It WAS NOT just the “4th and 13 game”…

I’m on my flight back to Phoenix following Wednesday’s dramatic, heartbreaking, screw-job, etc., however you want to explain it. It’s been just a few hours since the Peach Bowl loss to Texas so I understand that the raw emotion of an obvious missed targeting call would(should) be the focus, but what’s done is done.

I’m thrilled to be flying back from a College Football Playoff game for Arizona State. The endless trips to El Paso, Las Vegas, and San Diego for small bowl games had worn me out.

What made it worse was the accepting of mediocrity by so many.

If I would’ve told you in July that the end result of year two in the Kenny Dillingham era would finish with a 2OT loss to Texas in a New Years Day CFP game, you would’ve had me tested.

Sun Devils React to 39-31 Overtime Peach Bowl Loss

What came out of this last three days in Georgia was positive energy and good feeling for an athletic department that hasn’t had much juice injected into it’s veins in the last fifteen years. Extending Dillingham, having a Heisman Trophy candidate for next season in Sam Leavitt, and Graham Rossini having some time now to put his stamp on the department. From my view, he hasn’t had much time to implement his full blueprint since taking over the last Spring. His background has been in building business. How does he parlay the success of football team on the field into more revenue streams.

How will the House Settlement this spring impact football(I don’t think it will), but there will be fallout.

I spent quality time with Jake Plummer and Gus Farwell in Atlanta. Two former teammates/close friends who love and care about the program more than I can say here. Danny White and I visited his College Football Hall of Fame display, while in Atlanta. The same as with Jake. Hearing the emotion in their voices about what Dillingham and staff have done would make anyone in maroon and gold proud. But there’s still plenty of work to do to make this more than a one shot deal.

There were moments when I saw the quarterback on the field wearing number 10, look like the quarterback wearing 16 in the Rose Bowl. When Texas took a 14-3 lead on just three offensive plays, those around me thought the blowout was on. So take the time to be upset with the non-targeting call. Take time to live in the 4th and 13 moments and then turn the page to what went right and future steps.

Much more happened in Georgia than the gut punch we all witnessed…