TEMPE, Ariz. – The heat hits you first.
Stepping outside Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 10 p.m. could easily be mistaken for 3 p.m.
It’s that hot.
The Oregon football team visited the desert and found an oasis in its 48-13 rout of Arizona State Saturday afternoon at Sun Devil Stadium. There I was, covering the devastation.
I’ve never been one to travel to college football road games. It’s more comfortable to watch them on a soft sofa in front of a
television set. But what I do enjoy about the new beat covering the Oregon football team is the travel.
Tempe is a new, intriguing mix of cultures, personalities and ethnicities. The city bus system, Valley Metro, carried us, the two Daily Emerald beat writers to the stadium, placed on the outskirts of the ASU campus and perched on the hillside. Replacing the deluge of tailgaters that frequent the outside of Autzen Stadium on game days is a bustling downtown with busy restaurants and bars.
The view from the press box, set high above the field, showed a large ASU student section braving the 95-degree heat. They dwindled with each big Oregon offensive drive as Arizona State’s offense remained in neutral. For the last five minutes of the game, media are allowed along the sideline. Looking out over the stands, Brady Leaf now under center, the stands were now covered in green and yellow. The postgame found Oregon players thrilled, but tempering their excitement with California a week away.
It’s always interesting the next morning to grab the local newspapers, in this case, the Arizona Republic and Scottsdale Tribune, both belittling Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter and the Sun Devils’ suddenly anemic offense. On a more laughable note, the ASU student newspaper, The State Press, listed Sun Devils quarterback Rudy Carpenter an even match for Oregon’s Dennis Dixon in its Friday editions.
A couple rows back, an Oregon fan talked to a passenger about how “we” have to play the Golden Bears next week. I find it comical how some Duck fans can refer to themselves as being part of the team without having to wear pads and a uniform – that goes for the media too. Sure, “we” are students at the school, but until “we” have to tackle Marshawn Lynch I think “we” can refrain from acting like “we’re” on the team.
Back to the important matter – next Saturday’s showdown with California. The ABC-televised contest will help determine a contender to conference heavyweight USC.
Oregon fans should caution. Arizona State showed some signs of life in its 3-0 start this season, only to become a drastically different team Saturday afternoon. They were merely a mirage. The Sun Devils showed little confidence and little life outside of a 100-yard kickoff return by Terry Richardson.
Seeing Oregon score 48 points and hold Arizona State to 13 was impressive. The quality of the Arizona State win is going to matter little come Saturday when Oregon plays an
explosive California team. Win and Oregon can continue to dream of a BCS bowl game. Lose and Oregon may look at another Holiday Bowl appearance.
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