Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
The only podcast covering all things Arizona State athletics! We bleed maroon and gold, and love talking about the Sun Devils no matter what sport.
David Howman (00:01)
Welcome one welcome all to another episode of the Echo from the Buttes podcast covering all things Arizona State Athletics. I'm your host David Hellman joined as always by my co-hosts Bundy, Andrew Hazlett and Tom Harden. Well, Cher finally did it. She turned back time for everybody except those in Arizona. So Andrew and Tom, of course it's, it was daylight savings on Sunday and Austin and I just like everybody we're adjusting to the time change and ⁓
getting used to that, but time did not turn back. Time did not stop for anybody in Arizona or for Arizona State Sun Devil football going on the road to Iowa State and pulling out a really improbable gutsy win. Jeff Sims legacy game, no Sam Levitt, no Jordan Tyson, know, tons of other injuries all up and down this roster, interim special teams coordinator, all the different things that happened. And they went out and just had
probably the most entertaining game that we've had all season long just because of the odds that were stacked against them. So of course we're here to talk about that game, break down everything from that game and definitely not look at anything that any of us predicted before this game because we all had faith in Arizona State. There's no need to relitigate any of that. But Tom, you were very, very close with the final score.
I know you were you're now holding personal grudge against Jesus Gomez for ruining it for you, but how did you get so close? What did you know? And when did you know it?
Tom Hardon (01:35)
Yeah.
You know, I ⁓ just looking at highlights of Iowa State's running defense there, there wasn't a lot of what they showed me that impressed me that they could stop a truly run oriented offense and knowing Jeff Simms is dual threat ability and that he has that running ability to his game. I knew that.
Arizona State had to lean into the run heavy, whether it was with Sims or ⁓ or with Relique Brown or whoever was going to be back in the backfield and just.
drive that run game and that's exactly what happened. Sims put up the eighth best rushing total in single game Arizona State history, 228 yards. Collectively the offense had 290 yards on the ground against an Iowa State team that while they did come in giving up just under 137 yards per game, there wasn't a lot that.
evoked confidence in their ability to stop the rushing attack of the Sun Devils.
David Howman (02:51)
Yeah, Jeff Simms was, I mean, he was good in both areas of the game. Obviously the run game was very special. All told, between the air and the ground, he had 405 total yards in this one. To put that in perspective, Iowa State as a team had 336 total yards. So one player outgained the entire Cyclones offense. Austin, how shocked were you by the game that we saw from Jeff Simms, given what we've seen?
from him in the past and previous starts and previous short stints when he's come in without being the starter but getting thrown into the game. How surprising was this and does it give you confidence in him going forward since we know he'll be the starter for the rest of the year?
Austen Bundy (03:35)
I mean it was very surprising. I was watching the game and just how efficient he was with his own legs and how he was able to kind of find running lanes against this Iowa State defensive line. And I give a lot of credit to the ASU offensive line for creating those gaps for him to find. ⁓ There were plenty of times where he displayed speed that we hadn't seen before or maybe we saw in one or two runs in a previous game but he wasn't consistent with it. ⁓ But...
it does give me confidence going forward whether ASU is going to continue to build upon this is a completely different question. mean they've got a bi-week now hopefully they can heal up some other guys like bring back a Jordan Tyson potentially going forward. ⁓ But Sims ⁓
Proved that he is the guy that we all thought he was going to be behind Sam the solid guy who could come in and Perform when you needed him to I don't think any of us expected him to come out and have this big of a legacy game to have the type of game ⁓ that you would expect out of I don't know like a Jalen Milro, I mean, I'm not saying he's up to that level, but that's what he reminded me of when he was out there ⁓
Now, is Sims going to come back in two weeks and repeat that type of performance? Probably not. But we all like to know that he's got that in his arsenal. We all like to know he's got that in his back pocket that he's going to burn you on a designed QB run or he can scramble when he needs to. He's also got the physicality to take on a lot of these bigger defenders, something that Sam, a lot of us were scared about Sam doing because we were worried about injuries. Sims is somebody who seems to have that
build and the physicality to take on linebackers ⁓ when he needs to go through the defensive line there. ⁓ So yeah, I'm confident in his ability going forward. ⁓ Whether or not that's going to remain consistent is another question.
David Howman (05:37)
Yeah, and I mean, I think we were all clearly happy to see it, especially we were. think everybody, every Sun Devil fan went into this game kind of feeling down, feeling defeated and to see that kind of that level of fight out of not just Jeff Simms, but the whole team is really encouraging, especially going into the by and they kind of got a chance to heal up, you know, get everybody back together and carry that momentum forward.
⁓ Andrew, I want to get your take on Jeff Simms performance because you've been there in practice all season long and you've kind of seen how the players all interact with each other and I don't, it sounds like Jeff Simms wasn't getting a whole lot of like first team reps throughout the season but just is there anything that you had observed about him earlier in the year relative to his performances when he did get in the game as opposed to what happened this week?
