Arizona State head coach Dennis Erickson looks on from the sidelines during the first half of their NCAA college football game with Oregon, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
If you've been reading my blogs the last few years, you've probably figured out that Charles Dickens is not very nervous I will soon be to his level as a writer. Unfortunately for both of us, I must plagiarize in order to write a summary to ASU/Oregon.
This game really was the best of times and the worst of times.
In the grand scheme of things, this game meant very little.
In the grand scheme of things, this game meant everything.
I bet Dennis Erickson told his players at the end of the game how proud he was of them because they never stopped fighting all the way to the end.
Knowing Dennis like I do, I could see him asking his players if they wanted another shot at Oregon. The players, of course, would respond "YES."
After he pumped them up, he'd tell them they won't get it if they don't quit making stupid penalties. Then he'd say, "If you cut out the penalties, catch the football and start playing good Sun Devil football over the next 5 games, you'll get your shot."
He'd be exactly right.
This loss makes going to the Rose Bowl harder because ASU will probably have to come back to Autzen or go to Stanford on the way to Pasadena. Although that's still a daunting task, there's nothing that stands in ASU's way to get to the Pac-12 Championship Game.
The next 5 opponents are vastly weaker than ASU. The Sun Devils completely control their destiny. If someone else wants a piece of the Pac-12 South Championship, they've got to go through Tempe to get it. Unless ASU plays to the level of the competition, the Sun Devils are in the Pac-12's first championship game.
There's nothing to be ashamed of coming to Autzen stadium and losing by 14 points. Only three teams since Chip Kelly moved to Eugene have beaten him in his house.
So in the grand scheme of things, this game meant very little.
The problem is this game should have been a win. In the grand scheme it was another ASU missed opportunity. I don't mean should have been a win because blaming refs or acting like the world's unfair to ASU. I mean "should have won" because of the opportunity. If you can't beat Oregon at Autzen Stadium with the Ducks back-up running back and back-up quarterback playing, when are you going to win in Autzen Stadium?
When is ASU going to get that breakout nationally televised win?
When is ASU going to stop making stupid penalties?
When are the receivers going to make big plays in back-to- back games instead of showing hints of greatness?
ASU had the chance to show the nation the Pac-12 is theirs but personal fouls, dropped balls and poor execution cost them again.
This game was the best of times if you watched Cameron Marshall get stone-walled in the first 20-minutes yet never stop fighting. He eventually made it to 97 yards. Marshall was a brick house in blitz pick-up.
This game was the worst of times if you're wondering why Dennis Erickson took two time outs with him to the locker room at the end of the first half when Oregon was marching right down the Devils throat against a confused and scattered defense. One timeout could have caused a regrouping and settling of nervous minds.
This game was the best of times if you saw the growth and leadership of Brock Osweiler. He led the team's offensive meeting Saturday morning with the projector and laser pointer. He demanded his receivers stay alive when he's scrambling. He didn't tell Coach Erickson and Coach Mazzone what he was seeing and then wait for instruction. He told them what he wanted and expected. Osweiler was the victim of dropped passes and bad route-running and still threw for 291 yards.
This game was the worst of times if you found great joy in the performances of Mike Willie in the Utah game. The Utes couldn't handle Willie's strength and route running. Willie brought back the frustration of all knowledgeable fans with his broken route that led Osweiler to throw an interception right to the spot Willie was supposed to be.
The best of times because a young kicker hasn't missed on the road in the last two games.
The worst of times because Burfict still doesn't get it.
In the past, there were many times ASU fans weren't patient enough. They really didn't know how much needed to change at ASU and how long the process would take. Close losses like Wisconsin and USC last year were blamed on Erickson instead of seeing how close Coach Erickson was to getting this team to contender status. Those losses of the past were necessary to get ASU to the point of being able to legitimately talk of BCS bids.
This wasn't one of those games. The rebuilding is complete. The team is here and now. ASU can't chalk this up to "learning to be great." This was the game to show the nation the Sun Devils have arrived.
It is the worst of times because they didn't get it done.
It is the best of times because they will get a second chance.
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