SB Nation Arizona - Steve Patterson Making Changes: Sun Devils To Return To Camp Tontozona

Its Official! Sun Devil Football Returns To Camp Tontozona For Practice, Scrimmage In August

2012-06-01T00:18:55Z

In April Arizona State's athletic program announced its intent to raise money ($150,000) to be able to send the Sun Devil football team back to Camp Tontozona for a week of practice, a scrimmage and team building. On Thursday, ASU athletic director announced, along with head football coach Todd Graham and Payson mayor Kenny Evans, that the goal was reached and that the football team would in fact be returning to Camp Tontozona in August for the football camp that they held for decades until the tradition ended with previous head coach Dennis Erickson.

But it was time to return. Graham said that when he was first hired by ASU, among the conversations he had with many former players, bringing back the tradition of Camp Tontozona was something that came up a lot.

"We looked back at Tontozona and recognized it as a place that binds many generations of ASU football, going back nearly 60 years," said Patterson.

"With all the luxuries we have in college football and really with those luxuries so many distractions. To be able to go to a secluded place like that our first year, when relationship is so important," said Graham. He noted that this being their first year, it is exactly what the team needs and something that they wish to continue.

People responded to the call of raising the necessary finances necessary to make the camp happen.

Over 500 people donated between $10 and $10,000. It included ASU staff, former ASU athletes, including "football players from every decade" and more.

The big push came from a matching donation program that came from The White Mountain Sun Devil Club Alumni Chapter, which matched every dollar given from that date forward up to $65,000.

"Tradition is one thing that brings people together," said Graham. "It's a great day that we can restore that tradition (returning to Tontozona) and hopefully will continue to be something that we keep doing."

The program surpassed the goal they had set of $150,000. They raised a little more than $160,000. For the team to keep going back each year, there will need to be monies to be raised, but Patterson said they do not plan to have a specific Tontozona campaign every year, as much of the funds needed this year were for capital items there. Nonetheless, the impression was made that to be able to continue with the tradition it will require a continued effort in donations from the public.

Even with the money raised, getting up to Camp T was not that easy. There is a very small window of time with which to work. The athletes have summer school until August 14 and the team's first game is August 30. So they will have to get up there, do it and get back for a week of practice before their season opener.

The one date that seemed to be penciled in was the scrimmage, which is set for August 18.

One thing that has come from this is an energy among Sun Devil fans for the football program -- a rallying cry. The program needs to take advantage and put a quality product on the field so not to lose this momentum. Otherwise the push to get them back will only end up a one year stay, which really doesn't do the program any good at all.

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ASU Football Return To Tontozona Has No Downside

2012-04-19T21:41:21Z

The big news of the day from Arizona State head football coach Todd Graham was the announcement that the football team intends to return to Camp Tontozona for preseason work. The talk was of tradition, something that long time Sun Devil fans will pay attention.

Todd Graham keeps saying the right things. He talks about character in his players. He talks about speaking victory. He speaks about winning the recruiting battle starting in the Phoenix area and building a tradition of Sun Devil Football.

He has everyone's attention.

After an announcement of plans for a renovated Sun Devil Stadium, the program builds new momentum with the plan to go back to Tontozona. ASU stopped going there in 2008 under Dennis Erickson.

There are all sorts of memories there. But it isn't the memories or the north country that helps the football team.

Yes, when you have a week of absolutely nothing but football and teammates -- no girls, no city, no other distractions, it builds up team chemistry. It is the sort of thing that football teams need to have along with execution of X's and O's. But going back there is more than for the football team.

It is about the fans.

The ASU football program has instill little excitement in its fan base for years. Mediocrity with the hope of a flashy year now and again has been acceptable. Then in 2008, the tradition of Camp T was taken away.

Now, upon returning, the program is calling upon nostalgia to drum up some fan support. People who have followed the Devils know that Tontozona is part of ASU football. Going back there will help the older generation of fans feel appreciated and excited. That in turn will drum up more donor money.

The younger fans will be excited about the idea of tradition and can then start taking the trip up for the yearly scrimmage. That support will make memories.

In the end, there is no downside to going back. It is a beautiful part of the state, it creates that camp isolation to dedicate to football and it unites fans in tradition, and may even increase donations to the program.

There is also the silly notion that ASU's football troubles are the result of a curse from Tontozona. Going back even takes that away because either they will start winning and the curse is over or the keep losing and the idea of teh curse disappears.

So, all good, no bad?

Todd Graham and the ASU football program made the only choice that makes sense.

Arizona State Football Looking To Return To Camp Tontozona

2012-04-19T18:53:49Z

Camp Tontozona was an institution of the Arizona State football program from 1960-2008, providing the Sun Devils with a NFL-like training camp offsite for their upcoming season. But thanks to the efforts of head coach Todd Graham and Vice President for University Athletics/Athletics Director Steve Patterson, 'Camp T' is looking to be resurrected for practice and scrimmage beginning this fall.

