier has a specific script every week. That’s what he wanted to do and that’s what we did.”
On Demario Richards career
“What stands out the most about Demario (Richard) is his senior year. To come in here and start as a true freshman is hard to do. Before this year he was already a very good running back and a guy that has legitimacy statistically has been one of the better running backs to play here. I think he’s in the top 10 or 12, which is a challenge to do. He just really matured this year and really supported his teammates. That’s what I love about football. It creates a unique relationship when you go through the grind. What these kids go through, it’s hard because we ask these players academically to perform differently than what I think has been the standard in the past. Not to knock anybody in the past, but this is a 3.0 (GPA) football team. These guys are studying and competing in the classroom. They're not just passing in the classroom. It’s probably one of the hardest things to do. I know the guys that go to the NFL and come back say, ‘Man, coach it is so much easier because you don’t have the class and all the things that I have to do.’ It just creates a unique relationship. I woke up this morning and my phone blew up with all the former players. They texted me about this week and how important this week is -- that they’ll be cheering for us, and to make sure you tell those guys how important this week is. I like that Demario and I have a special relationship. He’s taken it to a different level and he’s earned a different level of respect. It’s just impressive to see these kids do that -- grow into young men and to be leaders like that because you know that when you see it in them. That’s the great gift about playing in sports. At the end, you understand it’s not about you. It’s about your teammates and it’s about being a giver, which is the greatest thing he’ll ever learn in his life. I see every day what these guys go through. That would be great for a reporter just to follow that guy through an entire season. If you look at the NFL running backs, the lifespan is less than two years. They’ve even devalued that position because of what they endure and their lack of durability. I know that that young man has is what it takes to be a champion in life.”
On Demario Richards leadership
“It’s just his work ethic every day. I have a leadership council when I meet with guys and so does Billy. There are certain guys that I consult with on certain things. Guys will be voted captain or voted unit leaders and the first thing they do when they get in that situation is they think they need to give a speech, give a talk, or complain about the food. Then, once they figure it out, they understand the responsibility that comes along with that that they have to set the standards when it comes to the values of the program. When you see them get it and understand that, they don’t have to say anything. I tell them what is important is not what you say about yourselves, but what your teammates say about you. I tell our coaches all the time that players know all the time if you’re organized, they know if you care, and they know if you have a passion. That’s what is unique about this team. So, that is what is unique about a team. We’ve just had some of the best leaders that I’ve been around on this team and they haven’t said much. It’s just been how they’ve walked and their actions. Doing a good job is not going to get you anywhere. Nobody looks for anybody doing a good job. You have to do your best, win and do a great job. Sometimes I tell them doing a great job is not your best. They have to do their best and we expect that every day. Then, when you do that, you don’t have to say much.”
On message to the fanbase
“This group of seniors have invested an awful lot. I know they’ll come out and make it a special night. When that crowd is on their feet, a little hostile, and loud, that sure makes a special place. These seniors deserve it and I’m looking forward to a great Saturday."
“Very little said. This is a game that is very important to our fan base and is the most important game to our coaches and our staff and everyone. There’s not much to be said. Just go into work to prepare and win.”
On staying focused for a rivalry game
“The key is you can’t be different every week. One of the things that give me a lot of confidence. I think there is three games where our guys have played on the road that they have had laser focus. It just shows the maturity of our guys; 2014 vs USC where we beat them -- 2013 vs UCLA where we clinched the Pac-12 South and then this Oregon trip. These guys were laser focused. The first time since I've been here. I always walk up and ask our strength coach, coach (Shawn Griswold) Grizz, ‘Hey, these guys ready.’ I do that every game and I don’t ask. Our guys were really dialed in and focused. There is no doubt in my mind they will be this week. We have values from which we go by and live by in our program and that creates consistency. Obviously, there is unique challenges every week and there is definitely some this week so you have to make sure to prepare to adapt to what you have to face that week.”
On the challenges Khalil Tate poses
“The big thing is you go into any game plan, you have to take away what the other team does best and sometimes that is a big challenge, especially when you’re dealing with very talented players. The key is to go by our fundamentals we teach and our systems and adapt. You learn from different teams and different things. You can’t have the flavor of the week either, you can’t just invent something every week. You have to do what you do and do it well, but you do have to adapt. That is a big part into formulating a game plan to stop their best player. Just like on offense, we are trying to exploit there less guys. That is kind of the chess match. The intangibles is what is in the hearts and minds of your players. He is definitely a special player.”
