Gameday Arizona State: More Than Hawaii May Be On The Line

Today two head coaches on the hot seat meet for what will be a horrible day for one coach. The loser will more than likely lose out on the Hawaii Bowl 'save your season' sweepstakes that goes to the 6th place team in the Pac-10. And with that ignominious letdown, the loser will more than likely hear the voices of doom calling for their ouster louder than they ever have. Did they have to schedule this game at night?! No worries people. UCLA will win today against an average, inconsistent, injured, and poorly coached ASU team and Karl Dorrell will be glorified again. And who knows, maybe he will even get another contract extension. On the flip side, today's game may be the last chance Karl Dorrell can get a win on the road this season (if UCLA does not go to a bowl, this is his last chance). Again, we won't lose today, but if we do KD will match Bob Toledo (1999) in futility on the road for an entire season.

More Notes

• We haven't won in Tempe since 1994. Toledo never won there, and neither has KD.
• More things these two teams have in common. They are #112 (UCLA) and #113 nationally in penalty yards. With the success that our defense had 'trash-talking' against OSU, expect a lot of yellow to fly.
• From Lonnie White LAT: UCLA is third in the Pac-10 at 86.1% in scoring once it gets inside an opponent's red zone, and Arizona State is at 80%. But the Sun Devils have scored 21 touchdowns in 35 trips to the red zone, compared with the Bruins' 15 in 36 trips.
• Sun Devil running backs Ryan Torain and Keegan Herring are averaging 5.3 and 6.1 yards per carry. The team ranks second in the Pac-10 in rushing at 167.6 yards per game. They go up against our #12 rushing defense (90 ypg). Keep in mind that teams attack our passing defense because it is weak (#79).
• Another week where our special teams have to be very careful. This week the threat is Terry Richardson, and he is a double threat. He is ranked #1 in kickoff returns (33 yp) and #26 in punt returns (11.1 yp). He has been sidelined with an injury but looks like he will play today.
• ASU QB Rudy Carpenter had 9 interceptions in their first 5 games. In the last 5 he has cut that down to 3.
• UCLA OL coach Jim Colletto returns to ASU where he was OC for the Sun Devils during a 3-bowl run (1985-1987).

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