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Camp Tontozona: Where Sun Devil Football starts

As the clock ticks closer to the start of another season, Sun Devil Football heads up north to continue the tradition of toughness and hard work in the woods started by legendary Head Coach Frank Kush in 1959. 

This year, from Aug. 6-9, Head Coach Kenny Dillingham takes his defending Big 12 champion Sun Devils — Sam Leavitt, Jordyn Tyson, Xavion Alford and more — to Payson, Arizona, to prepare for the upcoming 2025 season. 

Sun Devil Nation
Maroon and Gold scrimmage

This year's annual public Maroon and Gold scrimmage takes place on Saturday, Aug. 9, starting at 9 a.m. Don't miss your chance to witness this one-of-a-kind experience and see Sun Devil Football up close and personal. 

🏈 What to expect 
With average tempratures in Tempe hitting around 105 in August, it's a right of passage to head up north to beat the heat. Nestled near Payson, Arizona, where the average temp is closer to 89, Camp T sits at the base of the Mogollon Rim where fresh air, towering pines and scenic trails provide the perfect escape from the desert heat.

Here's what to expect when making the trip up to Payson. 

  • Family-friendly atmosphere: Whether you're a die-hard fan or first-time visitor, Camp T welcomes all. Bring the whole family, enjoy the cool air, meet fellow Sun Devils and cheer on the team as they prepare for the upcoming season. 

  • Get up close and personal: Take advantage of the rare opportunity to watch the Sun Devils train up close. Bring your chairs, blankets, coolers, snacks and Game Day essentials for a picture perfect Sun Devil experience unlike any other.

  • Building bonds, making memories: For the team, Camp T is about more than football. It’s about bonding, focus and laying the foundation for success. It’s where Sun Devil legends are born and the season begins to take shape. For the fans and families, it's about making memories that last a lifetime.

2025 Camp Tontozona Turnaround Bus Trip

2025 Camp T turnaround bus trip

This is a one-day bus trip for donors, season ticket holders and fans to take part in the tradition of the Camp T Maroon and Gold scrimmage. The bus trip provides an easy alternative to the Camp T experience, without the traffic and parking challenges.

The registration price of $60 includes a round-trip bus transportation, breakfast, shaded viewing area, snacks and nonalcoholic beverages.

Bus departs from Mountain America Stadium at 6 a.m.

Seats not provided, and fans encouraged to bring their own chairs.

No dogs or alcohol.

No refunds unless the scrimmage is canceled due to weather.

Reserve your spot now!

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the Sun Devil Club at 480-727-7700 or via email at SunDevilClub@asu.edu.

Camp Tontozona history
A Sun Devil tradition in the pines

In 1959, seeking solitude, toughness and unity, Arizona State University Football Coach Frank Kush stood among the towering pines outside Payson, Arizona, and envisioned something different. 

Kush brought Sun Devils Football to a remote, wooded patch of land near Tonto Creek to train during the summer, marking the beginning of Camp Tontozona.

Affectionately known as “Camp T,” the location is breathtaking and unforgiving. While the scenery is postcard-worthy, the accommodations were anything but luxurious. There were creaky metal bunks, freezing cold showers and the occasional wildlife encounter. 

The training was nothing less than intense as well. 

Practices were grueling. Players would arrive for 10 to 14 days of training, often enduring three-a-days under the sweltering sun and cool mountain air. Mornings started with full-contact scrimmages. Midday meant specialized drills and weightlifting. Late afternoon brought another full-pad session. And if a player made a mistake? Kush would send them running up the now-legendary Mount Kush. If they messed up again, their coach went with them.

Despite, or perhaps because of the discomfort, something transformative happened at Camp T. 

“When you finished Camp T, you felt like you had achieved something before the season even started,” said Jim Jeffcoat, who played in the early 1980s. 

Those achievements often extend beyond the camp. In 1986, after a team bonding hike up the mountain, the Sun Devils won the Rose Bowl. The following season, ESPN was on-site filming players singing the fight song at the summit.

Hardship, brotherhood and hijinks
Camp T isn’t just about football. It’s about brotherhood. 

With little to do besides football, players often found creative outlets — some hilarious, some downright wild. Talent shows, pranks and legendary stunts became part of the culture.

Marcus Williams recalled the giant black beetles used to freak out unsuspecting teammates. Rudy Carpenter recounted making highly touted recruits read their bios while the team mock-cheered.

Then there was Pat Tillman. Always up for a challenge, the fearless linebacker took to jumping off a cliff into a tiny pool of water near a hidden waterfall. 

Sometimes, the pranks got out of hand. Jake Plummer and Juan Roque dropped a dead bat from a pillowcase in the freshman cabin. The players screamed. A window broke. Animal rights groups were notified. But to the players, it was just Camp T.

The legacy continues
Camp T remains an essential part of the Sun Devil football DNA. The amenities have improved, cell reception is better, and the trailers are no longer falling apart. But the essence of Camp T— the stillness, the sweat, the stories — remains unchanged.

For all the discomfort, many players now look back at Camp T with something approaching reverence. Camp Tontozona is more than a location. It’s a rite of passage. A crucible of sweat, camaraderie and mischief where generations of Sun Devils forged bonds that carried far beyond the playing field.

And so, every August, when the Sun Devils load onto buses and head up the hill to the pines, they’re not just beginning a new season. They’re stepping into history.

Learn more about Camp Tontozona
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