Former ASU backup quarterback Gus Farwell continues to make a mark in
his career as an opera singer. Farwell sang the national anthem last
year at the ASU Legends Luncheon on Friday, October 29 and at the
ASU/Washington State football game on October 30. Farwell, the renowned
American Tenor, will perform at "Una Bella Note" on Sunday, October 2,
2011 between 4-9 p.m. at Villa Montalvo in Saratoga, California. The
event, "An Evening Of Opera, Fashion, Food And Wine," will benefit the
Los Gatos Education Foundation, the Good Samaritan BreastCare Center and
the Breast Cancer Connections in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness
Month. For more information call 408-402-5200. 
Former ASU backup quarterback Gus Farwell continues to make a mark in
his career as an opera singer. Farwell sang the national anthem last
year at the ASU Legends Luncheon on Friday, October 29 and at the
ASU/Washington State football game on October 30. Farwell, the renowned
American Tenor, will perform at "Una Bella Note" on Sunday, October 2,
2011 between 4-9 p.m. at Villa Montalvo in Saratoga, California. The
event, "An Evening Of Opera, Fashion, Food And Wine," will benefit the
Los Gatos Education Foundation, the Good Samaritan BreastCare Center and
the Breast Cancer Connections in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness
Month. For more information call 408-402-5200. 
Ted Anderson, who is believed to be the oldest living ASU football alum, stopped by the ASU Hall of Fame today. Anderson played for ASU from 1936-1939 and was a member of the 1940 Sun Bowl team. His four older brothers also played football at ASU. After graduating, Anderson fought in World War II where he earned a Bronze Star. While serving in Europe, Anderson fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
West 6th will feature a player every home football game of the 2011 season. This week's West 6th Feature Player of the Week is Garth Gerhart.
1. What was the name of the first football team you ever played for? - Norco Cougars
2. What position did you first play? - Left Tackle
3. Who do you think will be this year's breakout player? - Cameron Marshall
4. What are you most looking forward to about senior year? - Just getting out there and playing with all my friends. We have good team chemistry; I'm just looking forward to playing with my friends.
5. What was the last movie you saw? What did you think? - Apollo 18 and it was pretty scary.
6. Favorite Show as a kid - Rocket Power
7. What is your dream vacation? - Hawaii
8. Who has been the biggest influence on your football career? - My older brother Toby... he and my dad taught me what I know.
9. What is your favorite ASU team to watch? - Softball
10. If you were able to invite three people to dinner (dead or alive) who would they be and why? - Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn and Adam Sandler. They all seem like really funny people and actors I like.
11. What would you cook for the above guests? - The only thing I know how to cook is a quesadilla so that's what I would cook for them.
12. What is a song you can listen to over and over again? - Pretty much any country song. I don't have a particular song, but I just love country music.
13. Who is your favorite professor at ASU? - My favorite professor was Ms. Johnson who taught Geology 101.
14. Who do you room with on road trips? - Adam Tello
15. Who is your all-time favorite Sun Devil? - Pat Tillman
16. Twitter or Facebook? - Facebook
17. Pizza or Wings? - Pizza
18. Beach or the Lake? - The Lake
19. Call or Text? - Text
20. Twilight or Harry Potter? - Harry Potter
1. What was the name of the first football team you ever played for? - Norco Cougars
2. What position did you first play? - Left Tackle
3. Who do you think will be this year's breakout player? - Cameron Marshall
4. What are you most looking forward to about senior year? - Just getting out there and playing with all my friends. We have good team chemistry; I'm just looking forward to playing with my friends.
5. What was the last movie you saw? What did you think? - Apollo 18 and it was pretty scary.
6. Favorite Show as a kid - Rocket Power
7. What is your dream vacation? - Hawaii
8. Who has been the biggest influence on your football career? - My older brother Toby... he and my dad taught me what I know.