Andrew Hayslett (06:35)
Yeah, you'd be right in saying that Jeff Sims hadn't had many first team reps all season until the first bye week, but with that said, interestingly enough, I don't know if it was Tuesday or Wednesday, the first play on 11 on 11s, Sims are in interception. And I think that was about, like, that summarized a lot of people's hopes in one play.
But he was in practice, he was running a lot, which doesn't surprise me now that we saw a huge game from him on the ground.
With that said, that's how he's going to attack the offenses. It's going to be a lot different from Sam Levitt. And as for the players responding to him, I feel like he's guy because he's been around the program for a year plus now. why he stayed here, his culture, and the players, other fellow players like that because he is a key part of that. ⁓
Malik McLean, know he and Sims are close in particular. know Shaman and Sims are also pretty good friends, so it's not surprising to see them do particularly well this game. So, it's just kind of my thoughts on that.
David Howman (08:03)
Yeah, yeah, it was a it was really good to see him run the ball as much as he did to because I feel like I mean that that's that's in his wheelhouse. That's that's what he does best. Not that he's he can't throw the ball, but it's you know, it's like if the Ravens made Lamar Jackson just be a pocket passing quarterback, you're not using his best asset. Not that Jeff Simms is the next Lamar Jackson, but similar skill set there. And I think against Utah, we
didn't really see as much of that as I thought that we would. And so it was nice to see Marcus Arroyo kind of prioritize that in the game plan and come out firing on that level. And obviously it was the turning point in the game, think, without that kind of performance from Jeff Sims with how close this game ended up being. As crazy as it sounds to say this after a couple of days ago when we all were feeling pretty down about this team, like,
ASU doesn't win that game without Jeff Sims and his performance. Is that fair?
Tom Hardon (09:09)
Absolutely 100 % ⁓ and to me what stands out is the fact that he was the starter all week long unlike his start at Utah where he was thrown in part way during the practice week and really only got a couple of solid days of QB1 reps. This week he was known that he was going to be the guy, of course we didn't know until Friday that he was going to be the guy for the rest of the season but I think that
plays well into Marcus Arroyo being able to build the game plan around this ability and looking ahead to West Virginia in two weeks West Virginia is a similar similarly statistical run defense to Iowa State West Virginia gives up over 150 yards per game on the ground they're one of the
one of the worst ⁓ team defenses in NCAA, giving up over 400 yards per game. So they're going to have the tape from this game to see what Sims did in Ames. But I think that this is a great jumping point to be able to continue to build this similar game plan to attack West Virginia.
Andrew Hayslett (10:23)
You know, this offense, in a few weeks, might just be a triple option offense. it crazy? It sounds like you've got a running quarterback, Leek Brown, can do be well, be effective on the ground. And then you might mix in a Derek, you Sabio and some other guys, receivers, running backs, whoever. And this could be like a service academy offense almost.
Tom Hardon (10:50)
Do we see a return of Kanye Udo in the backfield?
David Howman (10:55)
He has played the triple option.
Andrew Hayslett (10:55)
I think it's more like,
yeah, that's possible, but I feel like the staff likes Demarius, Man-Man Robinson a lot more because he's been getting a little bit more reps than Udo has over the last few weeks. So I, but it is possible to see Udo play if that's the style that they return to.
David Howman (11:18)
Yeah, I'd like to see more Yuto in general, a triple option, I don't know if they'll necessarily fully commit to the triple option, because that's a huge shift to make in season, but I agree with you, as far as building a lot of that in there and being a heavy option team, at least, just because that's the best way to take advantage of Jeff Simms, not only because of his running ability, but then it makes the defense cheat up a little bit more.
Opens things up for him in the pass game downfield as well And tom you mentioned west virginia and How they kind of match up there west virginia just did asu a big solid they beat houston this weekend and and beat them pretty soundly too and houston as we know is a A run first run second run third kind of team and west virginia was able to beat them Which was a big shock for me. I'm sure for a lot of people and
it between that and the ⁓ and Utah beating Cincinnati and also ASU beating Iowa State, it makes things much, much more interesting in the Big 12 race. Right now, we've got BYU is still in first at and they're five and ⁓ in Big 12 play. But next week, they play Texas Tech. The week after they play TCU, who we've all talked on here about TCU could be the team that helps ASU out a lot down the stretch.
And then the week after that, they go on the road to play Cincinnati. Cincinnati is tied with Texas Tech for second place. They're both five and one ⁓ in the conference. So those three teams right now, ASU needs a couple of them to lose here or there. They all are gonna play each other, play some other teams that could play spoiler. For right now, ASU's in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Big 12. Obviously the teams that they're tied with are
Utah and Houston, both of whom have head-to-head tiebreakers, so there's just a little bit of help needed there too. But as we saw last year, the Big 12 has some interesting tiebreaker scenarios where it's more than one team. So all that to say, we're not out of it yet. There's still a lot going into this Big 12 race, and the win over Iowa State really was huge because it was, and we talked about this on the last show too, like this was their last
really really tough game between Iowa State being who they are, it being on the road, obviously losing Sam Levitt, not having Jordan Tyson. But the schedule from here on out, not only just on paper, but now knowing, we can win with Jeff Sims. Like we can do it on the road, we can sure do it at home. It gives me hope. Am I just just huffing on the copium over here? Is anybody else?
