Tempe, AZ – After last nights victory over Oregon State, attention has immediately shifted to the Sun Devils’ match-up with the UCLA Bruins next weekend. If the Devils emerge victorious in LA, which projects to be an all-out battle, that game will mean more to Sun Devil fans than any other since Todd Graham’s arrival in Tempe. Why?

Revenge

Last season in Tempe, the Bruins kicked a 33 yard field goal as the clock ticked to 0:00, defeating ASU 45-43. That was proceeded by a mid-field celebration followed by more than one UCLA player yelling “Happy Homecoming” and taunting fans who sat shocked in the the lower seats of Sun Devil Stadium.

More Revenge

That game was a tie-breaker for UCLA over ASU for the Pac-12 South Championship. As Graham has said, “We were within seconds of a shot at the Rose Bowl.”

UCLA went on to lose a second time to Stanford 27-24 in the conference title game after losing to the Cardinal the week prior 35-17 in Pasadena. As a small consolation to Sun Devil fans, it was nice watching UCLA close out their year with a 3rd straight loss when they were handled by Baylor in the Holiday Bowl, 49-26. On the flip-side, ASU finished with 3 straight wins.

Still– if you asked any pundit or fan about the Pac-12 this off-season, they would have mentioned Oregon, Stanford and UCLA. The Devils were 3 points from being in that conversation instead of the Bruins. But in ASU’s case, there were zero points for second place.

Delivery as Promised

Todd Graham sat down for his initial press conference as ASU’s new head man on December 14, 2011, and he was unyielding in his expectations to win championships. If the Devils defeat the Bruins next Saturday, Graham will have validated his impressive words to Sun Devil Nation in less than two complete seasons. Not only will ASU have earned the South Title, but it could also win the overall Pac-12 Championship as well as get it’s shot at the 100th Rose Bowl Championship.

Next Saturday in Pasadena, Arizona State will be 4 quarters away from their destiny.

Calling all Sun Devil Alumni in LA