ASU’s Fan base plays one of the largest roles in the success of the Sun Devil Football program and Athletics. We’re profiling the true DieHards throughout Sun Devil Nation. This time, we’re talking to Dan Roether.

Are you a DieHard Sun Devil? Contact us with your story.

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Meet Dan Roether.

DieHard Family (Dan, Joey & Reagan Roether).

DHD: Are you a DieHard Sun Devil?

Dan Roether: Yes. I was born into it and it’s in my blood. My Dad and Mom both graduated from ASU. I grew up going to games with my Dad and Grandfather. My Grandfather was a transplant Nebraska fan who became a huge and loyal ASU fan in the 70’s. I have great memories of going down to Phoenix Country Club before games, meeting up with my Grandfather’s buddies to have dinner, then getting on the big bus lines to head over to Sun Devil Stadium. I remember sitting on an ice chest full of coke and beer that they would bring into the games.

I still have this dream, vision and hope that ASU will be a dominant football program in this country. We need the right ingredients, a head coach to stick around a while and to get back on the national map. I’m just sold out for ASU including all the athletics.

DHD: Now that you have seen Coach Todd Graham leading Sun Devil Football for over a year, what do you think of the job he has done so far?

Dan: The more that I have been around Todd Graham, the more I’ve heard about what he is doing, the amount of speaking engagements, community outreach that he did in that first 6 months that he was here has been so impressive.

My hope is that Todd Graham will give us at least 10 good years. I’ll still be a Sun Devil fan if and when he leaves, but my hope is that we will be a Rose Bowl contender every year and be in the Top 10. So I’m holding onto that vision and hope, and right now I feel as good as I’ve felt in a long time about that possibility.

Joey and Reagan hangin’ out with Sparky.

DHD: Do you think we can win it all at ASU?

Dan: I do. You want to know why? We’ve done it before in the 70’s and came within seconds in the Plummer year.  The 1996 season was the most exciting year ever at ASU. The Nebraska game, from beginning to end, was the most exciting football game I’ve ever attended in my life.

DHD: At what age did you get really serious about being a Sun Devil fan?

Dan: As a 10 year old, I remember listening to away games on the radio with Tom Dillon, the best Sun Devil voice ever.  Also playing pick-up football games with my buddies at halftime in the back of Sun Devil Stadium. After the USC game in 1979, my Dad and I were going on a deer hunt right after the game. ASU had just joined the Pac-10 Conference and we shut down Charles White and beat USC, who was ranked 1 or 2 in the nation at the time. We had all our gear packed and left right after the game to go hunting. Those were great memories.

DHD: Being an Arizona native, when did the Territorial Cup rivalry kick in for you growing up?

Dan: Around junior high. You start to become aware of how nasty the games were. You realize that this game is something different. By the time you get in high school, you have your rivalries with your buddies also, and things escalate from there.

DHD: Who are some of your favorite Sun Devil players from the past?

DR: Mike Richardson, Darryl Clack, Aaron Cox and David Fulcher

DHD: Since you were a former quarterback in high school, what are your thoughts on Taylor Kelly?

DR: Taylor Kelly has been so impressive. I see poise that is beyond his years. For a guy that came in and never started a college football game, and his coolness under pressure last season was just phenomenal. He’s at a whole different level of scrutiny from coaches, teammates, fans and the press. And for him to be so cool under the collar for the entire season was huge. Also, I think he progressed every single week and got better. He has some great coaching and a fantastic work ethic.

He reminds me of Jake Plummer in that he doesn’t have all the tools of a 5-star recruit, but some of the best ASU players ever have been the “fly under the radar” 3-stars that are coached up to become 5-stars, and I think Todd Graham is that type of coach. I really believe in this group of coaches to pick players that have the character to work hard and they’re going to coach them up.

Sun Devil family and friends on game day.

DHD: What kind of impact do the fans have on the players on game day?

DR: The players know what their role is and what they’re supposed to do, but there is a reason why good home teams win. It’s because there is an added confidence that they’re playing for. They feel that they are playing for something bigger than themselves. They know as a team that they are sold out to each other no matter what. That’s why when they are on the road, they can block out the booing and the opposing team’s fans. But when they are at home, there is an additional sense of confidence, like we’re doing this for Sun Devil Nation right now. Great fan support adds another layer of support and confidence to the overall scheme.

DHD: If you had one message to other Sun Devil fans, what would it be?

DR: Commit. Commit to the team. They need the support and I think we’re on a great track right now.

#ForksUp, Dan.

Reagan meets Sun Devil Legend, Coach Frank Kush.