One season ago, empty seats and seas of opposing fans headlined a disappointing scene at Mountain America Stadium for Arizona State. However, winning teams cultivate winning environments. And with last week’s sellout against Kansas, it is safe to say times have changed in Tempe.
With a ranked opponent coming to town for ASU’s annual Blackout game, the Sun Devil fan base has a chance to put the exclamation point on an impressive showing this season from the maroon and gold faithful.
Since head football coach Kenny Dillingham’s hiring back in November of 2023, his message has been abundantly clear: Activate the valley.
But it’s hard to get fans to rally around a losing product. Back-to-back three-win campaigns hampered the Sun Devil’s ability to draw supporters. By the end of the 2023 season, it seemed opposing fans overwhelmed the home crowd at Mountain America Stadium.
Yet, remarkably, through three games this season, Arizona State fans have turned up in noteworthy numbers.
So much so, that players have noticed and acknowledged the stark difference in home-field advantage compared to last season.
“I hope we sell out every game the rest of the year,” senior running back Cam Skattebo said. “I think our fans are starting to understand the difference between when we or the opposing team has the ball on first down and third down. That last Kansas game was awesome. I’m expecting the same turnout if not a couple more people because there were still a few open seats (last game). But I love the fans and the support we’ve had.”
Even after an impressive showing against Kansas, the Sun Devils may need more support on Friday night. Facing No. 16 ranked Utah, Dillingham called upon the fan base to pack the stands in their black ASU attire.
“This Friday night will be a fun test with two 4-1 teams on national television,” Dillingham said. “The country is going to see what kind of support we have for our football program… Every recruit is going to say that place is rocking or they’re going to say there’s not a lot of people there.”
Nonetheless, with the return of the seven-year traveled starting quarterback Cam Rising, the Utes look to repeat the success of their 55-3 win against ASU last season.
Despite staring down a tall task, the Sun Devils are no strangers to upset wins in Blackout games.
Victories over ranked opponents in Blackout nights– No. 20 Wisconsin (2013), No. 5 Washington (2017) and No. 5 Michigan State (2018) –give ASU reason for optimism.
Yet Dillingham refuses to look at the Friday night duel as a chance for an upset.
“There is no such thing as an upset in the Big 12,” Dillingham said. “There’s no favorites or non-favorites, it’s just another game.”
A victory over the Utes could give Dillingham his signature win over a top-25 opponent in just his second year at the helm.
ASU will look for its first victory over a ranked opponent under Kenny Dillingham on Friday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. in Mountain America Stadium.
Leave a Reply