It’s been a busy few days around ASU(Always Something University), the coming days only figure to bring more action. Big news like Brian Billick, a respected offensive football mind with an NFL background, was added to the football department. A story came out that the Sun Devil hockey program might share their sparkling new facility with the Arizona Coyotes. Basketball coach Bobby Hurley was fined and suspended by the Pac-12 for a verbal altercation with an official. One of his players was suspended and another was reprimanded. A kicker, Christian Zendejas(great Sun Devil kicking family) entered the transfer portal for the second time. All of the above made Friday morning the perfect time to get more bad news out of the way around the ongoing mess within the football program. Four days before the late signing period for recruiting, Zak Hill, the offensive coordinator was shown the door, becoming the fourth assistant on Herm Edwards staff to be removed.
Go back to last June when the first reports came out about Edwards staff hosting recruits during COVID. Go further back to December 2020 when Antonio Pierce was linked to the Arizona head coaching opening. An ASU athletics employee told me at the time, “we dodged a bullet when AP didn’t get the Arizona job”. Um, er, uh. At one point last year it was published that the football program had offered 341 high schoolers a scholarship. 341. At the same time, Alabama had 29 offers extended.
Hell, go back to the marketing of the “pro model” in 2017 and see who’s left in the wake of Pierce coming on board. By the way, the associate head coach and the head coach have yet to have their final day in the ongoing NCAA investigation. That will be another “Always Something University” day, week, month.
Football and men’s basketball are the two biggest revenue generators for every college athletic department. It’s NEVER/EVER good when both are mediocre to below average at the same time. That’s the case with the current on-the-field/court product. If you’ve bought a ticket, watched a broadcast, spent even a few moments of your precious time following Always Something University the last few years, you deserve better than what you’ve been delivered.
There’s enough turmoil and chaos in the real world, you don’t need it continually swirling around your entertainment choices.
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Brad Cesmat
Media personality Brad Cesmat first rose to fame in Southern California with the launching of "The Mighty 690" all-sports radio station in the late 1980's and early 90's. Brad came to Arizona in 1993 to begin a 10-year run at KTAR Radio followed by nine years at KTVK-TV in Phoenix. Brad is the Founder/ CEO of Sports360AZ.com. His vision of multi platform content marketing through sports began in September of 2011. Cesmat has served on the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army for the last 18 years. He and his wife Chris have four children.