TEMPE, Ariz.-- The Arizona State University football team, under the direction of second-year Head Coach Herm Edwards, will make its annual trek to Camp Tontozona in just one short week, but this year, things will be a little bit different.
With the completion of multiple upgrades to the facility that boarders the Tonto National Forest, Arizona State hopes to not only get the most out of their trip, but also preserve one of the more revered traditions in all of college football.
While the trip to Camp T has always been an important part of the tradition of ASU football, battling weather in the northern part of the state has almost always factored into the Sun Devil's important preparations for the upcoming season. In 2017 football staff were forced to delay the start of the "final practice" so equipment staffers could spread sand and dry the field. Additionally, practices in the past have been forced to move to Rumsey Park in Payson, a facility that has an artificial field, which made it possible for the team to practice. While these secondary options are nice, moving an entire football operation is never convenient, and costs staff and players valuable time in a crucial part of the season.
Recognizing a need to provide a more stable practice environment, the Sol Devils – one of ASU's largest athletic booster groups – stepped up to provide the needed funds to make the project a reality. Led by donations from Art Pearce, and other members of the Sol Devil Organization, Arizona State was able to break ground on the over one-million-dollar project, one that will be completed when the team arrives for camp this season. A beautiful playing service that bears the name of the group who helped lead the fundraising efforts.
"The Sol Devils started as just an informal tailgate group and we have just grown it over time," Sol Devil spokesperson Mike Olsen said. "We started as just a small group of guys with a hibachi and now it occupies a pretty big space a pretty big space just south of Wells Fargo arena on gamedays. Our goal has always just been to grow it and do things to try to raise money for ASU athletics. We raised money a few years ago for some trams for ASU's use and when the administration came to us and asked us to take on a bigger project, we thought it made a lot of sense for us in the Sol Devils to take this project on."
"One of the many reasons I returned to college football is because of great traditions like Camp Tontozona," Edwards said of the storied tradition of traveling to Camp T. "It's the perfect setting for our coaches, players and staff to bond and get quality work accomplished. The newly-completed turf field will ensure that we accomplish quality work on a daily basis."
Not only an important part of ASU football lore, the Sun Devil's annual trip has a tremendous impact on the city of Payson, and the Tonto Creek Camp. For the past five years, Tonto Creek Camp has worked to harness the power of nature to expand learning for children beyond the walls of a classroom. The camp, which benefits from ASU's support, as well as providing an upgraded facility for year-round use by young people participating in the camp's various programs.
"A lot of us from the Sol Devils make the trip up to 'Camp T'," Olsen added. "It is going to be amazing to see the upgrades. When you hear the players, past and present, talk about their time up there it is clear how great of a bonding experience it is. It is such a great tradition, and for those of us who are passionate about ASU it was awesome for us to take on this project and have our name on it. This is something special for all of us Sol Devils, and our families. When you think about the tradition of 'Camp T', you can't help but also think of the legacy of former players like Pat Tillman and the impact he had on this program and university. Honoring him is always a big part of what we try to do."
This season, the team will travel to Camp Tontozona on Monday, August 5 and practice there for the first time on Tuesday morning, August 6. Practices at Camp Tontozona will be held once a day at times to be announced.
The stay at Camp Tontozona will culminate with the annual final practice on Saturday, August 10. The Sun Devils will return to campus later that day.
With the completion of multiple upgrades to the facility that boarders the Tonto National Forest, Arizona State hopes to not only get the most out of their trip, but also preserve one of the more revered traditions in all of college football.
While the trip to Camp T has always been an important part of the tradition of ASU football, battling weather in the northern part of the state has almost always factored into the Sun Devil's important preparations for the upcoming season. In 2017 football staff were forced to delay the start of the "final practice" so equipment staffers could spread sand and dry the field. Additionally, practices in the past have been forced to move to Rumsey Park in Payson, a facility that has an artificial field, which made it possible for the team to practice. While these secondary options are nice, moving an entire football operation is never convenient, and costs staff and players valuable time in a crucial part of the season.
Recognizing a need to provide a more stable practice environment, the Sol Devils – one of ASU's largest athletic booster groups – stepped up to provide the needed funds to make the project a reality. Led by donations from Art Pearce, and other members of the Sol Devil Organization, Arizona State was able to break ground on the over one-million-dollar project, one that will be completed when the team arrives for camp this season. A beautiful playing service that bears the name of the group who helped lead the fundraising efforts.
"The Sol Devils started as just an informal tailgate group and we have just grown it over time," Sol Devil spokesperson Mike Olsen said. "We started as just a small group of guys with a hibachi and now it occupies a pretty big space a pretty big space just south of Wells Fargo arena on gamedays. Our goal has always just been to grow it and do things to try to raise money for ASU athletics. We raised money a few years ago for some trams for ASU's use and when the administration came to us and asked us to take on a bigger project, we thought it made a lot of sense for us in the Sol Devils to take this project on."
"One of the many reasons I returned to college football is because of great traditions like Camp Tontozona," Edwards said of the storied tradition of traveling to Camp T. "It's the perfect setting for our coaches, players and staff to bond and get quality work accomplished. The newly-completed turf field will ensure that we accomplish quality work on a daily basis."
Not only an important part of ASU football lore, the Sun Devil's annual trip has a tremendous impact on the city of Payson, and the Tonto Creek Camp. For the past five years, Tonto Creek Camp has worked to harness the power of nature to expand learning for children beyond the walls of a classroom. The camp, which benefits from ASU's support, as well as providing an upgraded facility for year-round use by young people participating in the camp's various programs.
"A lot of us from the Sol Devils make the trip up to 'Camp T'," Olsen added. "It is going to be amazing to see the upgrades. When you hear the players, past and present, talk about their time up there it is clear how great of a bonding experience it is. It is such a great tradition, and for those of us who are passionate about ASU it was awesome for us to take on this project and have our name on it. This is something special for all of us Sol Devils, and our families. When you think about the tradition of 'Camp T', you can't help but also think of the legacy of former players like Pat Tillman and the impact he had on this program and university. Honoring him is always a big part of what we try to do."
This season, the team will travel to Camp Tontozona on Monday, August 5 and practice there for the first time on Tuesday morning, August 6. Practices at Camp Tontozona will be held once a day at times to be announced.
The stay at Camp Tontozona will culminate with the annual final practice on Saturday, August 10. The Sun Devils will return to campus later that day.