Set in the serene landscape of Payson, Ariz., the camp borders the beuatiful Tonto National Forest, the ideal location to get your mind right before a grueling season. Coach Graham knows the importance of this camp to bring unity not only to the players and coaches, but the fans and alumni of the program as well:

"I love the tradition of college football," says Graham. "That is one of the reasons I coach at the collegiate level. Camp Tontozona is one of the famous icons in the history of college football. I want to take my first team there because the tradition begins at Tontozona, just like it did in 1960. Every player, every coach and many fans begin each season in the tall pines northeast of Payson. Coach Frank Kush had a vision. It worked well then and it will again. When I visited earlier this year I saw a lot of potential. But a lot of work needs to be completed in order to make it happen."

"Camp Tontozona unites Sun Devil football players from every generation and we want to return to that tradition," says Patterson. " We invite former football players, fans and anyone that believes in Camp T and what it stands for to participate by donating money or services. We need the Sun Devil Football family to unite behind this goal."

The campaign, appropriately titled "Return to Camp T," will need about $150,000 in order to make it happen, and is looking for fundraising to make it a reality. If the funds are met by June 1, Camp T will run from August 14-18, with a scrimmage set for the 18th. If the goal is not met, funds will be applied to a return to Camp Tontozona for the 2013 season.

Donors of $100 or more receive a "Return to Camp T" bumper sticker, and $250 or more will earn a "Return to Camp T" T-shirt. Donors of $500 or more will receive a T-shirt and are eligible to go on a turnaround trip to the scrimmage at Camp Tontozona. Any donations that exceed the $150,000 mark will be applied toward the Sun Devil Football program as a whole. All donations will go through the Sun Devil Club and are tax-deductible. Those who want to contribute can visit www.thesundevils.com or contact Kevin Miniefield of The Sun Devil Club at 480-727-6644 or at kevin.miniefield@asu.edu.

Here's a look back at the good old days at Camp T.

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Arizona State Announces Season Ticket Prices For 2012 Football Season

2012-04-06T23:30:14Z

Arizona State's Athletics department has announced the sale of season tickets for the upcoming 2012 Arizona State University football season and laid out the renewal period for current season ticket holders. The Sun Devils play six home games this season and current Sun Devil season ticket holders have until Friday, May 18 to renew season tickets to receive their loyalty discount.

According to a press release, purchasing season tickets fans receive an average saving of 26.8% compared to single-game ticket prices.

Also per that release, season ticket holders receive benefits as part of their season ticket package, including an exclusive season ticket holder gift, sitting in the same seat for all home games, the ability to purchase additional tickets before the general public at a 50% discount (limit to number of tickets in account), the ability to purchase season parking, access to exclusive season ticket holder events and behind-the-scenes tours, and priority on Bowl game and away game tickets, including the Pac-12 Championship Game if hosted by Arizona State University.

With ticket prices ranging from $120 to $1770 for current season ticket holders and $120 to $1850 for new season ticket holders, there's a wide range of seat prices. Said Sun Devil Athletics associate athletic director Steven Hank said:

"We want to continue to make our games accessible to a broad audience. We are also taking significant measures to improve customer service for season ticket holders and to enhance their overall experience before, during, and after our events."

For more information on grabbing yourself some season tickets, call the VIP season ticket holder service line at (480) 965-5333, or visit www.sundeviltickets.com. You can also head into the Sun Devil Ticket Office.

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From HoS: Steve Patterson, ASU Still Have Lots Of Renovation Decisions To Make

2012-04-05T19:33:00Z

The Arizona St. Sun Devils announced plans to renovate Sun Devil Stadium on Wednesday when newly appointed athletic director Steve Patterson unveiled basic designs to the public. While the announcement provided some insight into the stadium changes, there's still a lot left to be decided in the coming months.

Read full story here.

Speak Of The Devils Podcast: Jaxon Hood & Sun Devil Stadium Renovation Analysis

2012-04-05T19:00:22Z

News always breaks on Wednesdays.

This week is certainly no exception, with this Wednesday brining about the grand unveiling of the plans and artist renderings of the Sun Devil Stadium renovations that are scheduled to begin after the 2012 season. We go in-depth and analyze the details revealed and what it means for ASU fans.

In the main event of the episode, we have a lengthy and excellent chat with new Sun Devil defensive tackle Jaxon Hood. He discusses his interesting recruiting stories, what drew him to ASU and the kind of impact fans should expect from him on the field.

Click here to stream this episode, or listen via iTunes

ASU Announces Plans To Renovate Sun Devil Stadium

2012-04-04T19:59:58Z

Sun Devil Stadium has been a mainstay in the Valley for quite some time. However, it is getting old and needs a lot of work. Now is the time to do it. Instead of original thoughts of razing the stadium and either rebuilding it in its current location or where Kasrten's golf course is, recently promoted AD Steve Patterson announced that there are plans to renovate Sun Devil Stadium.

