Tonight's Guest Sparky: Captain Rich Woerth, Tempe Fire Captain

ASU is doing an admirable job honoring the victims of 9/11 for tonight’s game.

Tempe firefighter Rich Woerth will be tonight’s “guest Sparky”, throwing the pitchfork into the turf as the team runs onto the field.

Woerth was one of many Tempe firefighters who traveled to Manhattan in the aftermath of the attacks to help provide aid and support the survivors.

Interestingly enough, Woerth also played collegiate football at NAU.

ASU And Vet Tix Want You To Help Support Our Troops

Amid all of the excitement regarding Saturday's in-state rivalry game against the NAU Lumberjacks, it is very easy for smaller stories to fall through the cracks. Hopefully this one deals with a cause too noble to befall that fate.

Arizona State University will be working in conjunction with the non-profit organization Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix) to sponsor the game. Vet Tix is a charity that aims to repay all of the great men and women of our military for their dedication and sacrifice. The program donates tickets of any persuasion to military families, from an event as simple as a sporting game, to an event as large as a Broadway show. The program was created three years ago and has already donated well over 100,000 tickets.

"We just want to afford [veterans] the opportunity that they never would have had. A time to take their mind off of the serious nature of everything that is going on in the world, and just have a great time," says Chief Communications Officer Heather Gray. "Everyone that works for Veteran Tickets Foundation is a volunteer. We don't get paid to do this. The reward is getting the letter from a military member that says, ‘I am a veteran of the Vietnam War and I've never just had somebody say thank you'."

Now you will have the chance to support this worthy cause. In a wonderful gesture, ASU, with help from Fox Sports Arizona and KTAR, has pledged to donate one ticket to Vet Tix for every ticket that is bought for Saturday's game.

Former Naval officer Mike Focareto, founder and CEO of Vet Tix, is thrilled to be a part of this special weekend. "Veteran Tickets Foundation is both honored and humbled that ASU has chosen us to participate in the Salute to Our Troops game on September 11," he said. "As both a graduate of ASU and a Veteran, this is one of the single most important milestones and partnerships I could have ever wished for this foundation to achieve."

Gray echoes his sentiments and hopes that everybody in community that is able to participate will do so. "We would encourage people to reach out and donate tickets if you have extras, or, if possible, make a financial donation."

If you are interested in becoming more active in the movement, Heather insists, "Opportunities are always available to volunteer with us to help us meet our mission of giving back to those that gave and thanking them for service." 

Tickets for Saturday's game can be found for as cheap as $10 and are available to be purchased online or through the Sun Devil Ticket Office. If you would like more information regarding Vet Tix, please visit their website www.vettix.org.

We hope you will help support this very worthy cause. 

ASU Football TV Schedule Update

It would seem there's a lot going on this weekend. So much that the cable and satellite networks have pushed the Sun Devils to alternate channels.

Here's a handy guide to help find the much anticipate in-state rivalry (really?) game between the Sun Devils and Lumberjacks.

DirecTV will have it on channel 695

 DISH has it on channel 445 & 9515

Complete listings for NAU @ ASU football – 7 pm & The Citadel @ Arizona tape delay – 10:30 pm (FOX College Sports will carry this game live on its Pacific channel):

 http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/pages/arizona_pluschannel

Cox (Phoenix/Tucson) ..................................................................SD: 108.........HD: 608

DirecTV (Statewide)............................................................................................SD: 695

DISH (Statewide)...........................................................................SD: 445.......HD: 9515

Comcast (Tucson)......................................................................................................17

Qwest (Phoenix).......................................................................................................999

Orbitel (Maricopa).....................................................................................................144

Western (Robson Ranch, Saddlebrooke, Sun Lakes, SunBird) .....................................139

NPG (Flagstaff).........................................................................................................156

Mediacom (Apache Junction)....................................................................................... 2

Mediacom (Nogales) ................................................................................................. 70

With Competition Over, Threet Can Excel When It Counts

Steven Threet had to win the starting quarterback job for ASU during practices in the offseason, and he had his moments of uncertainty and mistakes.

Now that he is the No. 1 QB, Threet seems more settled. He played a strong game against Portland State, though it was only Portland State, and did so when it counted.

"I don't know. It's something about games, I guess," Threet said after Tuesday's practice at the Dickey Dome. "I like the lights being turned on or something."

Threet also wore a Jim McMahon-like headband under his helmet, even for the postgame interview session.

Seriously though...did he feel like a weight was lifted from him once he won the competition?

"No. No. I think it was just going out there in the game and that's all you're focused on and worried about," he said. "I just have to do a good job of practicing like that also."

The Devils welcomed back WR Gerell Robinson, a Chandler Hamilton product who caught 26 passes for 261 yards as a sophomore last season, to practice after a lengthy absence. Robinson is a big target who has been limited in practice last month because of a hamstring injury.

"He's dangerous. He's a really tough matchup for defenses," Threet said.

Coach Dennis Erickson said he was pleased with the explosiveness and mobility of Robinson in practice Tuesday, and Robinson can be added to a group of receivers that can play wide in multiple-receiver sets.

ASU Football: Dennis Erickson Talks Steven Threet, NAU Game

After a solid performance against Portland State on Saturday, ASU coach Dennis Erickson had plenty of complimentary things to say about his starting quarterback, Steven Threet.

"I like his command of what he's doing, seeing things at the line of scrimmage," Erickson said. "[Threet] got rid of the ball real quick, which is huge in our offense."

Coach Erickson made it clear that experience counts at the quarterback position. "There's no substitution for having played [at Michigan]," adding that while it's possible that Brock Osweiler will get some reps against Northern Arizona this weekend, "it's dependent on the game. Steven is our number one quarterback."

In the new offense implemented by offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, Threet is counted on to read the defense and choose the option that will yield the best results. Having an effective running game is essential for this type of offense to work, with Cameron Marshall and Deantre Lewis playing a large role.

Coach Erickson also spent some time this afternoon talking about ASU's upcoming opponent, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks.

Erickson immediately praised NAU coach Jerome Souers for the way he has built the team, and believes that the Lumberjacks will be a challenge. "I consider that good football," Erickson said after stating that NAU will be a strong contender to win the Big Sky conference.

NAU is led on offense by senior Michael Herrick, who spent two seasons at Ole Miss (burning his redshirt in the process) before transferring to play in the FCS. Erickson saw it fit to call him "an outstanding quarterback," and also praised former Hamilton standout Zach Bauman, who ran for 167 yards last weekend against Western New Mexico.

Erickson thinks the Sun Devils “better be ready to play” against the Lumberjacks, and referenced Jacksonville State’s upset over Ole Miss with the implication that anything can happen on Saturday. "They gave Arizona everything they wanted last year," and Erickson will not allow his team to look ahead to Wisconsin.

Quick hits:

• Coach Erickson was very impressed with his team's effort, and especially lauded the downfield blocking by his wide receivers.
• The offense has yet to be fully implemented, and coach would like to "add something each week" for the opposition to have to plan for.
• Eddie Elder will be credited with a sack on the safety this past weekend against Portland State. The play was ruled as an intentional grounding by the Vikings QB.
• Erickson is concerned about penalties once again. "Personal fouls are something that we can't have. They're selfish" and do little to help the team win games.