Tom Hardon (14:13)
Come join me David, come join me on the hope side.
David Howman (14:13)
Thank you. can still go to the car.
Ha
Andrew Hayslett (14:18)
Well, I said, what was that, two weeks ago that, ⁓ as long as Arizona state's able to take care of business and use in Iowa state, they should have an easy schedule on out. they obviously didn't. So I'm not, I'm not saying that anything anymore. I, I've said enough wrong things at this point.
We'll see, I'm not gonna put anything out there.
David Howman (14:43)
Not making
any more bold predictions.
Tom Hardon (14:47)
We know the old adage is you control what you can control and let the rest of it work out. Arizona State can't control how ⁓ BYU does. There's no head-to-head aspect there. But according to PlayoffStatus.com, this is just a site that they'll rank postseason chances purely based on math. I don't know how deep.
the typewriters go, but Arizona State does still have a 14 % chance of appearing in the Big 12 Championship game. Arizona State does not control their destiny, which leans into just win, take care of what you can take care in your own hands, and let everything else shake you out on its own.
Austen Bundy (15:37)
Yeah, I mean, to bring the dose of reality, I think the Houston game did them in because when you look at three lost teams going to a conference championship game, I think there's only been a handful of those in the last few seasons. And I think the most recent one was Clemson in the ACC championship game last year, if I remember correctly. ⁓ So there's a lot of things that need to go their way and.
We all know how unpredictable college football is, but we also know that there the probability of enough teams needing to lose outside of ASU schedule is a lot lower than ASU's probability of winning out its last three games. ⁓ So I mean, I'm with Tom. It's you control what you control and that's just when your last three games and maybe you sneak into that second spot. ⁓
Andrew Hayslett (16:21)
Thank you.
Austen Bundy (16:34)
That's what they did last year, but they also had the head-to-head factor against a lot of those teams like a BYU that you needed to lose. ⁓ But you also had Kansas helping you out down the stretch, knocking out some of those other teams. ⁓ You could have that again this year with the TCU. It's entirely possible. I'm not going to be leaning on that, ⁓ but it's still entirely possible.
Andrew Hayslett (16:36)
Thank
David Howman (17:00)
Yeah, a lot of things need to go right for them to be clear. ⁓ But you're saying there's a chance. I mean, Austin, you put it very well, though. They got to take care of what's on their schedule. Obviously, West Virginia coming out of the bye. That's at home. I know West Virginia just upset Houston. That's also their first conference win of the year. Same team that earlier in the season lost a non-conference game to Ohio. Not Ohio State, Ohio. ⁓
But so that seems reasonable for them to win that game. And then they go on the road to Colorado, which we had all said in the last show, like that could be more challenging because it's in Boulder. But also that other team in the state of Arizona just completely wiped the floor with Colorado in Boulder. And we know they're not actually that good. So I think I think those two stack up pretty nicely as wins. And then, of course, you've got the territorial cup to close things out. It's in Tempe.
It's, ⁓ they have a significant home field advantage there. Players will get up for that. Fans will get up for that game. ⁓ running the table at this point feels very, very possible, very likely. which again, week ago, we probably wouldn't, didn't feel necessarily that way. ⁓ someone on here, I won't name names, but did predict that ASU was going to lose that territorial cup game. ⁓
Again, won't name names, but you can go back, can watch the tape, and you can find out who. ⁓
Tom Hardon (18:35)
Well, somebody else on here and I'm not going to name names also predict that ASU would lose by 21 yesterday. Again, you can go back and check Devils in detail for who had that spectacular take.
David Howman (18:46)
Tom,
don't make me mute you. I have the power. I will abuse it. Let's keep this show nice.
Austen Bundy (18:54)
What is this, Around the Horn?
Tom Hardon (18:55)
Might be
almighty smiter.
David Howman (18:57)
You
Austen Bundy (18:59)
Yeah.
David Howman (19:01)
Well...
Austen Bundy (19:02)
I was under the impression making that prediction that ⁓ these were spooky and were things we didn't want to see happen. So I'm just throwing that out there.
David Howman (19:13)
⁓ point being I think it's it's perfectly reasonable that they win the next three games perfectly doable but yes again lot of other things need to go right there they're gonna need I guess technically they wouldn't need BYU to lose because realistically they just need to get up to number two in the big 12 to get to the title game
But this is this is where I'm going to be really ⁓ kind of frustrated if it does all kind of go this way for ASU because just like we saw last year, these Big 12 tiebreakers are a pain on the brain to try and figure it all out. And I mean, last year there was a four way tie for first place and I'm still not even entirely sure how ASU ended up being the top team out of that to being one of the two that went to the Big 12 title game.