9. What is your favorite ASU team to watch? - Softball
10. If you were able to invite three people to dinner (dead or alive) who would they be and why? - Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn and Adam Sandler. They all seem like really funny people and actors I like.
11. What would you cook for the above guests? - The only thing I know how to cook is a quesadilla so that's what I would cook for them.
12. What is a song you can listen to over and over again? - Pretty much any country song. I don't have a particular song, but I just love country music.
13. Who is your favorite professor at ASU? - My favorite professor was Ms. Johnson who taught Geology 101.
14. Who do you room with on road trips? - Adam Tello
15. Who is your all-time favorite Sun Devil? - Pat Tillman
16. Twitter or Facebook? - Facebook
17. Pizza or Wings? - Pizza
18. Beach or the Lake? - The Lake
19. Call or Text? - Text
20. Twilight or Harry Potter? - Harry Potter
Last night Jamal Miles housed one to start the second half, the sixth kickoff return for a touchdown in Coach Erickson's tenure. It also marked ASU's fourth kickoff return for a touchdown in its past 11 games. Jamal Miles also became the first player to return kickoffs for touchdowns in back-to-back games at Sun Devil Stadium as he took one to the house in the season finale last year vs. UCLA on Nov. 26, 2010. Below is a look at all the kickoff returns for a touchdown in ASU history and who was coaching at the time. Time also to give a shout out to special teams coach Jamie Christian on turning this into a serious weapon for ASU.
ASU
KICKOFF RETURNS FOR TOUCHDOWNS
UNDER DENNIS ERICKSON (6)
Sept. 1,
2011-Jamal Miles, 98 yards vs. UC Davis
Nov. 26,
2010-Jamal Miles, 99 yards vs. UCLA
Nov. 6, 2010-LeQuan
Lewis, 100 yards @USC
Sept. 18,
2010-Omar Bolden, 97 yards @#11 Wisconsin
Sept. 19,
2009-Omar Bolden, 89 yards vs. Louisiana-Monroe
Nov. 22, 2007-Rudy
Burgess, 98 yards vs. USC
UNDER DIRK KOETTER (2)
Sept. 30, 2006-Terry
Richardson, 100 yards vs. Oregon
Dec. 1,
2001-Tom Pace, 100 yards @UCLA
UNDER BRUCE SNYDER (3)
Nov. 2, 1996-Terry
Battle, 100 yards @Oregon State
Oct. 12, 1996-Terry
Battle, 99 yards @UCLA
Nov. 11, 1995-Brian
Singleton, 85 yards @California
UNDER JOHN COOPER (1)
Nov. 8,
1986-Bruce Hill, 96 yards vs. California
UNDER FRANK KUSH (2)
Nov. 16, 1974-Mike
Haynes, 97 yards vs. North Carolina State
Nov. 2, 1968-Lenny
Randle, 84 yards vs. New Mexico
UNDER ED DOHERTY (2)
1949-Bobby
Fuller, 92 yards vs. Northern Arizona
1948-Willford
White, 100 yards vs. Pepperdine
UNDER DIXIE HOWELL (2)
1939-Hascall
Henshaw, 91 yards vs. Cal-Poly SLO
1938-Wayne
Pitts, 99 yards @New Mexico
PRESEASON WEEK 3
By: Carmen Vitali
The headline of this third week of the preseason is former Sun Devil receiver Derek Hagan. The Oakland Raider receiver had a fantastic week with 6 receptions for an outstanding 121 yards including a 35-yard touchdown, see the highlights here:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d821cc2b9/Hagan-35-yard-TD
Thomas Weber saw some action and kicked an extra point for the Cincinnati Bengals in their win over the Carolina Panthers Thursday night.
Kerry Taylor had three receptions for a total of 19 yards in the Packer's win over the Indianapolis Colts. Taylor was one of 14 players to see receiving action in the game for the Green Bay. He also returned one kickoff for 33 yards as well as three punt returns with an average of eleven yards.
On the opposite side of the ball Justin Tryon had one tackle and one assist for his Indianapolis Colts.
