Dennis Erickson: “It’s Like Being in a Nursery School”
Dennis Erickson has thrown no fewer than 10 true freshmen onto the field for Arizona State this year. But fear not, Sun Devils. All good things come to those who wait.
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“Arizona State’s offensive line is like 18-year-old Zach Schlink’s beard. It might look OK eventually, but for now it’s scraggly and covering a baby face. Even if the Sun Devils have the right guys in their program […] only time will allow them to grow physically and cohesively into an elite unit.”
When he wrote that last week in the Arizona Republic, Jeff Metcalfe was referring to ASU’s young offensive line. But he could easily have been talking about a team that seems to be getting younger and younger every week.
Prior to the season it looked as though eight true freshmen would play for ASU this fall. The number is now up to 10 (see the list below) and Dennis Erickson has referred to coaching a team that was supposed to compete for a BCS berth as “like being in a nursery school.”
The starting lineup now includes two true freshmen in defensive lineman Lawrence Guy and safety Clint Floyd. As a point of comparison, only three true freshmen – Omar Bolden, Jonathan English and Kerry Taylor – played last season.
But there is a glimmer of hope for those who are patient. Back in 1994, ASU played nine true freshmen including Vince Amey, Terry Battle, Damien Richardson, Jason Simmons and Pat Tillman. As upperclassmen, that group formed the core of teams that went 11-1 and played in the Rose Bowl and 9-3 and won the Sun Bowl.
This season is going to be a long one. We may as well sit back, relax and enjoy watching the kids below grow up.
| Ryan Bass | RB | Corona, CA |
| Clint Floyd | S | Los Angeles, CA |
| Lawrence Guy | DE | Las Vegas, NV |
| Jamaar Jarrett | DE | San Marcos, CA |
| Josh Jordan | CB | Las Vegas, NV |
| Shelly Lyons | LB | Corona, CA |
| Brandon Magee | LB | Corona, CA |
| Thomas Ohmart | SN | Scottsdale, AZ |
| Gerell Robinson | WR | Chandler, AZ |
| Zach Schlink | OL | Peoria, AZ |
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Sounds like a plan! Those are some grand names you mention above, and I hope these guys end up being worth the wait.
In the meantime, can we stop living in the past with the standings on the left? You might even wanna save some time and just change the conference record to 1-2…
Updated, good sir knight. The funny thing is, we’re not really in denial about ASU’s record. We’re in denial about looking up in the standings at the Rats. That and we’re lazy. >:-(
whatever happened to kemonte bateman and jerrell barbour? they arent even on the roster?
[...] Sun Devils are so reliant on youngsters – 10 true freshmen have started – that Erickson has compared coaching them to being in a nursery school. Some of the freshmen including defensive tackle Lawrence Guy have been [...]
Both Bateman and Barbour were academic casualties. Not sure where they ended up, but they’re likely at junior colleges somewhere.
Barbour is at Scottsdale Community College, I believe. Bateman is attempting to qualify for the spring semester and join the Sun Devils.