Extending Todd Graham

Has Arizona State finally figured it out with it's coaching? I believe that they have with Todd Graham and what he has brought to the table. In all honesty, I was a doubter of Coach Graham when ASU hired him because of how he left Pittsburgh and Tulsa before that. Texting his Pitt players that he was leaving still doesn't sit well with me. However, that is all in the past and Sun Devil fans haven't been happier!


By extending Grahams contract that ensures that he will be the Sun Devil coach through the 2019 season and raises his contract by $300,000 to a level of $2.7 million. His contract has to be approved by the ASU Board of Regents, but that is merely a formality at this point.


I, for one, applaud the university for doing what is necessary to keep a quality head coach for their football program. Since living down here in the desert it appeared that ASU couldn't make the right choice in coaches. Dirk Koetter and Dennis Erickson never endeared themselves to the public. Koetter was abrasive with the media and alumni and Erickson let the players run the asylum and there was no discipline in the program. Heck, Koetter, even had a player kill somebody under his watch.


Enter, Graham, a guy who had, and maybe still has a reputation of continually looking for his next big job. He has embraced all the tradition that ASU has with its past. Takes the players up to Camp T for summer camp, holds his players accountable with his tough nosed discipline, makes sure his players go to class, and has brought respectability back to the program in the publics eyes. Let's face it, when the alumni are happy, the coach is happy. He gets involved with the community, takes part in Pat's Run that benefits the Pat Tillman Foundation, and basically puts a positive face on the Sun Devil program. He is an inspiring speaker, heck, he gets me fired up and wants to put the pads on when he talks to high school players or his own players about how he expects his teams to play. His teams play with urgency and passion. Seeing his players fly around and play with this passion is how Sun Devil fans want their team to play.


Here's to hoping that Graham continues this style of coaching and winning.  Just saying....