Blogging with the Devils

Bob Moran

Praise for the late Bob Moran has come in from near (Paola Boivin and Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic and former Tribune writer Darren Urban, now at azcardinals.com), far (Paul Buker of The Oregonian) and his previous workplace (Ryan Finley of the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson and Charles Durrenberger, formerly of the Star).

However, the best place for insight on the journalist and man that Bob was remains the Tribune’s online guest book, which as of this writing has ballooned to 12 pages and includes entries from several former Arizona State athletes and coaches.

In the last few days, I have received many inquiries about Bob’s columns in which Sparky Sun Devil and Wilbur Wildcat converse about the athletic happenings at their respective schools. Most of them exist as newsprint clips in a file cabinet in the Tribune’s library and would require time to re-type, but I found four that have survived online:

Sparky and Wilbur meet at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts — June 1, 2003

Football talk during a round of golf in Eloy — Aug. 10, 2003

Wilbur interrupted while watching “Law & Order” — Oct. 5, 2003

The mascots at a hotel bar after a baseball game — May 30, 2004

The Sparky-Wilbur columns comprise the writing that Moran is most known for. But to me, his all-time greatest hit was his coverage of the ASU football team’s signature regular-season victory, the upset of two-time defending national champion Nebraska in 1996. As a Tribune rookie on the copy desk that night, I edited his story and remarked to my fellow workers, “The Sun Devils weren’t the only guys that rose to the occasion.”

Without being over-written, Bob’s story deftly crafts the how and why behind ASU’s victory with the historical significance that few writers can provide. Enjoy:

By Bob Moran, Tribune
September 22, 1996

History born. History died.

It was 21 years ago that Arizona State made school history by defeating Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl.

It was on the playing surface of Sun Devil Stadium that Nebraska became the first college team in 39 years to win consecutive undisputed national championships.

And Nebraska’s run for an unprecedented third title probably ended on Saturday night, when the 17th-ranked Sun Devils (3-0) shocked the college football world with a 19-0 victory over the nation’s No. 1 team before 74,089.

“I’m just so proud of the team and my staff,” said a happy ASU coach Bruce Snyder. “They did a great job playing of planning what we needed to do to win this game.”

Defensive coordinator Phil Snow and his aides had a brilliant game plan that allowed the players to pitch a goose egg as improbable as a no-hitter at Coors Field.

“It will definitely make other teams take notice of our defense,” said ASU senior tackle Shawn “Rock” Swayda. “We shut out the No. 1 team in America!”

On a night when fans celebrated the dedication of the playing surface in honor of legendary coach Frank Kush, the Devils administered one of those old-fashioned derriere whippings.

You’d have thought some of Kush’s former players — 230 of them returned for the weekend — had suited up.

But these ’96 Sun Devils have forever made names for themselves, no matter what happens the rest of the season.

There was Jake Plummer passing for 292 yards in becoming the school’s all-time leading passer, passing the immortal Danny White. He led a well-conceived offense that produced 401 yards.

There was the inspired defense, led by end Derrick Rodgers, linebacker Scott Von der Ahe, and free safety Mitchell Freedman showing just how much improvement they’ve made since Nebraska rolled to 686 yards in the 77-28 rout in Lincoln last season.

Nebraska was held to just 226 yards.

“The story of the game was they just whipped us,” Nebraska coach Tom Osborne said after the Cornhuskers’ 26-game winning streak came to a crashing halt.

What was amazing is how ASU’s defensive front dominated what is generally regarded as the best offensive line in college football.

“We watched film all week of Nebraska’s offensive line,” Rodgers said. “We played exactly the way we expected to play.”

Nebraska (1-1), a 12-time NCAA rushing champion, could manage only 120 yards. And to punctuate the effort, Rodgers dropped struggling Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost in the end zone for ASU’s third safety with 6½ minutes to play.

ASU offensive linemen Juan Roque (74) and Kyle Murphy try to keep Nebraska’s Jason Peter and Grant Wistrom out of the passing pocket.

In the trenches is usually where these games are won. That’s where it was won when Kush’s 1978 Sun Devils pulled off another shocker, handing UPI national champion USC — the most athletically gifted team ever to play here — a 20-7 loss. That Trojans team featured Anthony Munoz, Heisman Trophy winner Charles White, future Heisman winner Marcus Allen, Dennis Smith and Ronnie Lott.