All I know is we went there, we crushed Iowa State, should have won the college football playoff game. That was absolutely targeting. That's all I know. So if we have to figure out these tiebreakers again, that will be bittersweet because it will be very stressful on the mind. But it also will be nice because it means that we're once again, right back in the thick of things. So I'll delegate that to you guys if we have to figure out the math of those tiebreakers because I'm not doing it this year.
Andrew Hayslett (20:37)
So what's harder on the brain, figuring out the tiebreakers or figuring out what's targeting or not?
David Howman (20:44)
Yes.
Tom Hardon (20:45)
Why not both?
David Howman (20:48)
Well, the targeting is actually very easy because I went back and I looked at the rule book and it actually says if Arizona State is involved in the game, it's not targeting. So that's very clear cut and dry. ⁓
Tom Hardon (21:03)
Unless Arizona State is the offending team, then it is targeting. That's rule sub item B.
David Howman (21:06)
Well, yeah, sorry. If aerosol would benefit from it, then there's no targeting.
Yeah.
So yeah, that's a...
Austen Bundy (21:20)
We're not good
at it at all.
David Howman (21:23)
No, what are you, bit about what?
Tom Hardon (21:24)
I'm in.
This game, this game yesterday for me did kind of bring back some memories of the the cardiac devils of 2015 and 2016. I'm not sure if Austin and David, if you guys felt the same about that as the game was coming down to the wire, but it certainly had that feeling of are we going you know, are they going to hold on? Is it going to slip away? Is there going to be some, some cosmic interference on, you know, on All Saints Day of all days that, that really
brings the demise of this game.
Austen Bundy (22:01)
I think, yeah, a little bit. Some of those flashbacks did come back. mean, there were multiple times where I was watching and I would see Iowa State's driving or whatever, and I would maybe look away because I needed to do something. And then I come back and the score was still the same, and ASU has the ball. And it's like, what happened? And I have to go back, they're either an interception or a fumble. I there were a lot of turnovers in this game, but I really only happened to see the ones where ASU turned the ball over and fumbled a bunch in the first half. So I mean.
I was expecting the turnover game to be the difference here because going in I wasn't expecting Jeff Sims to be the difference maker ⁓ but the fact that I mean the turnover game they still survived that and then Sims setting a program record with his feet I mean that's ⁓ pretty incredible didn't realize that until after the game 155 yards rushing he broke the most rushing yards by a QB in a single game I think ⁓
So you got the athletic director, Graham Racini, announced that they're going to retire his jersey, the one he was wearing that day, put it hanging up in the facility. It's pretty cool.
David Howman (23:11)
And they're gonna leave it in the condition that it's in too. They're not gonna clean it, wash it up. They're gonna keep that dirty jersey as a badge of honor as they should.
Tom Hardon (23:12)
Bye-bye.
Andrew Hayslett (23:13)
Thank
Tom Hardon (23:19)
No, no, no type pens needed.
Andrew Hayslett (23:21)
Amen.
Tom Hardon (23:25)
The turnover game is really the concerning part to me going forward. Losing the turnover battle but still pulling out the win is completely gutsy. You can't argue that. But the ball security to me is something that needs to be shored up in the bye week. You can attribute that to the weather, the conditions weren't exactly the best in Ames. The rain started early and only got worse throughout the game.
and you're going to see some of those errors come and all credit to Iowa State's defense on at least the first fumble, perfect form tackle, helmet to the ball. It's hard to defend that no matter who you are. Unless you are Superman holding the ball, you're not going to hold on to a direct helmet hit to the ball. So I give all credit to the Cyclones defense for forcing that turnover. that being said,
Can't be losing the turn over battle 3 to 1 and expect to win every game from here on out.
David Howman (24:31)
Yeah, and Tom, to your question earlier, if I felt like if it was flashing back to the cardiac delts, I've never not felt like that watching a football game. So yeah, was flashing back to that, but that's because I idle at the nervousness of something stupid's about to happen and just blow this. That's how I watch every single ASU game, every single Cowboys game. ⁓
Andrew Hayslett (24:45)
Thank
David Howman (24:58)
I've never once like just enjoyed watching my team play. It's always just this constant ⁓ heart rate at 150 beats per minute ⁓ until we win and then and then it's exciting. What?
Tom Hardon (25:11)
Not even seven to seven?
You couldn't even enjoy 70 to 7 there was no cardiac nature to that
David Howman (25:20)
I thought that something was about, I thought something's gonna happen. I was like, something's gonna happen in the second half and we're gonna find a way to blow it. And then I really enjoyed it once the final whistle blew. But that's, I've just, you know, I'm born and raised in Arizona and I've seen enough bad things happen to the sports franchises there, whether it's college or professional. And I've also been a Dallas Cowboys fan my whole life and I've seen lots of stupid, stupid, stupid things. So no, I've, I've.
Andrew Hayslett (25:27)
Good.
Austen Bundy (25:48)
Ronnie lot.
David Howman (25:50)
I don't celebrate until it hits zeros on the clock.
