August 3, 1998
TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State begins preparations for its 87th season of football this week as freshmen report August 7 and hold four practices, beginning August 8, prior to the full squad reporting on August 11. The Sun Devils make their annual trip to Camp Tontozona, near Payson, Ariz., on August 12. ASU has held its preseason workouts at Camp Tontozona since 1960. ASU opens its season September 5 at Sun Devil Stadium/Frank Kush Field against Pac-10 foe Washington. Game time is 7:15 and it will be televised to a national cable audience on Fox Sports Net.
Arizona State Preseason Schedule (thru August 22)
August 7 Freshmen Report August 8 Freshmen Two-A-Day, Bill Kajikawa Practice Field 9:00-10:30 a.m. & 4:00-5:15 p.m. August 9 No Practices August 10 Freshmen Two-A-Day, Bill Kajikawa Practice Field 9:00-10:30 a.m. & 4:00-5:15 p.m. August 11 No Practices, Full Squad Reports August 12 Media Day Pictures at 7:30 a.m. in Wells Fargo Arena (Room 35/41) Press Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. in Sun Devil Stadium Press Box Leave for Camp Tontozona at 3:00 p.m. August 13-15 Full Squad Two-A-Days Practices start at 8:50 a.m. & 4:10 p.m. and usually last 2 hours August 16 Full Squad Practice at 2:50 p.m. (one practice only) August 17-21 Full Squad Two-A-Days Practices start at 8:50 a.m. & 4:10 p.m. and usually last 2 hours August 22 Scrimmage at 10:00 a.m. Return to Tempe
NOTE TO MEDIA: Availability of players after Camp Tontozona practices may depend on the weightlifting schedules. Interviews are after each practice. Schedule is subject to change.
Rolling, Rolling, Rolling ...
ASU has been on a roll of late. The Sun Devils won four of their final five games in 1995, put together an 11-1 record in '96 and posted a 9-3 record in 1997:
* ASU has won 24 of its last 29 games, including 19 of 22 regular-season contests.
* ASU has won 11 of its last 13 home games.
* ASU has won 11 of 12 road games.
* ASU has won 14 of its last 16 Pac-10 games.
* ASU has won 7 of its last 9 non-conference games.
Among the Best in the Nation
ASU's 24-5 record in its last 29 games (since a 29-21 win over BYU Oct. 14, 1995) is among the top 10 marks in the country over that span. Here's a look at the top teams in the country over their last 29 games:
Record Over Last 29 GamesTeam Record Pct. 1. Nebraska 27-2 .931 2. Tennessee 25-4 .862 Florida 25-4 .862 Florida State 25-4 .862 5. Arizona State 24-5 .828 Kansas State 24-5 .828 North Carolina 24-5 .828 8. Ohio State 23-6 .793 Penn State 23-6 .793 LSU 23-6 .793
Draft Success
Over the course of the last two NFL Drafts, Arizona State has had 13 players picked - the third-highest total among college programs in the nation. Here's a look:
NFL Draft Picks, 1997 & 1998Team Picks 1. Florida State 16 2. Nebraska 14 3. Arizona State 13 Washington 13 5. Colorado 12 North Carolina 12 7. Tennessee 11 8. Miami 10 9. Florida 9 Stanford 9
Leader of the Pac
If you compile the record of each Pac-10 team since 1995 , Arizona State is the best team in the conference:
Combined Record Last Three Seasons ('95-96-97)
Team Record Pct.
1. Arizona State 26-9 .743
2. Washington 24-11-1 .680
3. Oregon 22-13 .629
UCLA 22-13 .629
5. USC 21-13-1 .614
6. Stanford 19-15-1 .557
7. Arizona 19-16 .543
8. Washington State 18-16 .529
9. California 12-22 .353
10. Oregon State 6-27 .182
SUN DEVIL FACTS
Head Coach: Bruce Snyder (Oregon, '63)
41-27 (.603) ASU record in six years
109-88-5 (.552) career record in 18 years
1997 Record: 9-3 Pac-10: 6-2, 3rd
Bowl Game: Sun Bowl (def. Iowa, 17-7)
1997 Final Rankings: 14th (AP & USA Today)
Offensive Starters Returning: 8
Kendrick Bates, TE; Lenzie Jackson, WR; Ryan Kealy, QB; Victor Leyva, RG; Kenny Mitchell, WR; Jeff Paulk, FB; Grey Ruegamer, C; Marvel Smith, OL
Offensive Starters Lost: 3
Glen Gable, RT; Michael Martin, TB; Kyle Murphy, LG
Defensive Starters Returning: 4
Albrey Battle, DL; Mitchell Freedman, S; Courtney Jackson, CB; Larry Johnson, LB
Defensive Starters Lost: 7
Vince Amey, DL; Hamilton Mee, DL; Paul Reynolds, LB; Damien Richardson, S; Jason Simmons, CB; Jeremy Staat, DL; Pat Tillman, LB
Special Teams Players Lost: 2
