When I think about ASU football and being a fan, one iconic moment comes to mind, the 1997 Rose Bowl. The year I was born, ASU was one minute and 30 seconds away from claiming a Rose Bowl victory and a national championship title.
The iconic footage of former ASU quarterback Jake Plummer (16) scrambling and diving into the end zone is etched into the memory of every Sun Devil fan. Whether you were alive for that game or not, there’s no denying that the 1996-97 team has been the hallmark of ASU football for the last 30 years.
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ASU football once had a storied legacy.
From multiple Fiesta Bowl victories in the 1970s to a historic Rose Bowl win in 1987, ASU held relevant space in the college football world. However, in my lifetime, that glory has seemed like a distant memory.
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Expectations were low going into this season, especially after the Sun Devils only won three games in the 2023-24 season. Winning half of the regular season games would have been seen as a success. Yet, on Jan. 1 in Atlanta, ASU prepared to face the Texas Longhorns in its first ever College Football Playoff appearance.
Since I was six months old, my family has taken me to ASU football games. We’ve had season tickets my entire life, and I’ve attended roughly 90% of all ASU home games since I was born. Over the years, I’ve witnessed changes to the campus, university and stadium — but not much success on the field. As a kid in the stands, I could never have imagined that one day I’d be on the field, capturing historic moments for ASU football as a photographer.
This season has been full of unforgettable moments: rushing the field twice against BYU, defeating our rivals down south and winning the Big 12 championship in our first year in the conference. I felt a surreal mix of excitement and disbelief while I stood on the field in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
I was struck by a sea of maroon and gold while traveling to the Peach Bowl. It felt like we’d brought a piece of Tempe with us to Atlanta.
My feelings deepened when I walked into the media hotel, adorned with ASU and Peach Bowl decorations. It hit me that against all odds, ASU had made it and they were about to face Texas, one of college football’s most decorated programs.
It felt like a full circle moment as I shared the sideline with Plummer during the national anthem with my camera in hand, preparing to document history.
Then as the game began, reality set in. Texas came out strong, and ASU struggled. By halftime — with limited photos due to ASU’s lackluster performance — I found myself thinking, “At least we made it this far.”
It felt like our Cinderella story might be coming to an end, but ASU wasn’t ready to quit. Head coach Kenny Dillingham kept the Sun Devils alive with gutsy calls, including multiple fourth-down attempts and a successful fake punt in our own territory.
Slowly, momentum began to shift. A deep touchdown pass from senior running back Cam Skattebo to senior wide receiver Malik McClain electrified the stadium.
The energy was palpable, and I could feel that despite the rough start, this wasn’t over. ASU tied the game after a turnover and a subsequent drive. Suddenly, the once dominant Texas crowd looked stunned. My focus as a photographer was tested — wanting to capture the fans’ disbelief and the last moments of the game.
When Texas missed a field goal off the left upright, the stadium erupted. Every ASU student media member around me put down their cameras and celebrated. For a moment, we weren’t photographers — we were fans.
In overtime, ASU struck first, scoring a touchdown to take the lead. Then came a critical fourth-and-13 for Texas — a single play that would decide the game. It felt like poetry, reminiscent of Plummer’s legendary scramble in the Rose Bowl.
This was it. Everything came down to this.
I was sitting in the end zone, following the Texas wide receiver through my camera as he ran a post route straight toward me. I tracked the ball through the lens, but as they got too close, they went out of frame — that’s when I heard the crowd erupt with cheers.
For a brief moment, I thought they had just done it. That ASU had just shocked Texas to win the bowl. I wish I could've stayed in that moment for one second longer, but sadly it the moment ended when I pulled down my camera to see what had happened.
Standing in front of me was a Texas player, celebrating the touchdown he had just scored. On the next play, Texas scored, and an ASU interception sealed the game shortly after. Just like that, it was over.
Though the game ended in heartbreak, this season feels like a turning point for ASU football. For nearly 30 years, fans lived under the shadow of the 1997 Rose Bowl. Now, the 2024 team has carved out its place in history. Dillingham and this team have given me hope.
We may not be Peach Bowl champions, but we’ve proved to the country that the Sun Devils can compete with the best. I believe the future of ASU football is bright, and it won’t take another 30 years to reach this stage again. On New Years Day, we earned the respect we’ve been fighting for, and I can’t wait to see where this program goes from here.
State Press Visuals Editor Calvin Stewart also contributed photos to this article.
Editor's note: The insights presented in this column are the author's and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.
Edited by Matthew Marengo, Morgan Kubasko and Alexis Heichman.
Reach the reporter at anthony_cavale@yahoo.com and follow @Anthony_Cavale on X.
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Anthony is a part of the Visuals Desk as a photographer.