Tom Hardon (25:56)
know,
there's a very scientific term for that. It's called Patterson syndrome.
Andrew Hayslett (25:58)
Thank you.
David Howman (26:00)
I'm incredibly battered. I, uh...
Andrew Hayslett (26:05)
I think I've done...
David Howman (26:05)
I'm like a human fish stick.
I'm battered, I'm breaded, I'm fried, I'm cooked.
Andrew Hayslett (26:12)
I think I've done the math to how ASU gets into the ⁓ big 12. Alright, Houston and Utah and Texas Tech all have to lose one game. And then if TCU wins out...
David Howman (26:19)
Wonderful.
Austen Bundy (26:21)
So that's what all those numbers were flying around your screen in your head there this whole time.
Tom Hardon (26:24)
Shine the light, please.
Andrew Hayslett (26:38)
which this doesn't have to happen, but this is like the easiest path. If TCU wins out, they're going to play Cincinnati. They are also going to play Houston. So if they win those two games, and if they also win the rest, which would be helpful, they'd be tied with ASU, Cincinnati, and Texas Tech for the tied for second, assuming ASU's...
able to win out and I believe that would put ASU in because ASU has the tiebreaker over TCU with a head-to-head win. TCU would have the tiebreaker over Cincinnati and a head-to-head win and ASU would have the tiebreaker over Texas Tech with a head-to-head win. I believe.
Tom Hardon (27:30)
Head to head
is the first tiebreaker no matter what, no matter how many teams are tied in a position, right?
Andrew Hayslett (27:38)
believe so.
So.
David Howman (27:42)
Yeah,
but it could be...
Because last year, the issue that they ran into was that when it was a 14 tie, was ASU had the tiebreaker over BYU. Iowa State had a tiebreaker over, I think, Colorado. So it ended up being like too many people had tiebreakers over each other. So then it had to go to, I think it was the common opponent record. I think that's what it ended up going to.
and, that, I think that I think is where ASU pulled out ahead of the other three and Iowa State barely edged out. I think Iowa State edged out Colorado because Colorado or whoever Houston played in their final game of the season and they got blown out. That dropped Colorado's common opponent record below Iowa State. If Houston had won.
Andrew Hayslett (28:17)
I think that's right.
David Howman (28:44)
playing against none of those four teams, Colorado could have been in second. I remember because I had a coworker at the time who's a Colorado fan and he was so upset the next day, he was like, think Houston threw the game just to spite us.
Andrew Hayslett (28:57)
Well, I used to play BYU that game if memory serves me correctly. I think so.
David Howman (29:01)
Was that BYU? ⁓
in my okay that might have been it either way he was upset that he thought houston through the game specifically to keep colorado out of the big 12 title game and i said i don't think that houston cares that much about colorado specifically but it's a it's a good theory
Tom Hardon (29:10)
Thank
Austen Bundy (29:24)
Well that Houston team last year
I don't know would have had the ability to even try to not lose that game. They were that bad.
Andrew Hayslett (29:27)
you
David Howman (29:29)
Yeah.
Tom Hardon (29:32)
This is where divisions would make it so much easier for determining the championship team participants.
David Howman (29:38)
Yeah, until you have two dominant teams in the same division.
Austen Bundy (29:39)
especially with how big the conferences are now.
David Howman (29:47)
but I am pro divisions, so.
⁓ But all that to say guys, it is possible. Andrew, like Andrew said, all we need is for all of these teams to lose at least one game and for TCU to win out and ASU to win out. It's totally doable.
Austen Bundy (30:07)
Possible.
It could happen.
Tom Hardon (30:09)
Thank
Andrew Hayslett (30:10)
If TCU wins out, that takes care of two of the four. So that means two, like, I think it's Utah and Tech have to lose a game somewhere.
David Howman (30:16)
Right.
Yeah, which easier said than done, because both of those teams are looking really good.
Austen Bundy (30:31)
So overall record doesn't act
as a tiebreaker if you're tied in your conference record.
David Howman (30:38)
No.
Andrew Hayslett (30:38)
It's
one of the tiebreakers, but it's farther down.
David Howman (30:41)
It's very low on the list,
yeah.
Tom Hardon (30:43)
I think it's like the fourth or fifth tiebreaker. You have head to head, have common opponents, and then I forget what else is in between there.
Austen Bundy (30:43)
Okay.
David Howman (30:56)
think it was strength of schedule after that.
Tom Hardon (30:58)
That might be the one I'm forgetting.
Andrew Hayslett (31:01)
So I'm now looking at Texas Tech schedule. They play BYU next and then face UCF in West Virginia to end the year. So BYU would have to beat Texas Tech, I feel. That's their most loseable game. think so.
Austen Bundy (31:20)
It's the only realistic path.
Andrew Hayslett (31:22)
Yeah, and then Utah goes to Baylor, faces Kansas State at home and then goes to Kansas. I would say Baylor's the toughest game of those three, but that's the one I'd have circled is someone has to really watch.