Rudy Carpenter had a great game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throwing 5 for 8 for 59 yards and a touchdown as well as three rushes for a total of 10 yards
Kyle Williams participated nabbing one ball for 15 yards for the San Francisco 49ers. They would go on to lose to the Houston Texans.
Todd Heap had two receptions for 27 yards in the Arizona Cardinals last second loss to the San Diego Chargers.
Only one more week of preseason before we get into the games that count! As always we will keep you updated here, Go Devils!
West 6th will feature a player every week before home games. First up is senior wide receiver Aaron Pflugrad.
1. What was the name of the first football team you ever played for? (Youth, HS, etc.) - The Junior Devils out in Ahwatukee, when dad was coaching here.
2. What position did you first play? - Wide Receiver, I wanted to play quarterback but the coach's son got to play that position.
3. Who do you think will be this year's breakout player? - Kyle Middlebrooks. He's had a good spring and has been doing a good job for us. I think he's going to surprise a lot of people.
4. What are you most looking forward to about senior year? - Just getting out there again one last time. Looking forward to Thursday night against UC Davis.
5. What was the last movie you saw? What did you think? - Rise of Planet of the Apes. I thought it was pretty good. I didn't want to go but I ended up enjoying it
6. What was your favorite show as a kid? - Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
7. Where would you go on your dream vacation? - Hawaii, I've been there once before and I enjoyed it.
8. Who has been the biggest influence on your football career? - My dad. He was coaching when I was growing up and I would always go to his meetings. He coached me my first two years of college.
9. What is your favorite ASU team to watch? - I'd say Gymnastics. I'm friends with a lot of the girls and it's fun to watch them do flips and stuff.
10. If you were able to invite three people to dinner (dead or alive) who would they be and why? - Pat Tillman I like what he stood for. When my dad was here I got the chance to meet him growing up. That would be pretty special. Football wise, Steve Largent I liked the way he played with the Seahawks. Last one would be Tony Dungy. I really like what he stands for as well. I think I'm going to go into coaching and I would like to be someone like him.
11. What would you cook for the above guests? - One of my friends showed me out to make the perfect indoor steak... I think I would make that.
12. What is a song you can listen to over and over again? - One of my cousins is a Christian rapper named Sevin and he has a song named Made to Fly. I could listen to that over and over again.
13. What has been your favorite class you have taken at ASU? - Intro to Marketing
14. Who do you room with on road trips? - Last year I roomed with Brock, which was good to go through the defense. This year Coach Broussard told me I might be rooming with Rashad Ross, the new JC wide receiver, so we can go over plays.
15. Who is your all-time favorite Sun Devil? - That's tough! I'd have to go with JR Redmond. He was always good to me and played around with me when my dad was coaching here. He was just electric when he was here.
16. Twitter or Facebook? - Facebook, I don't tweet.
17. Pizza or Wings? - Wings
18. Beach or the Lake? - The Lake
19. Call or Text? - Call
20. Twilight or Harry Potter? - Harry Potter
1. What was the name of the first football team you ever played for? (Youth, HS, etc.) - The Junior Devils out in Ahwatukee, when dad was coaching here.
2. What position did you first play? - Wide Receiver, I wanted to play quarterback but the coach's son got to play that position.
3. Who do you think will be this year's breakout player? - Kyle Middlebrooks. He's had a good spring and has been doing a good job for us. I think he's going to surprise a lot of people.
4. What are you most looking forward to about senior year? - Just getting out there again one last time. Looking forward to Thursday night against UC Davis.
5. What was the last movie you saw? What did you think? - Rise of Planet of the Apes. I thought it was pretty good. I didn't want to go but I ended up enjoying it
6. What was your favorite show as a kid? - Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
7. Where would you go on your dream vacation? - Hawaii, I've been there once before and I enjoyed it.
8. Who has been the biggest influence on your football career? - My dad. He was coaching when I was growing up and I would always go to his meetings. He coached me my first two years of college.
