It's hard being on the wrong side of a close game. It's worse when it happens multiple times in a season, especially when your team could have won each of those games.
In three of ASU's four losses this season, the Sun Devils were within a score or were leading in the fourth quarter.
Against Texas A&M, the team's offense could never put up the game-tying score.
In Salt Lake City, the offense couldn't close the game and the defense and special teams broke.
Against the Ducks Thursday, the defense fell victim to it's own version of the "Jael Mary" — a scrambling heave on fourth down by Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. that somehow was brought down for a score.
In triple overtime, ASU redshirt senior quarterback Mike Bercovici's pass found the wrong team in the end zone.
Head coach Todd Graham said Monday he's used to being on the other side of close games.
"The reality of it is that we've lost two really close games, one to Utah and one to Oregon that we didn't — and those are games that we won the year before," Graham said. "That's what it boils down to every year. You've got to win the close games. We've got to pick ourselves off the ground, go to work."
Graham said that close games are part of the territory in the Pac-12 conference, with those who have the best success in close games ultimately coming out on top.
"It doesn't matter what week you're playing, you just pull that film out and you go like, man, every week it's a challenge," he said. "It's not unique to us. You look around, you see USC, UCLA, you see every team in our conference – even Oregon we just played, this has been a – the Pac-12 is one that's very tough to navigate, and the margin for error, winning and losing is that thin."
Now, at 4-4, Graham said it's on his team — and his seniors — to write the script to this season's end.
"You've got to pick yourself up and go on, and that's what our guys will do," Graham said. "I mean, our guys have got great character. They're going to play hard, and obviously it's a different match-up with Washington State, but there's still a lot for these guys to play for.
"These guys have been a part of a pretty special time here, and these seniors are really important, so we've talked a lot about that and talked about, you know, we can control what we can control. But these guys will go and play. I don't have any doubt in how they'll go and play."
The road begins Saturday in Pullman, Washington against Washington State.
Bercovici, whose interception sealed the team's 61-55 triple-overtime loss to Oregon last week, said it's time to step up.
"it's not about whether we're 8-0 right now or whatever the case may be," Bercovici said. "It's a case that in 30 years being able to look to the person next to me and telling them I put everything out on that football field for them to win," he said.
Additional Notes:
- Graham did not comment on the much-disputed touchdown call in triple-overtime, where it appeared that Oregon receiver Bralon Addison was out of bounds.
"I turned all those plays in, and you know, obviously I can't comment about the officiating," he said. "But I did send them in. I have not heard back."
- Graham did comment on the status of junior college transfer Deonte Reynolds who was involved in a fight in Tempe over the weekend and suffered minor injuries as a result.
"I mean, it was a deal where he was a victim, so, you know, he's just recovering right now," he said.
Related Links:
Report Card: Grading ASU football's 61-55 loss to Oregon
Reach the reporter at fardaya@asu.edu or follow @fardaya15 on Twitter.
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