Opening Statement
“Good afternoon, everybody. It’s a tough day for a lot of folks on many levels. I want to remind some of you that I used to represent professional coaches. Unfortunately, I’ve been on the other side of these days when those folks and their families were notified that they’ve been relieved of their duties. So, I don’t take any of this lightly.
ASU and ASU football are in a much better place today than it was six years ago when Todd Graham took over. And it’s in a better place than it is four years ago when I arrived here. Coach Graham has done a marvelous job and we will applaud and thank him forever for having led in that effort.
I also must measure competitive consistency and what happens on the field. Because at the end of the day that is what a head coach is primarily charged to do. I didn’t judge Todd on any one game or loss. He wasn’t judged on the euphoric victories like the one we had last night or some of the real disappointments we’ve had. Rather, I’ve looked at the body of work as we work towards the levels we aspire to.
My job is to do what I can do to elevate us and make us better and that is why a change was made. Now we have to go out and find someone who can take us to the next step.”
On Sunday’s meeting with Graham after Saturday’s victory
“It was difficult like it is with anybody you like and respect and have to give bad news. Last night, bringing the Territorial Cup back, was a proud moment for all of us but I can't make a decision based on any one game, no matter how great it is or how poor it is. There were folks who thought I was out of my mind after the Arizona game last year because I didn’t make a move. It's the whole body of work that I've witnessed over my four years that brought me to the conclusion.”
On message to those who thought Graham had done enough to keep job
“I don't judge by emotion, I judge by body of work. At the end of the day we're still average, middle of the pack and going to a low bowl game. Frankly, that's not what we aspire to be. I don't think anyone on staff was satisfied with that.
We want to go to high bowl games and make some noise on the highest level. We don't want to be ordinary, we want to be extraordinary.”
On when he made the decision
“The decision is one I've been contemplating and thinking about after every single game. This doesn't come after just looking at one or two. And this year in particular, we did that with great diligence.”
On relying on some of his NFL contacts to help with search
“Part of this business is seeking input from a whole variety of folks. I like getting information because I don't know it all. There are folks out I do have a lot of contacts because I was there for years and years. They won’t have a vote, but I will certainly take all the information I can from intelligent, non-emotional professionals out there.”
On desire to have coordinators Billy Napier and Phil Bennett return
“You don't mandate but very clearly articulate what your culture is. I think we need to have the right fit for our culture. I want someone to come in with an open mind and see what Napier and Bennett have done for us in terms of progress. We don't want someone to come in, throw a grenade and say I want all my own guys.”
On how the program takes the next step
“I've got four years of experience evaluating. The culture here is one we want to continue to advance. If the candidate isn't going to be serious about academics and conduct, they're not the one for us.
If I have any reservations, they won't be here. What Todd has done advancing us in those areas won't be undone by anyone. All of those things will be talked about from the start.”
On if he has a name in mind already and if previous head coaching experience is required
“We have a number of folks we think can elevate us. Do they have to have previous head coaching experience? I think from where we are, absolutely.”
On making his first football coach hire at ASU
“It's not necessarily about bringing my own guy in. I want the right guy, for the right reasons. That’s what I’m looking at right now.”
On those who say aspirations for the program are too high
“I think they are misguided and living in the past. I don't think they have the vision that Dr. Crow and I have. I think they underestimate our potential. We're about the future. That’s what I would say to them.”
On Dr. Crow's comments about high salaries for football coaches
“We're not planning on changing that line of thinking. Most of the chancellors and presidents in the Pac-12 have the philosophy of not wanting to be like the SEC and Big Ten in terms of salaries. We're a state institution. We have to be disciplined. We're going to pay in terms of performance and there will be aggressively-fair incentives for accomplishments.”
On how the facilities help in taking the next step as a program
“Certainly, in terms of facilities we don't have to apologize and feel like we're second to anyone, in my opinion. Now that we have that we can go out and recruit against anybody. We want to get to the point where we're recruiting four- and five-star athletes.”
On the financial circumstances of Graham’s buyout
“I was brought here to figure out how to run the athletic department like a business. There's times when you run a business and invest money that doesn't get results for you. That's the cost of doing business and it's my job as athletic director to figure that out.
We eventually want a product that people want to pay for and enjoy, and pay for and enjoy again. I don’t feel like we’re (athletic directors) handcuffed by contracts, but we are challenged.”
On moving forward to the bowl game from here
“The staff is going to work the bowl game. They'll be working at a high level because it's like they're interviewing again and being evaluated all over again. I told Todd he's earned the right to coach the bowl and asked if he wanted to. He said absolutely and made it clear he wanted to do that this morning.”
