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TEMPE, Ariz. -
Sept. 8th, 2012
CAREER MATCHUP: The Arizona State Sun Devils hosted the University of Illinois Fighting Illini at Frank Kush Field/Sun Devil Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting marked just the fourth time these two teams have played and is the first in the Todd Graham era as head coach at ASU. ASU is 563-356-24 (.597) all-time on the gridiron.
SUN DEVILS vs. FIGHTING ILLINI: This was the fourth meeting between Arizona State and Illinois, with the Sun Devils going 3-1 in those meetings. ASU opened the 1987 season in Champaign by beating Illinois 21-7. The Illini traveled to Tempe in 1988, falling 21-16 to the Sun Devils in Larry Marmie's first game as ASU head coach. Last season, Arizona State dropped a defensive decision in Champaign, 17-14.
ASU vs. THE BIG TEN: Arizona State is now 16-14 all-time against current Big Ten teams. ASU is 3-10 in Big Ten stadiums, including last season's loss at Illinois. ASU has faced every team in the conference except Indiana. The Sun Devils have faced Big Ten opponents six times in bowl games, going 4-2. Seven of the 30 games that ASU has played against Big Ten teams were against Nebraska, which is in its second season in the conference.
EMERSON HARVEY: Arizona State University football will commemorate a milestone this season by honoring Emerson Harvey, the school's first African-American football student-athlete 75 years ago and played a major role in breaking the color barrier throughout the Southwest. The Sun Devils recognized Harvey, who joined the roster in 1937, with black-and-white circular helmet stickers with Harvey's jersey number (57).
MAROON MONSOON: Coach Graham preached in his post-game conference about the "Sun Devil Nation," and how happy he was to see the student section full. The official attendance was 54,128. "We're creating something special - and I'm really, really proud of that," Graham said.
STARTING ON THE RIGHT FOOT: Todd Graham is just the seventh Sun Devil coach to start his career 2-0. Before you ask about Frank, Coach Kush beat Hawaii 47-6 on Sept. 20th, 1958, in his opener but fell to Pacific 34-16 on Sept. 27, 1958. Graham is among six coaches in the 2012 season that are undefeated in their first year at the helm.
Other First Year Coaches Who Are 2-0 in the 2012 Season
Rich Rodriguez (Arizona) 2-0 beat No. 18 Oklahoma State 59-38
Hugh Freeze (Mississippi) 2-0 beat UTEP 28-10
Urban Meyer (Ohio State) 2-0 beat UCF 31-16
Kyle Flood (Rutgers) 1-0 beat Howard 26-0
Jim Mora (UCLA) 2-0 beat #16 Nebraska 36-30
PREACH DISCIPLINE: Arizona State was only penalized one time in the match-up against Illinois. The Sun Devils were charged with a five-yard loss for a delay of game in the second quarter.
THANK YOUR CENTER: The Sun Devils played 68 snaps from the line of scrimmage against Illinois. Coach Graham has noted that he would like ASU to play 80 snaps per game
COYLE LOSES HIS COYNESS: Chris Coyle recorded 10 receptions for 131 yards, including his first two touchdowns as a Sun Devil and one 30-yard reception. Coyle recorded 73 receiving yards all of last season.
SECOND BEST: Chris Coyle also joined a distinguished group of Sun Devil tight ends this in his performance against Illinois. With his single game reception yardage sitting at 131 yards, Coyle falls second best to Todd Heap for a single game reception record. Heap recorded 170 yards against Arizona in 1999. Rounding out the top three is Zach Miller with a 102-yard performance against USC in 2004.
Todd Heap Career Highs
Receptions: 8 at Notre Dame (10/9/99).
Receiving Yards: 170 vs. Arizona (11/27/99).
Longest Reception: 50 vs. California (10/7/00).
Touchdowns: 2 vs. Arizona (11/27/98).
Chris Coyle Career Highs
Receptions: 10 vs. Illinois (9/8/12)
Receiving Yards: 131 vs. Illinois (9/8/12)
Longest Reception: 49 vs. NAU (8/30/12)
Touchdowns: 2 vs. Illinois (9/8/12)
Zach Miller Career Highs
Receptions: 10, twice, last at Washington State (11/5/05)
Receiving Yards: 102, at USC (10/16/04)
Receiving Touchdowns: 2, vs. Iowa (9/18/04)
KICK IT TO #32: Jamal Miles now has 1,564 kickoff return yards in his career after the 31-yard return to start the game and one other kick return, passing Randy Burgess (2004-07) for the top spot in Sun Devil history. Chris Hopkins (1992-95) is third with 1,225 yards.
MARSHALL OF THE TOUCHDOWN: With one touchdown against Illinois, Cameron Marshall has rushed for 32 touchdowns in his career with Arizona State. He is one of only 11 Sun Devils all time to score at least 20 touchdowns on the ground and just the fourth to eclipse 30 career rushing touchdowns. Marshall currently sits tied for third on ASU's all-time rushing TD list behind Woody Green (39), Leon Burton (34) and J.R. Redmond (32).
Most Career Rushing TDs in ASU History
TDs Player, Years
39 Woody Green, 1971-73
34 Leon Burton, 1955-58
32 J.R. Redmond, 1996-99
32 Cameron Marshall, 2009-Present
28 Art Malone, 1967-69
25 Ben Malone, 1971-73
23 Nolan Jones, 1958-61
KEEPING TRACK OF TIME: On scoring drives against Illinois, ASU spent 14 minutes and 12 seconds putting the ball in the end zone and through the up-rights. D.J. Foster carried the ball across the plane for the fifth Sun Devil touch down of the game, closing the drive out at just 26 seconds, the quickest on the 2012 season to date.
AND.... IT'S GOOD: Redshirt sophomore kicker Alex Garoutte turned in a solid performance in just the second game of the season. Garoutte tacked on six points from the three-yard line, bringing his current streak to 60 consecutive PAT's. Garoutte also nailed a 35-yard field goal, tacking on three in the fourth quarter, now 16-23 as a Sun Devil.
ARIZONA STATE vs. THE BIG TEN SUPERLATIVES: The Sun Devils added to a pretty good streak vs. Big Ten teams at Sun Devil Stadium against Illinois. Actually a streak that can't be any better. ASU is 8-0 vs. Big Ten teams in Tempe, including big wins in its past two games against Northwestern (52-21 on Sept. 17, 2005) and then No. 16 Iowa (44-7 on Sept. 18, 2004). This list doesn't include one of the biggest wins in school history against a current team in the Big Ten, as Nebraska didn't score a point on Sept. 21, 1996 when they were ranked No. 1. ASU has outscored its past three Big Ten opponents on Frank Kush Field 141-42, and in the eight games ASU has outscored its Big Ten opponents 320-111 (40 to 13.9 per game).
SUN DEVILS VS. THE BIG TEN AT SUN DEVIL STADIUM (8-0)
ASU 45, Illinois 14 (Sept. 8, 2012)
ASU 52, Northwestern 21 (Sept. 17, 2005)
ASU 44, No. 16 Iowa 7 (Sept. 18, 2004)
ASU 21, Illinois 16 (Sept. 10, 1988)
ASU 20, Michigan State 17 (Sept. 13, 1988)
ASU 35, Northwestern 3 (Sept. 17, 1977)
ASU 48, Minnesota 26 (Sept. 20, 1969)
ASU 55, Wisconsin 7 (Sept. 21, 1968)