Devil’s Junkie Podcast

Guy Haberman and Evan Moore interview DevilsDigest.com Publisher Hod Rabino, to get his thoughts on the Saturday contest in L.A. and what we can expect from the Sun Devils this season.

It's been a long off-season for ASU football fans to say the least but every day we're getting closer and closer to the season’s kickoff and the juices really start flowing with announcements just like the one we had last Saturday October 3rd where the Pac-12 football schedule has been released.

In this episode of the Devil’s Junkie Podcast I will give you my thoughts and analysis on the Sun Devil football schedule, what are some of the pros and cons for this seven-game slate, and later on I will be joined by Pac-12 Network Analyst Yogi Roth who will give his perspective not only on the ASU schedule but also the rest of the Pac-12, how does he see the different division races and who may be the surprise teams in the conference. 

Episode Rundown (36 minutes) 

(1:00) We begin the show analyzing ASU’s 2020 schedule and the two challenging games that await them right out of the gates. How much can its level of preseason preparedness aid the Sun Devils as they face the Trojans and Golden Bears? Does this year’s slate, seven games and all offer ASU any advantages? 

(17:20) We invite Pac-12 Network Analyst, Yogi Roth, to offer his perspective on ASU’s prospects this year, who does he see as the favorites in each Pac-12 division, and what team could surprise us in 2020? 

(34:57) My closing thoughts regarding ASU’s schedule and detailing our coverage for the upcoming season.

The long-awaited Pac-12 decision has finally arrived, as the conference announced it would have a seven-game season with kickoff taking place the weekend of Nov. 6th. In this podcast episode, we analyze that decision and how ASU can benefit from such a season.

Episode Rundown (42 minutes)

(1:53) We begin the show diving into the particulars of the Pac-12’s statement, projecting what ASU’s full schedule could look like and why the date of the seventh and last game cam be challenging for the entire league.

(11:18) We invite Speak of the Devils Podcast co-host Brad Denny, to offer his perspective on the Pac-12’s decision talking about whether the league waited too long or were there significant hurdles to clear first before it could resume play. What are the implications of the kickoff date and schedule structure on the Sun Devils, and what are some of the Fall camp storylines we should look forward to with this team?

(34:39) I offer my final thoughts of the abbreviated football season, how a unified kickoff date may be less significant since the level of preparedness around the conference isn’t and won’t be on the same level, and how much does the proverbial season with an asterisk mean in case ASU is successful. 

It was less than two weeks ago since the Pac-12 released a modified conference only football schedule which certainly gave hope for fans of that conference that we would see football in the fall albeit it a little later in the year and with fewer contests to be played. On August 11th, it decided to delay the start of the football season to January 2021.

We discuss the reasons for this decision, the various implications it may have, as well as answer your questions that have now arisen from this historical announcement.  

Episode rundown (67 minutes)

(1:38) There many catalysts to the league's decision and we detail them, as well as review possible implications on recruiting and other team aspects

(39:51) Answering your questions and yes even addressing your vents on the Pac-12 decision 

On the Roc and Manuch show, I talked about the pressing needs for Arizona State football's 2021 recruiting class and the unique approach they are taking in trying to achieve those objectives. We also delved into some basketball talk and previewed what could be ASU's most talented team this century. 

Between the addition of a five-star guard and the loss of a veteran frontcourt player, this week brought a mixture of good and bad news for ASU. We invited Sun Devil Network analyst Kyle Dodd to break it all down and provide his projections for the 2020-21 season.

With the rumors of Vanderbilt being the final destination for ASU grad transfer Romello White I went on The Dore Report to discuss that topic and the circumstances behind the Sun Devils' forward decision to leave Tempe.

Here's my appearance on the Roc and Manuch Show on Fox Sports Radio detailing how the Sun Devils are handling their recruiting efforts with the inability to host prospects, and sharing my impressions of the seven spring practice sessions ASU was able to get in before the forced hiatus around college football.

Sun Devil fans, let alone sports fans at large have never seen a pandemic bring the world of sports to its knees at best mudding the future of some sports and at worst bringing others to an abrupt end. So, in this environment we are left to talk about the impact COVID-19 will have on ASU football that could resume at the earliest in a couple of weeks, and wrap up the Sun Devil basketball and baseball season, two programs that were poised to qualify for NCAA postseason play. 

Episode Rundown (56 minutes)

(1:08) ASU football was able to get in half of its spring practice allotment of sessions before a forced hiatus. We evaluate the significance of this interruption not only in the preparation sense but also in the recruiting aspect.

(10:39) Sadly one of the most impressive ASU basketball seasons in school history will have no postseason achievements to show in light of the NCAA season cancelation, yet we note the feats that did take place and whether the Sun Devils were hurt by not having even a token Selection Sunday event.

(25:44) We shift gears to the diamond and talk about an ASU baseball season that just 17 games in showed a lot of promise and had the look of a College World Series team with a first baseman that was all but assured to break a 42-year old record.

(33:03) In these times of ASU athletics uncertainty, it’s only natural that Sun Devil fans have many questions/issues they need answers and provide our replies in this segment.

ASU’s spring break still has us working, specifically delving into the state of the Sun Devils position by position they completed 50 percent of their spring practices. Later we move from the gridiron to the hardwood discussing ASU as a 3rd seed in the Pac-12 tournament this week and what they need to do to hear their name called in Selection Sunday and be called as “safely” in the field of 68. Thanks for tuning in!

Episode Rundown (64 minutes)

(1:19) We start our analysis of ASU on offense. What do we make of a somewhat lukewarm start in the spring, and how has inexperience at the skill positions affected this group so far?

(32:14) Inexperience is much less of an issue when it comes to the Arizona State defense, as we share our observations on this side of the ball.  

(48:39) For the third year in a row, ASU basketball has posted a 20-win season. Will this also result in a third trip to the Big Dance? We present all the implications regarding ASU’s possible Pac-12 tournament scenarios can present.