“Good afternoon, everybody. It’s a tough day for a lot of folks on many levels. I want to remind some of you that I used to represent professional coaches. Unfortunately, I’ve been on the other side of these days when those folks and their families were notified that they’ve been relieved of their duties. So, I don’t take any of this lightly.
ASU and ASU football are in a much better place today than it was six years ago when Todd Graham took over. And it’s in a better place than it is four years ago when I arrived here. Coach Graham has done a marvelous job and we will applaud and thank him forever for having led in that effort.
I also must measure competitive consistency and what happens on the field. Because at the end of the day that is what a head coach is primarily charged to do. I didn’t judge Todd on any one game or loss. He wasn’t judged on the euphoric victories like the one we had last night or some of the real disappointments we’ve had. Rather, I’ve looked at the body of work as we work towards the levels we aspire to.
My job is to do what I can do to elevate us and make us better and that is why a change was made. Now we have to go out and find someone who can take us to the next step.”
On Sunday’s meeting with Graham after Saturday’s victory
“It was difficult like it is with anybody you like and respect and have to give bad news. Last night, bringing the Territorial Cup back, was a proud moment for all of us but I can't make a decision based on any one game, no matter how great it is or how poor it is. There were folks who thought I was out of my mind after the Arizona game last year because I didn’t make a move. It's the whole body of work that I've witnessed over my four years that brought me to the conclusion.”
On message to those who thought Graham had done enough to keep job
“I don't judge by emotion, I judge by body of work. At the end of the day we're still average, middle of the pack and going to a low bowl game. Frankly, that's not what we aspire to be. I don't think anyone on staff was satisfied with that.
We want to go to high bowl games and make some noise on the highest level. We don't want to be ordinary, we want to be extraordinary.”
On when he made the decision
“The decision is one I've been contemplating and thinking about after every single game. This doesn't come after just looking at one or two. And this year in particular, we did that with great diligence.”
On relying on some of his NFL contacts to help with search
“Part of this business is seeking input from a whole variety of folks. I like getting information because I don't know it all. There are folks out I do have a lot of contacts because I was there for years and years. They won’t have a vote, but I will certainly take all the information I can from intelligent, non-emotional professionals out there.”
On desire to have coordinators Billy Napier and Phil Bennett return
“You don't mandate but very clearly articulate what your culture is. I think we need to have the right fit for our culture. I want someone to come in with an open mind and see what Napier and Bennett have done for us in terms of progress. We don't want someone to come in, throw a grenade and say I want all my own guys.”
On how the program takes the next step
“I've got four years of experience evaluating. The culture here is one we want to continue to advance. If the candidate isn't going to be serious about academics and conduct, they're not the one for us.
If I have any reservations, they won't be here. What Todd has done advancing us in those areas won't be undone by anyone. All of those things will be talked about from the start.”
On if he has a name in mind already and if previous head coaching experience is required
“We have a number of folks we think can elevate us. Do they have to have previous head coaching experience? I think from where we are, absolutely.”
On making his first football coach hire at ASU
“It's not necessarily about bringing my own guy in. I want the right guy, for the right reasons. That’s what I’m looking at right now.”
On those who say aspirations for the program are too high
“I think they are misguided and living in the past. I don't think they have the vision that Dr. Crow and I have. I think they underestimate our potential. We're about the future. That’s what I would say to them.”
On Dr. Crow's comments about high salaries for football coaches
“We're not planning on changing that line of thinking. Most of the chancellors and presidents in the Pac-12 have the philosophy of not wanting to be like the SEC and Big Ten in terms of salaries. We're a state institution. We have to be disciplined. We're going to pay in terms of performance and there will be aggressively-fair incentives for accomplishments.”
On how the facilities help in taking the next step as a program
“Certainly, in terms of facilities we don't have to apologize and feel like we're second to anyone, in my opinion. Now that we have that we can go out and recruit against anybody. We want to get to the point where we're recruiting four- and five-star athletes.”
On the financial circumstances of Graham’s buyout
“I was brought here to figure out how to run the athletic department like a business. There's times when you run a business and invest money that doesn't get results for you. That's the cost of doing business and it's my job as athletic director to figure that out.
We eventually want a product that people want to pay for and enjoy, and pay for and enjoy again. I don’t feel like we’re (athletic directors) handcuffed by contracts, but we are challenged.”
On moving forward to the bowl game from here
“The staff is going to work the bowl game. They'll be working at a high level because it's like they're interviewing again and being evaluated all over again. I told Todd he's earned the right to coach the bowl and asked if he wanted to. He said absolutely and made it clear he wanted to do that this morning.”