Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham isn’t pulling any punches heading into their huge road game. He flat out told reporters that if Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire were to show his team film of the Sun Devils and tell them, “Listen, this team plays physical, and this team plays hard,” then McGuire would be “lying to himself.” That’s a brutal assessment coming from your own coach, and it tells you everything you need to know about where ASU stands right now.
Talent’s There, But Where’s The Fire?
Dillingham knows his squad has talent. No doubt about it. But the guy sees a major spark missing. The Sun Devils are sitting at 3-2 overall, 1-1 in conference play, and while they rebounded from a blowout loss to Baylor with a 30-12 win over Hawaii, even that victory was described as “underwhelming.” That’s not the kind of momentum you want building when you’re about to face a top-10 team. Dillingham wants opposing coaches to watch the tape and describe ASU as playing with passion and energy. But right now? He says, “That’s not what the tape shows.” He believes the team “can be that,” but admits “that’s not who we are right now.” Kyan McDonald’s interception against Hawaii was a highlight, and Cardae Mack scored two touchdowns, even ringing the victory bell, but the coach’s overall vibe is pure frustration with the team’s mental game.
Lubbock Showdown: Bring The Passion Or Get Rolled
This weekend, ASU treks to Lubbock, Texas, for a monster showdown against the reigning Big 12 Conference champion, Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are undefeated at 5-0, 2-0 in conference play, and they’re ranked ninth in one national poll and tenth in another. That’s a serious test for any team, let alone one whose own coach is questioning their passion. You cannot go into a hostile road environment against a team playing that well without bringing absolute fire. Dillingham’s words are a wake-up call, a challenge to his players to find that missing energy and show the league who they truly are. Can they answer him before they face one of the toughest opponents on their schedule? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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