9. What is your favorite ASU team to watch? - I'd say Gymnastics. I'm friends with a lot of the girls and it's fun to watch them do flips and stuff.
10. If you were able to invite three people to dinner (dead or alive) who would they be and why? - Pat Tillman I like what he stood for. When my dad was here I got the chance to meet him growing up. That would be pretty special. Football wise, Steve Largent I liked the way he played with the Seahawks. Last one would be Tony Dungy. I really like what he stands for as well. I think I'm going to go into coaching and I would like to be someone like him.
11. What would you cook for the above guests? - One of my friends showed me out to make the perfect indoor steak... I think I would make that.
12. What is a song you can listen to over and over again? - One of my cousins is a Christian rapper named Sevin and he has a song named Made to Fly. I could listen to that over and over again.
13. What has been your favorite class you have taken at ASU? - Intro to Marketing
14. Who do you room with on road trips? - Last year I roomed with Brock, which was good to go through the defense. This year Coach Broussard told me I might be rooming with Rashad Ross, the new JC wide receiver, so we can go over plays.
15. Who is your all-time favorite Sun Devil? - That's tough! I'd have to go with JR Redmond. He was always good to me and played around with me when my dad was coaching here. He was just electric when he was here.
16. Twitter or Facebook? - Facebook, I don't tweet.
17. Pizza or Wings? - Wings
18. Beach or the Lake? - The Lake
19. Call or Text? - Call
20. Twilight or Harry Potter? - Harry Potter
By: Carmen Vitali
PRESEASON WEEK 2
Time for another update! The days when the scores and records actually matter are around the corner. But there has been another transaction that I think Sun Devil Nation should hear about. WR Brandon Smith was signed to the Seattle Seahawks preseason roster, joining former Sun Devils Zach Miller, Dexter Davis and Paul Fanaika. The Seahawks now boast the most former Sun Devils of any NFL team with four.
Other notable performances this week:
Kerry Taylor had an extremely productive game for the Green Bay Packers with a 6-yard touchdown followed by his first Lambeau Leap. He also had a 22-yard kickoff return and 2 yard punt return in their win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Dimitri Nance helped out with 4 carries for 28 yards and a fumble recovery for the Packers as well.
Tampa Bay Buccaneer Rudy Carpenter went 6/10 for 68 yards passing against the New England Patriots.
Terrell Suggs was taking it easy with two assists in the Baltimore Raven's win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Derek Hagan had three catches for 32 yards with his new team the Oakland Raiders in their rivalry game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Travis Goethel registered five tackles against the 49ers.
On the other side of the ball, 49er Kyle Williams had two catches for 25 yards against Oakland Raiders
Zach Miller now with the Seattle Seahawks, had one catch for 11 yards against the Minnesota Vikings
LeQuan Lewis now switching to cornerback on the Tennessee Titans from his Sun Devil receiving days registered one tackle against the St. Louis Rams.
Arizona State University welcomed in the Class of 2015 today in the annual Sun Devil Welcome. Freshmen started the ceremony cheering for their particular college (W.P. Carey School of Business & Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering were especially loud). Ultimately, all of the different colleges and the four campuses were united at the end when they were introduced to Sun Devil traditions and student-athletes.