David Howman (31:41)
Yeah, I mean,
Kansas did a lot to get ASU into that Big 12 title game last year, so they could do it again.
Tom Hardon (31:52)
We should have had a day with a trophy in Kansas.
Austen Bundy (31:52)
I mean, there's no one more unpredictable than Kansas State
in the Big 12 right now.
David Howman (31:56)
Yeah, yeah, no, Kansas State is always due for some improbable, unpredictable wind too. And they beat Kansas last week, so.
You know, as Commissioner Yormark has said last year and this year, ⁓ every single week in Big 12 football will be impactful in the championship race. And by God, he's right. ⁓ So credit to Commissioner Yormark. We're all over here pulling our hair out, trying to figure out these tiebreakers. And he's just sitting there. I imagine like smoking a cigar and laughing and just like Mr. Burns from The Simpsons is just like,
Andrew Hayslett (32:19)
Thank
Tom Hardon (32:22)
Wait.
Andrew Hayslett (32:29)
Thank
Tom Hardon (32:39)
Meanwhile, we're all doing our best trolley day.
David Howman (32:42)
Yep. Yep. But, so...
Austen Bundy (32:42)
Haha.
Andrew Hayslett (32:43)
No.
Austen Bundy (32:45)
Brett Yormark's the only
one I think who wanted to ⁓ absorb the Pac-12 after dark chaos aspect of bringing in those kinds of teams, whereas the Big Ten's over there regretting it because now they have a lower quality conference.
Tom Hardon (33:00)
What you mean bringing in big revenue schools doesn't create chaos?
David Howman (33:01)
Yeah.
Austen Bundy (33:04)
You
No, the Big 12 silenced him. He was onto something.
David Howman (33:23)
⁓ my.
Andrew just completely dropped off.
Tom Hardon (33:29)
We didn't
mean anything.
Austen Bundy (33:32)
hahahaha
David Howman (33:36)
Commissioner Yormark made the call.
Austen Bundy (33:39)
Hahaha
Tom Hardon (33:40)
He's watching from above the wild wings and said, that man. ⁓
Austen Bundy (33:44)
Hahaha
David Howman (33:44)
Ha
Austen Bundy (33:48)
For those of you not watching on YouTube, ⁓ Andrew's call just dropped out.
David Howman (33:49)
my god, that was, that's, that's an all time moment.
Yeah, he was literally like, like, here's how it breaks down. And here's the interesting thing. Boom, gone.
⁓ man.
Well, I'm sure he's gonna pop back on in a second. ⁓ We're gonna keep the wheels moving and move past this. When Andrew pops back on, we'll see if there's any like, if there's like signs of a struggle in the background or anything, if they got him. ⁓ But to pivot away from football a little bit while we wait on that cliffhanger, ⁓ it was a good.
Austen Bundy (34:25)
you
David Howman (34:36)
Good weekend for ASU football, mixed weekend for ASU hockey. I was like enjoying the euphoria of the football win and then turned over to Tom's Twitter account to see how hockey was doing and went on more, even more of an emotional roller coaster. As I have already said, I idle at that all the time, but Tom, what exactly happened?
Tom Hardon (35:05)
You know, ⁓ both games this weekend started out nearly carbon copies of each other. ⁓ Friday night and Saturday night, Miami took the lead in the first two minutes of the game, and ASU tied it up about midway through the period. And Friday in particular, ASU was able to just pull away and ⁓ keep Miami's...
high-scoring offense at Bay. Miami came into this series averaging nearly five goals per game, and ASU and Connor Hasley just shut them down. Four to one final on Friday night, holding Miami to just 20 shots on goal, meanwhile gaining 30 shots themselves. You saw goals from Bennett Shimick, Sean McGurn.
Jack Beck in his first game who was exactly as advertised, big piece on the power play, controlled the face off with about a minute to play from ⁓ Schimek and just buried the puck in the back of the net past Matteo Drobac and then Colin Potter got his first goal of the season on an empty netter to secure the 4-1 win. So the vibes were high coming into Saturday. Then Saturday just...
Miami woke up and said, we're not letting that happen again. And took control in the second period yesterday. It was 1-1 at the first intermission. Miami took control with three goals in the span of four minutes and 23 seconds. And ASU was just never able to recover from.
from that onslaught and really the the turning point for me came in the first period when when ilia moroz off for miami was assessed a five-minute major penalty for boarding and again disqualification ⁓ he is easily been their top freshman ⁓ the season and to lose him at about the one minute mark of the first period was
A big, it could have been a big boost for Arizona State, but the Sun Devils were unable to generate any momentum on that power play, only gaining three shots on goal in the final minute ⁓ of that power play and just never, never had a true momentum builder at all.
Ben Keeven gave Arizona State the lead early in the second, or about the midway mark of the second period, but again, three goals in 423 by Miami and then an empty netter in the third period to put it away.
It's good to come away with the split you you want to you know you never want to get swept in conference play. Unfortunately Miami got their first conference win since January of 2024 so Arizona State was unable to extend that conference suffering for the Red Hawks but.
