Kenny Dillingham speaks ahead of Arizona State's home opener

TEMPE- Football season is almost here in Tempe, and Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham has high expectations heading into the new season.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, he responded to questions about his vision for the upcoming games with a thought-provoking rhetorical question when facing adversity.

"Who shows up?" Dillingham said. "Who completely goes haywire? Some guys play better. ... There are players who make the biggest plays in the biggest moment, and there are guys who struggle with that. I wanna see our guys go out there and make the biggest play in the biggest moments (and) respond to adversity."

Dillingham emphasizes the importance of stopping the run, noting that every strong defense begins there.

He believes the Sun Devils' defensive strength will be crucial to winning throughout the season. Dillingham also praised senior defensive lineman C.J. Fite for his leadership and how he has shown up, and how his teammates have rallied behind him since his first year as head coach.

"It's the most depth we've had, the most size we've had ... that was the glaring thing that stood out the most," Dillingham said of the defensive linemen.

Reflecting on how the training camp went for Arizona State, what stands out to Dillingham is how the players spent so much time preparing for the season.

Two days after naming Cutter Boley as starting quarterback, he also announced that Mikey Keene will be Boley's backup throughout the season.

"They poured in so much," Dillingham said. "Anybody who's ever chased any dream or done anything and taken a lot of time to try to achieve it knows that when you put more time in, it's harder to quit."

Dillingham expects the stadium to be "Rocking," especially with the rise of season ticket holders and the university's recent investment in the football program.

On Saturday night in Tempe, Mountain America Stadium will be filled with tons of Sun Devils fans and students in the building, eager for the kickoff of the new season.