On Tashon Smallwood’s meaning to the program
“He has been awesome. I told him the other day I was just reflecting, my wife and I have spent a lot of time talking these last few weeks -- you can always tell it hits the seniors about two to three weeks before pretty hard. I remember going and doing every one of their home visits and obliviously I remember going to Tashon's house. Getting to meet his family, his mom, and his dad -- their special people. What an incredible kid, its been great honor to coach him, as well with the other seniors. To see him grow, he has really grown into a man -- a fine man, a man with great character. It's like a family atmosphere, that’s why I enjoy coaching these guys. I can't think of a year I have had more fun because there hasn’t been any drama. These guys go to work every day and bust their tail and do a great job for me.”
On finishing with a winning record
“It’s the territorial cup. It is the most important game. We emphasize that. There is a clock in our building. There is only one team that has special things for them, everything else is about winning the Pac-12 Championship. For us to win this game, and get the Territorial Cup back, is the number one priority for us and our players. Our guys are measured by this. I have had the privilege to meet a lot the former players going way back and the ones that get it done in this game talk about it and the ones that don’t, don’t like talking about it. I have been on both sides of it and there is only one option.”
On difficulties of last year’s performance vs Arizona
“There is nothing more miserable than losing this game. I really don’t spend much time thinking about it. You spent a lot of time over the offseason with a bad taste in your mouth about it. Our focus is there is much to do to prepare and so many challenges you don’t spend much time thinking about that. This is all about the 2017 football team and getting it done. You don’t ever have to mention what It means to get it done. The first thing you have to do to get it done is win this game. That is how our guys are measured. I talk to a lot of former players that have done great things, set records, been to Rose Bowls, won Rose Bowls and all of them talk about this game and how significant it is. It starts this week. The great privilege I had spending time with coach (Frank) Kush, he always showed up this week and made sure to let me know how important it was. He made sure I know the history of it. He made sure I knew the struggles of the referendum and all the things that went on back in the 50’s when that was going on and how important it was to win this game. This is what I love about being involved in college football. This is what college football is all about.”
On traditions that make this rivalry special
“I think the deep-rooted passion that is in every fan that I’ve met. I’ve never been anywhere, whether it be all over the country or anywhere I meet fans where this game is not mentioned. Even coaches and former coaches that have coached here, I know former coaches that coach down south and they all talk about this game.”
On challenges Kalhil Tate poses running the ball
“Its pretty obvious. He is very dynamic. The thing you cant lose sight of is how efficient they are with their tailbacks. They are definitely a dominate running football team but he does a great job of extending plays as well, he throws the ball extremely accurate down the field. He is a complete package. He has a lot of challenges and you have to be very adaptive to what our guys can execute to make sure you keep him contained.”
On expected emotions for seniors in last game
“It means a lot to them. You only get one time to do it. As a coach, your very fortunate cause you get to do it every year. I can tell ya I love coaching -- Its nothing like playing. Every person in this room that has participated, played and competed, there is nothing like being in the arena, especially the football arena. The physicality, the rigor that it takes, the mental toughness, the ups and downs, the injuries and coming back from injuries. Just all kinds of challenges and it goes by so fast, it really jumps on them fast. I really try to emphasize to our coaches how important it is that every one of these kids only gets four years to play. We max it out for them and especially the guys in there last year because are going to remember this for the rest of their life. It’s something that is very important and were maxing out every moment we can. This is the last time the 2017 Sun Devils will play in this stadium in a big game and a game that means a lot.”
On the possibility of finishing second in the South
“I think we have made tremendous progress. I know as a staff it has been a lot of fun getting to build these guys. I couldn’t be more proud of the job they have done. You look at the things we have done and the teams we have beaten and the progress we have made is very impressive. We are most proud of our players. There patience and dealing with that. It's never easy having new people and new things. I kind of feel like we are playing our best football. Really proud of the leadership on this team. I am really proud of Manny (Wilkins). I think he has really grown and progressed. It is his football team. I think he has thrown four interceptions – I think that leads the country. He has done a tremendous of managing the game and just really being a guy that epitomizes what we're trying to do as a program. Guys like Demario Richards and DJ Calhoun and their leadership. And I guess the thing that I like about all of three of those guys is they don’t say much, they just lead by example. I have seen tremendous growth. I like seeing that in our best players. Guys like Demario that I think have had a tremendous year. Not just for him individually, but what he has meant for our football team. DJ the same way.”
On perspective comparing this year to last year
“It’s just different. Obviously, last year we had so many injuries and things like that. That kind of plagued our thought process and we’ve been pretty healthy this year. We’ve lost some key guys: Marcus Ball, (Koron) Krump, and Joey Bryant. We’ve had some losses, but it wasn’t of the same magnitude. It’s just been very different. The mindset has been different. I think we’re a very confident team coming in and a team that is very close. Not that we weren’t close last year, the difference would be all of the things that kind of aligned because we had so many different lineups and different people, it kind of disrupted our continuity. This year, we’ve got continuity and solid direction.”
