Home opener showcases generations of ASU pride
Thousands gathered for Sun Devil Football's home opener against NAU on Saturday, Aug. 30, but the event was more than just the game. It was a day of making lifetime memories and building upon tradition.
The energy around Mountain America Stadium for Sun Devil Football’s 2025 season opener was more than electric. There was more than enough excitement to go around, and for many, the excitement wasn’t just for the game itself, but for continuing traditions and creating even more memories to last a lifetime and beyond.
And boy oh boy, was this game full of big things to remember. For starters, ASU walked away with a 38-19 win.
In the stands, the game was the first sellout home opener since 1998, with a total of 56,759 in attendance. That number also included a student attendance record of 14,280 rocking the Inferno. Of all those in the crowd, thousands of Sun Devil Game Day experiences were just getting started or being built upon.
A Sun Devil for life
Longtime supporter and season ticket holder since 1984, JR Hernandez was more than happy to reminisce about some of his favorite Game Day experiences. The annual event served as a poignant reminder of a lifetime as a Sun Devil fan.
“I moved here from El Paso in 1966. My brother and I used to sit in the kid zone, back when it was Sun Devil Stadium, and I think my parents only paid 50 cents for the tickets,” Hernandez said with a big smile. “Our parents would drop us off while they sat in the stands and I’ve been hooked ever since.”
Now 68, Hernandez rarely misses a chance to follow the team across the country. Last season, he went to 10 games in person, including the Big 12 Championship in Arlington, Texas.
“I just live and die ASU football,” he said, even though he never attended ASU. In fact, oddly enough, he played baseball at NAU, the Sun Devils’ opponent for the night. Hernandez also lives in what he calls a split family. “I married a girl from Tucson, and unfortunately, my two daughters went to U of A. But, luckily, my son loves ASU, and he got to use my tickets to go to the Peach Bowl.”
Despite the household divide, Hernandez is optimistic about his team and how the season will unfold.
“Leavitt has a year under his belt and I think he’s going to be strong. But nobody gives us credit for our defense, and I think the defense is going to surprise a lot of people this year.”
Hernandez’s prediction wasn’t too far off. The defense forced a Lumberjack punt to open the game, which led to a Raleek Brown touchdown, putting the Sun Devils on the board early.
A different kind of football
As Hernandez symbolizes long-standing Sun Devil pride, the home opener also welcomed a broader spectrum of ASU fans, paving the way for new opportunities ahead.
For example, the Sun Devil Soccer team was at Sparky’s Tailgate from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. to sign autographs for fans of the other type of football. Jade and Nash Johnston, soccer players themselves, were two of the youngsters lined up to meet Sun Devil stars Pauline Nelles, Cameron Valladares and Peyton Marcisz.
“It's awesome for our daughter to see these role models in person because she's really into soccer,” said Jade and Nash’s father, Kelsey Johnston. “For her to get an autograph and see what’s possible, it just means the world to her.”
It means the world to Johnston, too. He’s an ASU alumnus who played hockey for the Sun Devils. “It’s a totally different experience seeing it through their eyes,” added Johnston, who played hockey at ASU. “We get to show them where we went to school, and now they get to dream about maybe being here one day, too. Seeing the girls here empowers her to be able to do that.”
The Inferno
What home opener would be complete without the students who pack the Inferno, ASU’s raucous student section?
Among them is a tight-knit group of sophomores — Nick Brooks, Kyle Dubois, Cash Profit, Ariana Flores and Owen Bateman. These friends have been building their own Sun Devil Football traditions since their first year at ASU.
Last season, they made it a point to claim front-row seats to as many games as possible. They also dressed up in custom-made suits for the Blackout game, emblazoned with painted pitchforks across the jackets to fire up the crowd.
This year, they picked up right where they left off. Despite 106-degree heat, the group camped out at the gates at 1 p.m. with folding chairs, hot dogs, bottles of water and a laptop streaming college football, all in the name of keeping their front-row spot.
“We all value the ASU experience, but the experience of sitting front row at football games has been one of my favorite parts of college,” said Brooks. “Game Days with this group are what I live for. This summer was just counting the seconds until we could be back here.”
Whether it’s painting thrifted suit coats or storming the field after an upset over BYU, the students are known for their passion. But at the heart of it, their traditions are less about the theatrics and more about friendship.
“These are my best friends,” said Dubois. “Being with them on Game Days makes it that much more special.”
Sun Devil pride
Whether it’s Hernandez recalling childhood memories from the 1960s, parents sharing the ASU experience with their kids, or students creating new traditions of their own, the Sun Devil Football home opener continues to be more than a football game. It’s a celebration of community, passion and generations of Sun Devil pride, a true fan event for all ages. And, of course, creating Sun Devils for life.
Have a Sun Devil story to share? Fork it over to Meredith Cunningham, digital content manager for sundevils.com, at mcunni43@asu.edu.