The defense made a 17-0 halftime lead stand up in handing Nebraska its first shutout since Miami (Fla.) did it in the 1992 Orange Bowl. From giving up 77 to zero. Wow. Double wow.

“Last year, they embarrassed us real bad,” Swayda said. “Nobody gave us a chance to win this game. I think even the coaches had their doubts.”

You should have known, though, something was up when ASU won the toss and elected to take the ball.

The not-so-subtle message was, “We don’t care what everybody’s saying about your vaunted defense; you’re going to have to prove it to us.”

ASU then crisply marched 80 yards in 10 plays to take a 7-0 lead and quiet the 25,000 Big Red fans who came hoping to see a repeat of the Fiesta Bowl slaughter of Florida.

The big play was a 31-yard pass to freshman tailback J.R. Redmond, who was flanked out to the right as a wide receiver.

Four plays later, the Cornhuskers secondary blew a coverage, and Plummer found Keith Poole in the moonlight for a 25-yard score.

“The first TD was a big confidence boost for our offense,” Plummer said. “We told them that we’re not scared and that we were going to play with them.”

The Cornhuskers’ first series was a disaster. They vividly showed offensive rust and just how much a change at quarterback can mean for a program — even one as strong as Nebraska’s.

Nebraska, which lost three of six fumbles, had done what would have seemed impossible last year — hurt itself with penalties. The ’Huskers had two infractions on their first possession. To compound that, tailback Ahman Green mishandled an option pitch, and the ball was fumbled out of the end zone for a safety.

Just 4½ minutes into the game, the Devils led 9-0. That is all ASU would need.

Nebraska had only two scoring threats, fumbling away both, the last when Green lost it at the Sun Devil 3 with 1:39 remaining.

“We’re No. 1 now,” Freedman said.

“There’s no way you can come into our house (and win).”

McArthur Court may not be around in a few more years. The atmosphere is second-to-none, but the structure itself is withering, and Oregon is going to have build something new. (University of Oregon photo)

It’s payback time. Sort of.

Different times. Different teams. Same thing at stake.

March 4, 2000. Arizona State is poised to land an NCAA Tournament berth, sitting at 16-10, 8-6 in the Pac-10.

The Sun Devils were coming off a seven-point loss to Arizona, but were in seemingly perfect position against Oregon at McArthur Court, one of the toughest places to play in America (Just ask UCLA’s Kevin Love, an Oregon native who chose a school other than his father’s alma mater).

How many places does the floor actually shake because of crowd noise?

Anyway, ASU had this game locked up. The Sun Devils were ahead 74-70 with four seconds remaining. 

Gone.

First, Alex Scales hit a 3-pointer to pull Oregon within 74-73. Then, ASU inexplicably threw the ball out of bounds for a turnover.

A three-quarter court pass later, Darius Wright heaves a turnaround 22-footer at the buzzer.

Oregon 76, Arizona State 74.

Even Oregon’s media guide considers it the most remarkable finish in McArthur Court’s 82-year history.

Somehow, ASU recovered quickly enough to win at Oregon State in overtime and beat Cal the next week before losing to No. 2 Stanford.

Too late.

Instead, the Sun Devils finished the regular season 18-12, 10-8 in the conference. They hosted one NIT game and beat New Mexico State, and lost in the second round at North Carolina State, coached by a guy named Herb Sendek.

Bob Moran

Last May, I interviewed former Arizona baseball coach Jerry Kindall for a story. As our conversation concluded, Kindall asked me a question I have heard a lot during the three years that I have covered Arizona State University athletics for the Tribune:

“How is Bob Moran doing? Give him my best.”

That query came from a variety of sources, not just from coaches and officials that Bob once dealt with on a near-daily basis during his years on the ASU beat for this newspaper. It also came from people that talked to him infrequently, such as other coaches, writers or veteran spectators of Sun Devil football practices.

(Kindall, it should be noted for accuracy’s sake, was the Wildcats’ coach while Bob worked at the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson, so they once had a closer working relationship.)

Still, that is an indication of the level of admiration for Bob, who lost his lengthy battle with cancer on Tuesday. He was 55. There will be coverage in Wednesday’s Tribune; I urge you to read it to gain insight on the kind of journalist and man that Bob was.