Check out this slideshow of Sun Devil student-athletes involved in the Sun Devil Welcome:
Watch this video of the Class of 2015 showing their Sun Devil spirit:
Check out this slideshow of Sun Devil student-athletes involved in the Sun Devil Welcome:
Watch this video of the Class of 2015 showing their Sun Devil spirit:
PRESEASON WEEK 1
By: Carmen Vitali
It's baaaaack. Football season has officially returned and with it, your chance to follow your favorite Sun Devil Alumni as they take the field this season. With all the craziness of the lockout and the free agency not kicking in until just a couple weeks ago, following who got picked up on what team seems a bit complicated. Not to worry, we got your back! Here is a list of all former Sun Devils who are on active rosters this first week of the preseason:
Baltimore
Ravens
Terrell Suggs
Cincinnati
Bengals
Thomas Weber
Cleveland
Browns
Shawn
Lauvao
Indianapolis Colts
Mike
Pollak
Justin Tryon
Tennessee
Titans
LeQuan Lewis
New
England Patriots
Josh Barrett
Oakland
Raiders
Travis
Goethel
Derek Hagan
Green Bay
Packers
Lawrence
Guy
Dimitri
Nance
Kerry Taylor
Tampa Bay
Buccaneers
Rudy Carpenter
Washington
Redskins
Ryan Torain
Arizona
Cardinals
Todd Heap
San
Francisco 49ers
Brian
Jennings
Kyle Williams
Seattle
Seahawks
Dexter
Davis
Paul
Fanaika
Zach Miller
Some notable performances and notes this past weekend include:
Kerry Taylor had three catches for 31 yards as a Green Bay Packer against the Cleveland Browns.
Lawrence Guy had three tackles and one assist also as a Green Bay Packer.The Packers boast three former Sun Devils on their preseason roster, including running back Dimitri Nance who is in his second year with the team. Nance had two rushes for six yards in the game.
Todd Heap had two catches for 21 yards with his new team, the Arizona Cardinals. An Arizona native as well, Heap has come full circle and is back in Arizona.
Derek Hagan, also with his new team, the Oakland Raiders caught a bomb for 42 yards in their game against the Cardinals. Hagan joins fellow former Sun Devil Travis Goethel on the Raiders. Goethel had two tackles and one assist on the day.
In his second year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rudy Carpenter threw for 50 yards. He completed four passes in six attempts against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kyle Williams had two catches for 34 yards as he started his second year with the San Francisco 49ers.
Ryan Torain broke his left hand in preseason practice last Wednesday but is only expected to be out a total of 7-10 days. He will split time with the Redskins' newly acquired running back, Tim Hightower.
Check back here all season to keep tabs on these guys and Go Devils!
By Guest Blogger Jamarr Robinson
I wake up only to go back to sleep for 10 minutes. Thinking about last night's practice and if today will be as tough. I some how make it to 7 a.m. workouts. A combination of running and lifting weights always leaves the legs feeling like jello and before I even think about getting to class Bryce, our trainer, tells me to come in for rehab or I won't have time before practice. Forty-five minutes go by in the training room and I keep thinking to myself, I always have to rush to class. After I ice my injury I jet to the 5th floor to get what's left of team breakfast.
Not much of a surprise as I notice the only food left is fruit and yogurt. Packing some for the road, I get to class as fast as I can, jello legs and all. Sitting at a desk that doesn't fit my body and uncomfortable for hours at a time, I listen to a voice that resembles a historic father figure that doesn't understand the next generation.
I just remembered I ran blitz backer blue yesterday in the scrimmage when I was suppose to run backer red. My coach will kill me for that one. Class is finally over and I have to make it to my tutoring session on time so I won't see consequences later on in the week. Usually being late to anything related to football will get you the upper deck of SDS on Friday at 6 a.m. and being accountable to our teammates and the program is what counts the most. The ICA is filled with athletes as I look for my tutor. He calls me over and in a split second a teammate of mine does the same. We laugh for a second and then it's back to work.
As I go through all my assignments and achievement plan for the week, I forget to get taped and stretched before meetings. Most of us do this to avoid the training room being so crammed right before practice. Getting to meetings on time is first priority right now, though. Trying to lock in as I step into the meeting room, I notice players have come in early to watch yesterday's practice. Half way through meetings I'm getting yelled at for not getting the call right yesterday, as I mentioned earlier. An hour of that can do wonders for one's self esteem.
