Take two: Spring into a new season of Sun Devil football
Sun Devils in the Inferno — The hottest student section in the country. | Photo by Devon Baggot, ASU Student Life
A new era dawns as Sun Devil football enthusiasts eagerly anticipate Friday, April 26, 2024. It marks the much-awaited Maroon & Gold Spring Game at Mountain America Stadium. This event, free of charge and open to all Sun Devil fans, promises an evening filled with excitement and entertainment for the whole family. Pregame activities will set the stage for an unforgettable experience. The Fan Zone beckons with a tantalizing array of food options while the North Parking lot transforms into a playground of inflatables and games, ensuring fun for fans of all ages.
There’s no better way to kick off all things new this season than to attend the Maroon & Gold spring game. Admission and parking is free, with pregame activities and concessions open at 5 p.m., kickoff at 6 p.m., and a postgame firework show. Visit for more information.
Jaden Rashada (#5) is seen running the field pregame alongside his teammates on September 1, 2023, against Southern Utah | Photo courtesy of Ashish Rajapuram
For those unacquainted with springtime football, this game serves a pivotal purpose akin to Major League Baseball’s “Spring Training” season. It's a chance for teams to gear up after winter hiatus, assess roster dynamics, and player progress, while refining strategic approaches for a new season.
But for Sun Devil faithful, it’s more than just a scrimmage—it's a chance to revel in their passion for the sport until the official season opener in August. With anticipation building, fans eagerly anticipate glimpses of the team's progress and the promise of an exciting journey ahead.
Second-year head coach Kenny Dillingham is poised to lead the charge, aiming to spark a triumphant new chapter in Sun Devil football history.
“I wish them nothing but the best,” said Dillingham in a post-practice interview this past Saturday, April 20, 2024. “I know they were out all spring for us, and I know they are working their way back in. Both really good young men — I wish them the best.”
This team is going to be new to say the least, but that is what Coach Dillingham is banking on.
“You gotta love it! You gotta love to compete,” said Dillingham. “That’s why I don’t fight for kids to stay. Because if you’re one toe in, if there’s a little bit that’s not all in, then you have no chance to reach your potential. But if we have a football team that’s all in, every single person, every single day? Everyone’s going to be a multiplier. And if you get 120 kids that are multiplying each other to become better? Everyone’s going to reach a higher potential than they thought they could ever be … Let’s load the buses, and let’s go to war.”
It’s through this potential, that excitement for this team radiates strongly. The energy is infectious and palpable among the Sun Devil faithful, like first-year student Carson Carpenter.
[FROM LEFT TO RIGHT] Mason Kasimov (Freshman, Sports Business), Carson Carpenter (Freshman, Political Science) and Reporter Jr De Chavez | Kasimov and Carpenter photographed while attending last year’s Territorial Cup in November of 2023. | Photo courtesy of Ashish Rajapuram
“Next year, we’re winning this thing big,” Carpenter said. “We’re winning the national championship next year.”
“I love this group. Next year, we're gonna be coming out full swing,” Carpenter said. “I know this year isn't how we wanted it to go. We're gonna be bowl-eligible next year and we're going big. We're going big, or going home, and we're going big baby!”
Other students, like senior marketing student Devon Baggot, mirror Carpenter’s enthusiasm for the upcoming season.
“The energy in the crowds is incredible and the rivalry between ASU and UofA is unmatched. From guarding A Mountain to having the loudest student section, Sun Devils know how to celebrate ASU traditions and root for the best team in Arizona.”
Difference and change seem to be a central theme for Sun Devil football. Among the roster changes, this season marks the first year outside of the Pac-12 — with ASU leaving for the Big 12 conference with Arizona, Colorado and Utah.
Come watch and usher in this new era of Sun Devil football at Friday’s Maroon & Gold Spring Game. For more information about the event, free parking and admission, and a detailed program of the pregame and postgame activities, visit The Sun Devils page — ASU’s official athletics site.