Sun Devils Primed For Run At Huskies

Sat., Sept. 7, 1996

Associated Press

Arizona State football coach Bruce Snyder believes that four years of rebuilding might finally pay off today when his 20th-ranked Sun Devils play hosts to Washington.

“The community is anticipating, as we are, that something exciting is about to happen,” said Snyder, whose Sun Devils sport their best preseason ranking since 1987. “We’re facing one of the premier programs in the Pac-10 and in the country, and we’re in their ballpark (with talent) now.”

Progress has been slow for Snyder, who is 21-23 in his first four years at ASU. But memories of last year’s 6-5 record, and a possible bowl bid squandered along with a 14-point lead against arch-rival Arizona, are fading for the Sun Devils, who, for the first time in Snyder’s tenure, are approaching the NCAA’s 85-scholarship limit.

The Sun Devils’ emergence is due mostly to the senior tandem of quarterback Jake Plummer and wide receiver Keith Poole. Plummer, who will make his 29th consecutive start today, should break most of Arizona State’s career passing records before the season is over.

Poole, who caught nine passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns against the Huskies last season, needs only seven catches to reach 100 for his career.

ASU’s weakness is its defense, which ranked near the bottom of the conference a season ago.

Defense also is a question for the Huskies, who start freshmen cornerbacks Jermaine Smith and Mel Miller. Washington coach Jim Lambright said he expects Plummer to test the freshmen, but Snyder said the key to success is testing the Huskies’ rushing defense, led by senior inside linebacker Ink Aleaga.

UW will be starting a new quarterback, junior Shane Fortney, who threw just 10 passes in 11 regular-season games last season, then threw another 10 in the Huskies’ 38-18 Sun Bowl loss to Iowa.

Fortney will give way at least briefly to freshman Brock Huard, whose brother, Damon, started all 12 Huskies games a year ago.

“It’s been a fun competition because we’ve been blessed with two quarterbacks we believe can play,” said Lambright, 2-1 against ASU, including last year’s 23-20 season-opening victory in Seattle.

xxxx ON TV Can be seen on PSN at 7:15 p.m.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Sun Devils Primed For Run At Huskies

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Pac-12 transfer tracker: Keeping up with portal moves, transactions for all nine teams

Spokane's Dylan Darling reportedly commits to Grand Canyon

Vandals sign former Washington State guard, Idaho high school record-breaker Kase Wynott