Meetings are over and I rush to get dressed, taped up and stretched before practice. I make it to the tram half-dressed and with my ankles taped and think of clever ways to stretch on the ride to the practice field. Finally, the best part of my day. A physically and mentally tough practice leads many to think this is harder then a game but even still this is a time I have no worries in the world. It's as if once you step foot on that grass, the stress of the world starts to disappear. The only way I can really describe it is that feeling you always had as a child growing up, you know before the bills and duties of being an adult. You're free, invincible, and confident; it's the feeling of being 6'7" when you're only 5'10" and now that feeling is over as the last practice whistle is blown. Even with the excitement of a solid performance at practice I can't help but think about the 10-page paper I have to finish by tomorrow morning. 24/7, 356.
I wake up only to go back to sleep for 10 minutes. Thinking about last night's practice and if today will be as tough. I some how make it to 7 a.m. workouts. A combination of running and lifting weights always leaves the legs feeling like jello and before I even think about getting to class Bryce, our trainer, tells me to come in for rehab or I won't have time before practice. Forty-five minutes go by in the training room and I keep thinking to myself, I always have to rush to class. After I ice my injury I jet to the 5th floor to get what's left of team breakfast.
Not much of a surprise as I notice the only food left is fruit and yogurt. Packing some for the road, I get to class as fast as I can, jello legs and all. Sitting at a desk that doesn't fit my body and uncomfortable for hours at a time, I listen to a voice that resembles a historic father figure that doesn't understand the next generation.
I just remembered I ran blitz backer blue yesterday in the scrimmage when I was suppose to run backer red. My coach will kill me for that one. Class is finally over and I have to make it to my tutoring session on time so I won't see consequences later on in the week. Usually being late to anything related to football will get you the upper deck of SDS on Friday at 6 a.m. and being accountable to our teammates and the program is what counts the most. The ICA is filled with athletes as I look for my tutor. He calls me over and in a split second a teammate of mine does the same. We laugh for a second and then it's back to work.
As I go through all my assignments and achievement plan for the week, I forget to get taped and stretched before meetings. Most of us do this to avoid the training room being so crammed right before practice. Getting to meetings on time is first priority right now, though. Trying to lock in as I step into the meeting room, I notice players have come in early to watch yesterday's practice. Half way through meetings I'm getting yelled at for not getting the call right yesterday, as I mentioned earlier. An hour of that can do wonders for one's self esteem.
Meetings are over and I rush to get dressed, taped up and stretched before practice. I make it to the tram half-dressed and with my ankles taped and think of clever ways to stretch on the ride to the practice field. Finally, the best part of my day. A physically and mentally tough practice leads many to think this is harder then a game but even still this is a time I have no worries in the world. It's as if once you step foot on that grass, the stress of the world starts to disappear. The only way I can really describe it is that feeling you always had as a child growing up, you know before the bills and duties of being an adult. You're free, invincible, and confident; it's the feeling of being 6'7" when you're only 5'10" and now that feeling is over as the last practice whistle is blown. Even with the excitement of a solid performance at practice I can't help but think about the 10-page paper I have to finish by tomorrow morning. 24/7, 356.
Feedback/Questions
MOST RECENT POSTS
- Tuesday Links From Sun Devil Land
- Some Sparky Links to start your week!
- Sun Devil Media Links for the Weekend...
- Some @SparkyArizonaSt links...
- Hump Day brings a ton of links for Sparky. Enjoy!
- Man, Sparky has given us a lot to read...
- Sparky Links For Friday!
- Some more Sun Devil Links For May 16
- New Avatar This Week...Jeff Pendergraph
IMPORTANT LINKS
CATEGORIES
- Baseball (23)
- Cross Country (1)
- Football (81)
- General Athletics (29)
- Men's Basketball (33)
- Men's Golf (7)
- Remember When (6)
- Soccer (1)
- Softball (7)
- Sun Devil On The Spot (1)
- Swimming and Diving (1)
- Track & Field (4)
- West 6 Feature Player of the Week (6)
- Where Are They Now? (1)
- Women's Basketball (1)
- Women's Golf (12)
- Wrestling (3)