The new version of the stadium will seat less fans. SDS currently houses over 71,000. The renovated stadium would hold between 55,00-65,000. By reducing the number of seats, the value of the seats goes up and it allows a little more room for fans.

There will be major video and technological upgrades, and there is one major change. The stadium will be covered. It will not be a dome, but will rather have a an open-air covering. This will allow fans to more comfortably view the game at any hour of the day and give the school and the Pac-12 the scheduling flexibility it needs to televise games earlier if needed.

The north side of the stadium will provide a view of Tempe Town Lake.

As is natural with major renovations, ticket prices will go up. However, as noted, the value of those tickets will increase.

It is estimated that the project will cost approximately $300 million, and Patterson is targeting June for a financing plan. Renovations are planned to begin after the 2012 season is complete. Because of the location between the buttes, it will take some time and phases. Target for completion is prior to the beginning of 2017.

It is highly likely that for a couple of seasons the Sun Devils will have to play at a different venue. It would either be at Chase Field or University of Phoenix Stadium.

While the lower bowl renovations have not been announced, there is the hope that the student section can be increased and that the band would be next to the students.

The stadium overhaul will essentially complete the transformation of the athletic program. They have new uniforms, an expanded conference, a new athletic director, a new football coach and now they will have a new stadium. This should get the Sun Devil faithful excited and stir up some enthusiasm in the Sun Devil supporters who are not diehards.

Here are some photo renderings of how the stadium will look when completed.

via assets.sbnation.com

Talk more about the stadium plans over at House of Sparky.

Did Lisa Love Deserve To Be Let Go From ASU? Our Staff Writers Give Theirs Thoughts

2012-03-31T16:00:44Z

When Lisa Love left/was fired from/mutually decided to leave her post as Vice President of Athletics, there was unfortunately not a lot of noise saying she did not deserve to leave. She did many good things with athletics at the university, but there were also a few uglier things of note.

Related: New Arizona State AD Steve Patterson Putting Pressure On Self, Coaches

In the wake of this change of leadership, we posed this question to our panel of writers on the site:

Should Lisa Love have lost her job? What changes do you expect to see under Steve Patterson?

Here are the responses:

José Romero:

I do think Lisa Love should have been fired, but her main downfall was her loyalty to the underachieving coaches of two of the most prominent programs at ASU, Dennis Erickson in football and Herb Sendek in basketball. The "lack of institutional control" lost appeal involving the baseball program with the NCAA certainly didn't help, nor did the puzzling circumstances surrounding the search for a new football coach and the mass exodus of players from the men's basketball team. In the end, the lowlights outweighed the highlights of her tenure.

Nikil Selvam:

Given how poorly men's athletics have performed in recent years, it was only a matter of time before Love got canned. The timing of her departure is a little surprising to me, but perhaps it's for the best since it gives Patterson a few months of experience before the 2012-13 academic year gets underway. I expect Patterson to be far more critical of the coaching staff at ASU (looking at you, Herb Sendek). It wouldn't surprise me at all if Patterson made some significant cuts in the next few years as he transitions into athletic director.

Scott Coleman:

As a student and follower of the UA, it only made sense for Lisa Love to lose her job following the messy football coaching search. While I do not follow the ASU athletic department very closely, seldom did I read or hear anyone speaking in a positive manner about Love, which is surprising given the facilities, location and money she had at her disposal. The school needs someone to capitalize on these factors, not completely misuse them.

Greg Byrne, an ASU alum and the current AD in Tucson, is among the best in the nation and his impact is felt all around the collegiate sports world. On Twitter, he retweets pictures of Wildcats fans wearing their school colors all around the globe. He announced the hiring of Rich Rodriguez over Twitter, and was a critical piece to the upgrades that Arizona Stadium will receive in the coming months.

The Sun Devils need an athletic director promote and improve their university in the way Byrne has just 24 months into his tenure in Tucson. I fully believe that his impact on the state of Arizona had a big part in Love losing her job, and it is now up to ASU to respond. Having a savvy and capable AD may not seem big on the surface, but they (and the athletic department) truly are an intricate piece to the entire university.

I was surprised to see Love keep her job for as long as she did, and her release was inevitable, in my opinion.

Jess Root:

The firing did not surprise me. As for deserving to be let go, she did. For all the good things she did in the program, there were major blemishes. There was the extension of Dirk Koetter only to later fire him. The hiring of Dennis Erickson did not pan out. The baseball team is under sanctions. Herb Sendek got a contract extension in the midst of a terrible season and players are leaving the ASU basketball program left and right.

As for what I expect to see from Patterson, I expect change. I expect him to latch on to what football coach Todd Graham has been saying -- speak victory. Now, he is a little disillusioned in his belief that ASU and its resources can be compared to Texas and its resources, but he is taking the lead with a vision and appears to know the direction he wishes to go.