On impact of having Territorial Cup at home
“I love playing right here. We’ve had a tremendous home record here and there is just no place like it. It’s pretty special. I love the fact that our seniors get to have their last game on senior day on this field and in this game. That’s why I like that they make this game the last game of the year.”
On the senior's takeaway's from playing Sun Devil Football
“Enjoy it and just maximize every snap. Even though I’m an old man, I can remember looking at the clock. I turned around and looked at the clock my senior year and watching it tick down from 13 seconds all the way down. So, until its over, you don’t realize how precious it is to you. So, I just tell them to maximize every moment.”
On stories from Frank Kush about the Territorial Cup
“He would talk to me a whole lot about his record and how he got it done. There was only one way to do it.”
On thoughts of what Frank Kush would say now
“He would say the same thing. You can’t argue with it. He flat out got it done in this game. The first two years I was here when we won in 2012 and 2013, I never really understood because he would just tell me how awful it was to lose this game and that would be the PG version. Then, I got to experience that in 2014 and I kind of realized what he was talking about. You don’t realize it until after you experience it. A lot of the things he talked about I think are exactly right. A hall of fame coach like that who has won that many games, he had great wisdom about consistency and how to win consistently. He was very accurate. All the things he has told me has been correct.”
On positives team can take away from Saturdays win
“Rival games are games in which it doesn’t matter what you did last week or last month. You would surely like to come in playing your best football and come in being healthy. Also, you’d like to be ready to go because this game is going to be a game that has common factors every year such as, turnover ratio and explosive plays. You guys are probably tired of me saying it. But, whoever has won the turnover ratio, wins this game every year.”
On N’Keal Harry's absence in the beginning of Saturday's game
“We just had a script and a plan that we were using and that’s what we were doing. Coach Napier has a specific script every week. That’s what he wanted to do and that’s what we did.”
On Demario Richards career
“What stands out the most about Demario (Richard) is his senior year. To come in here and start as a true freshman is hard to do. Before this year he was already a very good running back and a guy that has legitimacy statistically has been one of the better running backs to play here. I think he’s in the top 10 or 12, which is a challenge to do. He just really matured this year and really supported his teammates. That’s what I love about football. It creates a unique relationship when you go through the grind. What these kids go through, it’s hard because we ask these players academically to perform differently than what I think has been the standard in the past. Not to knock anybody in the past, but this is a 3.0 (GPA) football team. These guys are studying and competing in the classroom. They're not just passing in the classroom. It’s probably one of the hardest things to do. I know the guys that go to the NFL and come back say, ‘Man, coach it is so much easier because you don’t have the class and all the things that I have to do.’ It just creates a unique relationship. I woke up this morning and my phone blew up with all the former players. They texted me about this week and how important this week is -- that they’ll be cheering for us, and to make sure you tell those guys how important this week is. I like that Demario and I have a special relationship. He’s taken it to a different level and he’s earned a different level of respect. It’s just impressive to see these kids do that -- grow into young men and to be leaders like that because you know that when you see it in them. That’s the great gift about playing in sports. At the end, you understand it’s not about you. It’s about your teammates and it’s about being a giver, which is the greatest thing he’ll ever learn in his life. I see every day what these guys go through. That would be great for a reporter just to follow that guy through an entire season. If you look at the NFL running backs, the lifespan is less than two years. They’ve even devalued that position because of what they endure and their lack of durability. I know that that young man has is what it takes to be a champion in life.”
On Demario Richards leadership
“It’s just his work ethic every day. I have a leadership council when I meet with guys and so does Billy. There are certain guys that I consult with on certain things. Guys will be voted captain or voted unit leaders and the first thing they do when they get in that situation is they think they need to give a speech, give a talk, or complain about the food. Then, once they figure it out, they understand the responsibility that comes along with that that they have to set the standards when it comes to the values of the program. When you see them get it and understand that, they don’t have to say anything. I tell them what is important is not what you say about yourselves, but what your teammates say about you. I tell our coaches all the time that players know all the time if you’re organized, they know if you care, and they know if you have a passion. That’s what is unique about this team. So, that is what is unique about a team. We’ve just had some of the best leaders that I’ve been around on this team and they haven’t said much. It’s just been how they’ve walked and their actions. Doing a good job is not going to get you anywhere. Nobody looks for anybody doing a good job. You have to do your best, win and do a great job. Sometimes I tell them doing a great job is not your best. They have to do their best and we expect that every day. Then, when you do that, you don’t have to say much.”
On message to the fanbase
“This group of seniors have invested an awful lot. I know they’ll come out and make it a special night. When that crowd is on their feet, a little hostile, and loud, that sure makes a special place. These seniors deserve it and I’m looking forward to a great Saturday."