Keller ready to let fly in 20th-ranked Sun Devils` opener
Associated Press
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Sam Keller already has won over his Arizona State teammates. His MVP performance in last year`s Sun Bowl took care of that, providing a jump-start for Keller as successor to record-smashing passer Andrew Walter.
So expect the 6-foot-4 junior from Danville, Calif., to let it fly when the 20th-ranked Sun Devils unleash their passing game against the inexperienced secondary of Temple in their season opener Thursday night.
Oddsmakers list the Sun Devils as 31-point favorites and have set the total at 58.
``I`ve been waiting to step up into this role my entire life, and it`s here,`` Keller said.
For two years, Keller served as backup while Walter broke school and Pac-10 passing records. When Walter went down with a shoulder injury in last year`s regular-season finale against Arizona, Keller got his first collegiate start against Purdue in the Sun Bowl.
He completed 25 of 45 passes for 370 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions, and directed the late scoring drive that gave Arizona State a 27-23 victory.
``I would have been in good shape regardless,`` Keller said. ``But I`ll tell you what, that Sun Bowl did a lot for my confidence and did a lot for the players` confidence. It really allowed them to understand that I can come in and say `It`s my team now.```
Coach Dirk Koetter said Keller has not had a bad practice in training camp.
``Sammy`s going to tear it up,`` Koetter said. ``I`m telling you right now, Sam Keller is going to play well.``
Keller has an experienced group of receivers led by senior Derek Hagan, who needs eight catches, 265 yards receiving and six touchdown catches to break school records in all three categories.
Temple coach Bobby Wallace must bring his team across the country to play in extreme heat against a nationally ranked opponent. The temperature at kickoff is expected to be about 100 degrees. It`s not exactly an ideal opener for a struggling program that has dropped from the Big East to the more appropriate Mid-American Conference.
``This game was scheduled I think eight years ago,`` Wallace said. ``I don`t think it would be my choice, but a lot of games on our schedule wouldn`t be my choice.``
Temple`s 4-2-5 scheme is designed to stop the run first and force the pass.
``So a passing team definitely gives us more problems,`` Wallace said. ``It`s going to be very difficult because they have so many people who are very skilled at catching the ball and doing something with it.``
The Owls` best shot is to put pressure on Keller.
``We do have four seniors up front that I think are one of the strengths on our team,`` Wallace said.
Arizona State has found it difficult to prepare for Temple`s offense because the system has been overhauled by new coordinator Willie Slater. Fifth-year senior quarterback Mike McGann is No. 2 for the Owls` in career yards passing (4,498). The team has two experienced running backs in Tim Brown and Omar Ferguson.
McGann - who played high school football just a few blocks from Temple`s campus - has a strong arm, but lacks mobility and could be susceptible to pressure from the ASU pass rush.
The Owls enter the game on a 21-game losing streak against ranked opponents and have lost eight straight on the road.
Wallace has found the going tough in trying to develop a competitive team over eight seasons. He sees progress, especially in development of facilities to lure better players and the move from a commuter school to one where students live on campus. The move to the MAC should help, too.
But it`s still Temple, where Wallace is 19-60 in seven seasons. The Owls were 2-9 last year.
``Until Temple has a winning season and has some success there`s always going to be a stigma that you can`t win here,`` Wallace said. ``Things have changed so much that it`s really unfair. But it`s still going to be there until we win.``
JT
SNeaks