Robert Nycz, PK; Marcus Williams, P
All-America Candidates
Lenzie Jackson, J.R. Redmond, Grey Reugamer
All-Conference Candidates
Kendrick Bates, Albrey Battle, Courtney Jackson, Ryan Kealy, Jeff Paulk, Marvel Smith
1998 Schedule
DATE OPPONENT (TV) TIME Sept. 5 Washington (FSN) 7:15 p.m. Sept. 12 at BYU (espn2) 6:00 p.m. Sept. 19 North Texas 7:00 p.m. Sept. 26 Oregon State 7:00 p.m. Oct. 3 at USC (ABC) 4:00 p.m. Oct. 10 Notre Dame TBA Oct. 22 *Stanford (FSN) 7:00 p.m. Oct. 31 at Washington State TBA Nov. 7 California 4:00 p.m. Nov. 14 at Oregon 2:00 p.m. Nov. 27 at Arizona (FSN) 4:30 p.m.Times subject to change FSN - Fox Sports Net (locally on Fox Sports Arizona) * Thursday Night Game
ASU Preseason Team Predictions
Publication Nation Pac-10 Athlon 8th 1st The Sporting News 5th 1st Lindy's 7th 1st Street & Smith's 7th 2nd Bob Griese's 7th 1st Blitz 10th 1st Football News 8th 1st Preview Sports 8th 1st CBS Sportsline* 2nd 1st College Sports News* 13th 2nd*internet site
Preseason Individual Honors
Grey Ruegamer, Sr., OL
Street & Smith's First-Team All-American
College Sports News First-Team All-American
Football News First-Team All-American
Bob Griese First-Team All-American
Playboy All-American
Lindy's First-Team All-American
Athlon First-Team All-American
The Sporting News First-Team All-American
Bob Griese First-Team All-Pac-10
Street & Smith's First-Team All-Pac-10
Football News First-Team All-Pac-10
Lindy's First-Team All-Pac-10
Athlon First-Team All-Pac-10
The Sporting News First-Team All-Pac-10
Preview Sports First-Team All-Pac-10
Outland Trophy Candidate Checklist
J.R. Redmond, Jr., RB
The Sporting News First-Team All-American (kick returner)
College Sports News Second-Team All-American
Preview Sports Second-Team All-American
Street & Smith's Honorable Mention All-American
Lindy's Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year
Bob Griese First-Team All-Pac-10
Street & Smith's First-Team All-Pac-10
Football News First-Team All-Pac-10
Lindy's First-Team All-Pac-10
Athlon First-Team All-Pac-10
The Sporting News First-Team All-Pac-10
Preview Sports First-Team All-Pac-10
Lenzie Jackson, Sr., WR
College Sports News Third-Team All-American
Bob Griese Third-Team All-American
Street & Smith's Honorable Mention All-American
Street & Smith's First-Team All-Pac-10
Lindy's First-Team All-Pac-10
Athlon First-Team All-Pac-10
The Sporting News Second-Team All-Pac-10
Street & Smith's Honorable Mention All-American
Mitchell Freedman, Sr., DB
College Sports News Honorable Mention All-American
Bob Griese Third-Team All-American
Football News First-Team All-Pac-10
Lindy's First-Team All-Pac-10
The Sporting News First-Team All-Pac-10
Street & Smith's First-Team All-Pac-10
Bob Griese First-Team All-Pac-10
Preview Sports First-Team All-Pac-10
Kendrick Bates, Jr., TE
College Sports News Second-Team All-American
The Sporting News First-Team All-Pac-10
Football News First-Team All-Pac-10
Lindy's Second-Team All-Pac-10
Street & Smith's Honorable Mention All-American
Albrey Battle, Sr., DL
Football News First-Team All-Pac-10
Bob Griese First-Team All-Pac-10
Lindy's Second-Team All-Pac-10
The Sporting News Second-Team All-Pac-10
Marvel Smith, So., OL
College Sports News Third-Team All-American
Lindy's First-Team All-Pac-10
The Sporting News Second-Team All-Pac-10
Courtney Jackson, Jr., CB
Lindy's Second-Team All-Pac-10
The Sporting News Second-Team All-Pac-10
Ryan Kealy, So., QB
College Sports News Honorable Mention All-American
Street & Smith's Honorable Mention All-American
Scott Peters, Fr., OL
Lindy's Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year
Athlon Rising Star
Todd Heap, Fr., TE
Lindy's Top Freshmen of Influence
Victory Leyva, So., OL
Lindy's Second-Team All-Pac-10
ASU Group Honors
ASU Receiving Corps
Athlon 3rd best in nation
The Sporting News 3rd best in nation
Street & Smith's 4th best in nation
Lindy's 6th best in nation
ASU Backfield
The Sporting News 2nd best in nation
Street & Smith's 3rd best in nation
Lindy's 3rd best in nation
ASU Offensive Line
The Sporting News 4th best in nation
Street & Smith's 5th best in nation
ASU Secondary
Lindy's 4th best in nation
ASU Coaching Staff
The Sporting News Best in Pac-10