Following a blowout win to open the season against FCS Eastern Kentucky, the schedule quickly becomes more difficult for Mississippi State as the Bulldogs (1-0) make the long trip west to face Arizona State for a game that will not kick off until 9:30 p.m. Central Time (7:30 local time) on ESPN.
The Sun Devils have never beaten a team from the Southeastern Conference, and they feel like this is their chance after a 48-7 beatdown of Wyoming last weekend. Expectations were low for Arizona State after a 3-9 record in head coach Kenny Dillingham’s first season in Tempe last year, but the Sun Devils dominated in all phases of the game and have perhaps shifted people’s perceptions of what this year’s team is and can be.
To learn more about this Arizona State team, The Commercial Dispatch chatted with Michelle Gardner, who covers the Sun Devils for The Arizona Republic.
Editor’s note: This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
The Dispatch: What did you learn about this Arizona State team in last weekend’s season opener?
Michelle Gardner: The difference between this team a year ago and now is quite significant. In this opener the team played hard, the team competed, played a disciplined football game. Those were issues last year. The fact that the team had just four penalties for 30 yards despite having a freshman quarterback and a lot of new players was quite significant.
Wyoming had several roughing-type calls, and Dillingham said if this were last year, his players probably would have retaliated and lost their composure. So that shows a change in culture and maturity more than anything else. The offense was balanced. The defense played well. It really was a flawless game for the most part.
The Dispatch: What will be the biggest challenges Arizona State’s offense will pose to Mississippi State’s defense?
Gardner: It’s a pretty versatile offense. It’s not going to be one ball carrier or one receiver. They have a handful of each, which is a harder offense to prepare for. The guy who looks like the best back (Raleek Brown) didn’t even play last week and he is expected back. It’s not going to be a “stop one guy and win the game” kind of thing.
The Dispatch: Arizona State will win if…
Gardner: If the Sun Devils get that same balance offensively they had last week it will go a long way toward a result in their favor. They also got three takeaways and didn’t turn the ball over last week, which is a sure recipe for victory.
The Dispatch: Arizona State will lose if…
Gardner: The Sun Devils get too high on themselves. Dillingham was not pleased with the practice on Tuesday and had to get his guys to focus back in and realize it was just one game and they haven’t accomplished anything yet. They need to come out with the same intensity they had last week. They also need to see continued growth from quarterback Sam Leavitt. He was solid in the opener but he’s still a redshirt freshman and they make mistakes.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