You're one-on-one conference play. You're coming back home to host Colorado College this Friday and Saturday in the home opener for conference play. So Arizona State is not in quite dire straits just yet, but it's, know, the power play to me is the piece that needs to be worked on the most in practice this week.
You did get three goals on the power play over the weekend, but just the sheer number of power play opportunities that are being afforded to Arizona State ⁓ pushing 50 power play opportunities so far this season, that is far outpacing what opportunities they had last year and just the inability to convert regularly outside of the five for nine performance against Alaska.
David Howman (38:53)
And this is why I have the battered fan syndrome. Because of things like this, we come into football with high expectations, we come into hockey with high expectations, and they let me down.
Andrew Hayslett (39:09)
Interestingly enough with Colorado College coming back this week, Ryan Alexander coming back to the valley after he spent a few seasons with the Sun Devils.
Tom Hardon (39:24)
As it'll be it'll be a nice homecoming for him. It's it's not the first time that Arizona State has had players come back after transferring last year Tim Lovell came back in the opening series for Michigan and there was a very very nice on ice embrace between he and Coach Powers at the end of that series. I expect to see a similar similar return for Ryan Alexander. He was a he was a great piece for for some of the hockey for.
at least two, I believe three seasons. And unfortunately, he was injured on and off during that time. So he wasn't on ice for as much as he could be. But when he was on the ice, was a true playmaker and a great leader on and off the ice. So I expect to see a warm reception, at least from the team. I can't speak for the reception from the Mowat Maniacs. I hope that our fans do not.
I wouldn't to a smattering of boo's for when he is introduced on the ice.
David Howman (40:32)
affectionate boos as it should be, you know? It would be disrespectful if they didn't boo him. ⁓ Of course, for those who are listening, not watching, also just realize that Andrew is back with us. He escaped from the clutches of the Big 12 Men in Black. ⁓ Andrew, you were like right on the verge of telling us something very, very interesting about, I think, Utah's schedule and
Andrew Hayslett (40:53)
you
David Howman (41:02)
then you just dropped off the face of the earth for us. ⁓ Are you okay? Blink twice if not, and tell us what you were going to say.
Andrew Hayslett (41:11)
It's actually about the other Utah school, BYU, and their schedule. Because they can lose two games. It is very possible. They go to Texas Tech. They play TCU at home, and then go to Cincinnati, and then finish the year with UCF at home.
David Howman (41:15)
BYU, was it.
Andrew Hayslett (41:32)
So they could easily have three losses at the end of the year. Would be really the best case for ASU is if they lose, if they beat tech this week, they then lose the to TCU and Cincinnati. And then TCU wins out. Utah loses the game to someone in in in somewhere.
Let's just say that you lose to Baylor. And then I think here's what I think. I'm not 100 % certain because I have to double check these numbers and I think all the records are right. But Arizona State would be the number one seed heading into Arlington.
David Howman (42:28)
We really are embracing the Charlie Day meme right now. I love it. I like see... Pepe Silvia, Pepe Silvia!
Tom Hardon (42:28)
So sing as a chance.
Austen Bundy (42:31)
Yeah.
Hahaha
Tom Hardon (42:39)
For those not watching, vigorously waving my arms above my head.
David Howman (42:41)
Yeah.
But again, it all could happen. That's what we love about college football. That's what we love about the Big 12 specifically. Like we're starting November, getting right down into the stretch of things. And it could be almost anybody's conference. It's not gonna be Oklahoma States, but it could be a lot of other teams in there.
You never know how things are going to go. We've seen crazier things happen. We just saw crazier things happen this weekend across multiple different games. So it will be a very exciting finish to the season, whether or not it's Arizona State going back to Dallas for that Big 12 title game. Of course, elsewhere we're... Go ahead.
Tom Hardon (43:31)
The only teams that do
not have a chance of appearing in the Big 12 Championship game are Colorado, West Breedon, and Oklahoma State. So sorry fans of the Buffaloes, Mountaineers, or Cowboys. You do not have a chance of, this is not your Big 12 season.
David Howman (43:53)
I think if everybody else loses every single game, they still wouldn't make it. But ⁓ it will be very interesting finish to the season. Of course, elsewhere, we're starting seasons in the Big 12. For those who are watching, you see I've got my Sun Devil basketball shirt on because ⁓ we're coming to you Monday morning.
Tomorrow night men's basketball starts their season. They're playing Southern Utah and ⁓ boy should they win that one. ⁓ Expectations are not high for men's basketball this season. They were picked unanimously to finish last in the Big 12 in both the coaches and the media poll. Rightfully so, ⁓ but Southern Utah, that should be a good start to the season there. We're gonna get to see what this cobbled together roster.
that Bobby Hurley put together in the offseason will look like. Really interested to see what it does look like. They've had two different secret scrimmages against UC Irvine and Texas A both of which were technically losses, but were competitive losses. So I'm intrigued to see what that looks like. And then of course, tonight, women's basketball, the Molly Miller era starts. I'm really very much looking forward to that. Both of these games are gonna be on ESPN+.
