November 14, 2003
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Archived Columns
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We have received an extraordinary amount of questions this week. Most are excellent questions that I will do my best to answer in the coming weeks. Please remember:
I do read every question, even though it would be impossible to respond to each one individually. I will always try to address legitimate questions when the time is appropriate. I will not criticize individual players or coaches in this forum.
Some questions that do deserve an answer cannot be properly addressed until the season is over. As always, the many positive notes are greatly appreciated.
This week's questions:
Why don't we use the astro turf field more for practice?
Only one team in the Pac-10 has astro turf (OSU). The others are all grass or field turf. The astro turf field is not big enough for our entire team to practice on and we would have to practice in shifts. Also, when it rains, like yesterday, we would need a completely new set of shoes (rain turfs) as our regular turf shoes are too slick on wet turf. The turf field was generously donated (anonymously, initially) by one of our best boosters, Mr. Verde Dickey, and does serve us well throughout the year. The field is dedicated to his father, a Hall of Fame high school coach in Texas. We use it for early morning conditioning year round, as well as for football camps, passing leagues, individual workouts, pro-timing day etc. So, we do use the field a lot during the year.
What is the schedule for after the season?
The staff is already set up with home and school visits for recruiting starting December 1 and continuing for the first three weeks in December until the dead period starts. Also, we have already had over 20 official visits (out of 62 allowed this year). We will be having more student-athletes in for the UA game, as well as the first two weekends in December. The players will be concentrating on finals immediately after the UA game. Winter training starts on January 20.
Why does the team seem to be losing stamina late in the season and is it because of the starters playing on special teams?
First of all, everyone in the Pac-10 plays their starters on special teams. Jason Shivers, for example, is one of the top safeties in the league, as well as one of the top special teams players. Our team has maintained its body weights better than any other team we have had and we have had many players not only maintain, but increase their strength level in various lifts throughout the season. Two factors that have definitely come into play are that we are going on our 11th straight week without a bye and our depth has been depleted due to injuries, suspensions and a few players not performing up to their potential.
Congratulations to Skyler Fulton and Grayling Love for making the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team. These are two great examples of guys achieving both on the field and in the classroom.
GO DEVILS!
Have you ever wished you had the opportunity to ask head coach Dirk Koetter your most pressing question regarding ASU football? Here's your opportunity! Each week throughout the season, Coach Koetter will provide an insider's look at Arizona State football. As a part of this feature, he will take questions from Sun Devil fans and answer them on TheSunDevils.com! While he won't be able to answer every question submitted, he will do his best to get to as many as he can. Submit your question today with the form below!
Fill out the form below to submit a question to Coach Koetter!