Fans of the Arizona State football program have spent much of the last three decades on an emotional roller coaster. 

The continued patience is seemingly paying off in the present day. 

The program has built up unbelievable momentum less than three years removed from the Herm Edwards era – and people are noticing in the best terms possible.

Josh Pate of CBS Sports took to his podcast earlier in the week to touch on a wide variety of college football topics – including heavily praising Arizona State.

Pate was asked who “America’s team” is by a listener who cited his ongoing opinion that the Big 12 is ‘America’s conference’  – his response? 

Arizona State. 

“Yes. They’re in the Big 12. It’s Arizona State.”

“Number one, it’s not an SEC or Big Ten team. Not only is it not a power two program, it’s not Clemson or Notre Dame, or like Miami, but the program was left for dead.”

“I want to remind people that it’s not all that long ago that Herm Edwards was the head coach there and the program was going nowhere fast and then you’ve got the sanctions and you’ve got the firings and the program just spiraled into the desert and if you looked at it at the time you would have thought it’s going to be a decade before we ever hear anything about Arizona State football again.”

Pate then went on to heap praise onto head coach Kenny Dillingham, citing his passion for the program, overall loyalty, and overall likability as all the more reason that the Sun Devil football program is his answer when it comes to the ‘America’s team’ discussion.

Dillingham has undoubtedly cast a substantial amount of likability around the Arizona State program – his players respond well to his coaching, he has chosen a staff that works extremely well together, and his infectious energy has reflected in a resurgence in fan interest. 

The nation is beginning to catch on as well – as the near-upset over Texas in the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day captivated viewers in what was one of the most watched games of the 2024 season. 

The bottom line? Arizona State is everything that is right with the modern landscape of college football. 

The program boasts a loyal fanbase. The roster is hungry and generally likable. Dillingham exhibits equal parts professionalism and passion. 

Lastly, they are quickly becoming the class of a conference that doesn’t carry the same baggage as the SEC or Big 10.

The future is bright in Tempe.

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The Perry Pumas’ boys high school volleyball team won its third 6A state championship in the past five seasons on May 17, at Skyline High School in Mesa.

Perry, the No. 1 seed in the AIA 6A tournament, defeated No. 2 Highland, 3-2. It was the third time Highland has finished 6A runner-up since 2022, including a 2023 loss to Perry for the title.

The Pumas finished the season undefeated in AIA play, its only losses this season coming against out-of-state teams during mid-season tournaments.

Perry was led this season by several key players, including three who are all in the top 10 in hitting percentage in 6A: senior Caden Ledbetter, junior Logan Gray and sophomore Greyson Carter. Ledbetter was also No. 8 in blocks in the conference.

Three other conference championships were played on May 17 at Skyline.

No. 1 seed Campo Verde defeated No. 2 Arizona College Prep, 3-2, to win the 5A championship in a battle of East Sky region rivals. The win was Campo Verde’s second boys’ volleyball championship. The Coyotes also won in 2019.

In the 4A championship match, No. 3-seed ALA Queen Creek won its third state championship, defeating No. 8 Salpointe Catholic, 3-0. The Patriots also won the 4A title in 2021 and 2022. During the playoff tournament, ALA Queen Creek defeated No. 2 seed ALA Gilbert North, which had defeated the Patriots twice in the regular season.

In the 3A championship, No. 2 Northwest Christian defeated No. 1 ALA West Foothills, 3-2, to win its first boys volleyball championship, after finishing runner-up three times since 2021. ALA West Foothills was undefeated entering Saturday’s championship, having defeated Northwest Christian in the final regular-season match.

Last year, Arizona College Prep defeated Northwest Christian to win the 2024 4A title. Saturday’s match marked the first-ever 3A championship in boys’ high school volleyball. The AIA opted to reshuffle teams and create more competitive balance by adding a fourth conference during the offseason, as more schools and programs have been added across the state.

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A Red Flag warning is in effect until 8 p.m. for eastern Arizona, including the Greer Fire, where continued gusts from the southwest at 40-45 mph are possible.

On Sunday, the Red Flag Warning will continue for the Little Colorado River Valley. Gusty conditions will likely continue at times for the rest of Eastern Arizona, including Greer. Monday will also be breezy in the high country as winds turn more from the northwest. A few showers and thunderstorms are possible from tonight into Monday in the high country, but much of the area will likely stay dry.

After a breezy day in the Valley, breezes will continue at times this evening into Sunday morning with gusts of 20-25 mph possible. A cool front will knock highs back to the 80s on Sunday, with a high of 88 expected. Sunday afternoon and evening may not be quite as breezy in the Valley as Saturday, but some gusts of 20 mph are still possible.

Monday will be warmer with highs in the low 90s. Breezes will pick up from the west Monday afternoon and evening with potential gusts around 25 mph. Highs will continue to warm in the upper 90s on Tuesday as a ridge of high pressure starts to build. The ridge will continue to take hold mid-week, bringing high temperatures into the low to mid-100s Wednesday through Friday. For the start of Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, highs are forecast just above 100. However, there is some uncertainty about the temperature forecast from Saturday into the rest of Memorial Day weekend, so check back for updates.

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