Nov. 13, 2012

Following in Coach Graham’s footsteps of returning to tradition, the Sun Devil Club will host a Football Banquet to honor the current Sun Devils roster as well as influential players from its past.

The event, held annually until 2008, will bring together the 2012 team and coaching staff, community and players from different eras of ASU football to celebrate the accomplishments of the current roster.

"Not only was it for the team, but there were also a lot of alumni there," said Rudy Burgess, a current Graduate Assistant and former player for the Sun Devils. "It was good to mingle with them and learn your history, because at ASU, the guys who played your position can kind of live through us. We can share our own stories as Sun Devils."

A number of people had influential roles in restarting the Football Banquet, including Sun Devil Club Board Member Mike Polachek.  As a graduate of Arizona State, Polachek understood the need to continue the tradition.

"We have a new coaching staff, new discipline and [are] hopefully forming a new tradition," Polachek said. "Part of that tradition should be a great end of the year experience for the team and football staid. It should be a celebration for the seniors that will have used up their eligibility. The football banquet is the Sun Devil Club's way of providing that experience."

This year's banquet is scheduled to take place on Dec. 8 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. In addition to honoring current players, the event will also include a Ring of Honor Dinner that will pay tribute to standout players from the football program's past. The 2012 inductees are Junior Ah You, Bob Breunig, JD Hill and Jim Jeffcoat. 

"Like Coach [Todd] Graham talks about, we have to start building tradition," Burgess said. "In order to do that, we have to respect the past and appreciate the future. Bringing in the two different eras of Sun Devil football gives us a good starting point."

The banquet will also include a silent auction where guests can bid on vacation packages, golf games, restaurant certificates and 2013 athletic events, according to Polachek. Registration is currently open for tables ranging from the $1,500 Maroon Table that can seat 10 guests to the $5,000 Premium Table that seats eight guests as well as an Assistant Coach or ASU Administrator. Individual tickets are also available for $150 each.