Every year, the Baseball Writers Association of America selects a recipient of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award, who is honored during Hall-of-Fame induction weekend in Cooperstown, N.Y. If there were a similar award among college football media, Bob would have received it. That’s how big a part of the sport he was for more than a quarter century. That’s how respected he was by his peers.

I have never met a journalist who was more passionate about his assignment than Bob, who was nicknamed “Coach.” Sitting near him in the press box, you could sense the irritation in his voice when he felt that the game wasn’t being played or coached right.

That fiery spirit would help prolong his life after cancer struck. Doctors gave Bob a pessimistic prognosis after his first surgery; the fact that he lasted more than three years after his diagnosis was evidence that he was a fighter.

In fact, when sports editor Bob Romantic offered me the ASU beat after Bob left work, I was convinced that it would be a temporary assignment. I watched cancer ravage my grandfather’s body, so I know how powerful it can be. However, I suppose a part of me instinctively assumed that Bob would beat the disease.

At last year’s College World Series, ASU baseball coach Pat Murphy honored Bob Moran with a cap inscription: “Coach Moran.”

ASU baseball coach Pat Murphy — who, I promise you, is not taking the news of Bob’s death easily — passed Bobby Winkles last season to become the school’s second-most winningest coach. Asked to compare himself to Winkles, who led the Sun Devils to three national championships, Murphy said: “When you name Bobby Winkles and you name Pat Murphy in the same breath, I think that’s not a comparison to be made. It’s embarrassing.”

I was in the room when Murphy said that. And my first reaction was to think of Bob. I have the job Bob once had. Any comparisons beyond that, however, are embarrassing.

After taking over the ASU duties, I paid Bob a visit at his home, to get the lay of the land from him. I had previously done high school sports and general-assignment coverage for the Tribune, so this was my first beat. I mentioned that it was a little overwhelming.

“Aw, don’t worry. You’ll do fine,” Bob said. “You know more about college sports than anyone on our staff.”

Coming from Bob, that comment meant a lot. I aimed to seek Bob’s counsel regularly, but I didn’t make the time. And I’m poorer for that.

Today, everyone that knew Bob Moran wishes they could make time for him.

Well, that weekend went about as well as could be expected for Arizona State.

The NCAA tournament is not a done deal by any means, but thanks to Arizona’s loss to UCLA on Sunday (Why didn’t Kirk Walters take that WIDE OPEN 12-footer with five seconds left and the Cats down by two points?), Arizona State (18-10, 8-8) sits in fifth place at .500 in the Pac-10.

Here’s the rub going into the final regular season weekend at Oregon and Oregon State. Oregon has a higher RPI (No. 58) than ASU (No. 66). The Ducks have beaten Stanford and Arizona in Tucson (as have the Sun Devils). Since they beat OSU on Sunday, a sweep of the Arizona schools (very possible) puts Oregon back at .500 and very much in the Dance discussion heading into the Pac-10 tournament.

A sweep this weekend against Oregon and Oregon State practically punches a ticket with ASU’s name, unless they somehow lose by 30 points to Oregon State in the Pac-10 tournament.

A split is probably good enough to get in, although one Pac-10 tourney win would cement it. The Sun Devils would likely be a No. 5 or 6 seed and avoid playing on Wednesday. The downside would be a likely matchup against Washington State or USC in their first game next Thursday. But if they finish the regular season at 9-9 in the conference, a tournament loss to those schools shouldn’t make or break their chances.

Along that thread, winless Oregon State is the game the Sun Devils have to take. Even if ASU beat Oregon and then lost to Oregon State to finish .500, you can bet the tournament committee would notice how big a hit it would be to its already-delicate RPI, especially at the end of the schedule. The resume might be good enough to overcome such a scenario, but it’d be awfully dangerous to find out.

Other randomness:

The Sun Devils are back receiving votes in both of this week’s polls.

If ASU splits this week and finishes with a .500 conference record, it would be the fifth time in 30 years of the Pac-10 a team will have gone from last place to .500 in one year. Washington State did it last year with Tony Bennett, and it’s worked out pretty well in Pullman.

The 10-game turnaround in overall victories from last year (from 8-22 to 18-10) is tops among the major conference schools 

Three teams in the country have played nine games against the top 25 in the RPI:  Arizona State (4-5), Marquette (3-6) and USC (2-7).