SEPTEMBER 3, 2009 ISSUE
ASU Football at ECU Saturday
Players Looking for Another National Title
The preseason No. 1 rankings and the constant questions about winning another national championship haven’t changed ASU coach Jerry Moore’s mindset about the upcoming season.
And adding another title to the trophy case this fall probably won’t change it either.
“The expectations that I’ve always put on them hasn’t changed for 20 years and that’s to be the best we can be,” Moore said. “We’ll just stick to that…and try to be overachievers.”
It’s tough to overachieve when you’re at the top of the heap. And that’s where the Mountaineers have been in the past few seasons.
They’ve won three of the last four NCAA Football Championship Subdivision national titles and are trying to win a fifth straight Southern Conference title (the Mountaineers shared the 2007 title with Wofford).
Players want another national title.
“We want nothing else but to win a national championship,” offensive lineman Mario Acitelli said. “That’s our goal as is every team we play. The expectations are very high, and we’re going to do everything in our power to meet them.”
With seven offensive starters and nine defensive starters back, the Mountaineers were picked No. 1 in The Sports Network’s national preseason poll (a fourth straight appearance in that spot) and had eight players selected as preseason first-team all-conference performers.
Quarterback Armanti Edwards and linebacker Jacque Roman were picked as the SoCon’s preseason offensive and defensive players of the year, respectively.
“I looked at the national championship picture and me and (linebacker) DJ (Smith) said we were going to do whatever it took to get there,” Roman said. “We missed (playing for the title). It’s a big thing to miss and it’s a big accomplishment to make. We’re going to do whatever it takes to get back there.”
The Mountaineers might be without Edwards, who is listed as questionable, in the opener. He injured his foot in a lawnmower accident in early August but returned to practice earlier this week.
Moore said he was comfortable with either DeAndre Presley or Travaris Cadet playing the quarterback position.
Players were more excited as preparation for ECU began on Monday.
“It’s game week, and they were frisky,” Moore said. “There’d be something wrong if they weren’t [excited]. We’ve had a hard camp. We’ve had a lot of bruises, but everyone is rested up and ready. I think everyone is ready to play.”
The ECU Game: Watch & Listen
Turn the radio dial or click the remote to tune in to the first ASU football game of the season versus the East Carolina University Pirates. Kickoff is at noon this Saturday, September 5.
TV: Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (Channel 640 on DirectTV and 432 on Dish Network)
Radio: WKBC 97.3 FM, WATA 1450 AM
Audio/Video: GoASU.com
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