If you've got YouTube TV, sorry. You can follow along on Twitter and we'll of course have coverage of both games with devils in detail as well. Women's basketball starts their season.
Tom Hardon (45:29)
ESPN Plus
or traditional ESPN because Plus is the streaming only. You shouldn't need a YouTube TV or any cable subscription.
David Howman (45:40)
Again, I was told there would be no math, Tom. ⁓
But women's basketball starts their season off again.
Tom Hardon (45:47)
I pulled it off on Monday yesterday,
this is why you don't cut the cord kids.
Austen Bundy (45:51)
Hahaha
David Howman (45:52)
Women's basketball starts their season off against Coppin State. And if anybody here knows where Coppin State is, because Coppin is not a state. ⁓ There's not a state named Coppin. But does anybody here, I looked it up before the show, so I know. But does anybody know where Coppin State is in the United States?
Tom Hardon (46:14)
I'm gonna venture a guess that it's east.
Andrew Hayslett (46:14)
Maryland.
Austen Bundy (46:18)
Is it Maryland?
David Howman (46:18)
What'd you say,
Tom?
Tom Hardon (46:19)
I'm venturing to guess that it's somewhere east.
David Howman (46:24)
Yeah, you got the right half of the US.
Tom Hardon (46:27)
That's about all I have.
David Howman (46:30)
Andrew, I think you had the right answer.
Andrew Hayslett (46:32)
Maryland,
that's my guess.
David Howman (46:36)
Okay, Austin, how about you?
Andrew Hayslett (46:37)
I
know that I know they played last year in the coaches versus racism round ball classic I believe memory serves me right.
Tom Hardon (46:50)
I'm gonna go with Andrew that it's Maryland as well.
Austen Bundy (46:51)
I'm kind of leaning towards with Andrew here.
David Howman (46:56)
What did you say, Austin?
Austen Bundy (46:57)
said I'm kind of leaning towards with Andrew here in Maryland, I mean, I really feel like I should have heard of Coppin State more if they were actually from around the area here. I'm in the DMV. ⁓
Yeah, I'll just stick with that Maryland so I don't look dumb.
David Howman (47:14)
Yeah.
Okay, well, Andrew's right. It's they're in Maryland. They're in Baltimore, Maryland. So yeah, awesome. You really should you should be embarrassed about yourself that you should have known that.
Austen Bundy (47:26)
At least I know UMBC, Buoy State, like I know those. ⁓
Tom Hardon (47:33)
But we'd say it's also not a state.
Andrew Hayslett (47:33)
Glass?
David Howman (47:33)
Well, yes,
Cop and State, I think the Eagles, because that's what their logo looks like, they're coming all the way out to Arizona to play Sunneva women's basketball, starting the season off. Like I said, both will be on ESPN+. So even if you do have YouTube TV, you can totally access that with an ESPN plus subscription, as we all know.
Andrew Hayslett (47:55)
Wow.
Last year ASU went to Coppin State and lost in overtime. And it was actually in the coaches' coaches versus racism round ball classic ASU played Maryland Eastern Shore, which that's a school I've never heard of before.
David Howman (48:16)
But also when you hear of that school for the first time, you know exactly where they are.
Andrew Hayslett (48:21)
Yeah.
David Howman (48:22)
in Maryland, probably on the eastern shore, ⁓ whereas Coppin State
Tom Hardon (48:24)
the eastern shore.
I've heard it.
Austen Bundy (48:31)
Yeah, but here's your trivia question. Which eastern shore, what body of water is it actually touching?
Tom Hardon (48:31)
It's a very geographically specific name.
Andrew Hayslett (48:41)
Let's Google this now, Scully.
Austen Bundy (48:42)
Do know your geography?
Before you look it up, Dave, because I see you looking down at your phone.
Tom Hardon (48:46)
I'm going say trust me, very.
Austen Bundy (48:49)
Very good, Tom.
David Howman (48:52)
Okay.
Austen Bundy (48:53)
It's hilarious because it's the western shore of that peninsula, but it's the eastern shore of Maryland because it's on the east side of the Chesapeake.
David Howman (49:05)
See, I don't know enough geography to have even ventured a yes there. Like I said, born and raised in Arizona, you know, now I'm in Oklahoma. That's as far east as I get most of the time, so.
But yes, women's basketball starts their season against Coppin State tonight on ESPN Plus. Make sure to watch it. Tomorrow night, men's basketball against Southern Utah. Make sure to watch. And they're just getting started in the Big 12. ASU football is also kind of just getting started in the Jeff Sims era. But heading down the stretch in this Big 12 race, it's going to be wild. It's going to be fun. It's going to be a crazy ride. Of course, we've got a bi-week coming up.
for ASU football, but we will have plenty to talk about on our next episode as well. And so until then, for Austin, for Andrew, for Tom, I'm David Hellman, signing off for Echo from the Buttes, as always, give them hell devils.