October 16, 2004

Keegan Herring was the incumbent. Shaun DeWitty had shown glimpses at spring football practice. Dimitri Nance was the heralded freshman. Ryan Torain? Of the top four Arizona State tailbacks, he was the one fans knew the least about.

Keegan Herring was the incumbent. Shaun DeWitty had shown glimpses at spring football practice. Dimitri Nance was the heralded freshman. Ryan Torain? Of the top four Arizona State tailbacks, he was the one fans knew the least about.

The concerns were legitimate.

Beanie Wells is toting a football with his name on it from the locker room to meetings at Arizona Cardinals headquarters this week.

This is what Edgerrin James envisioned when he became a Cardinal. Matt Leinart winging the ball to wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. The offensive line opening up holes for the running game.

Last Saturday morning was a heady time for Mountain Pointe football. Pride coach Karl Kiefer was champing at the bit to get films from Mountain View and begin preparation for a meeting with the Toros.

It wasn’t hard to choose last year’s Tribune Player of the Year, as Saguaro running back D.J. Foster broke several state records, ran for 508 yards and 10 touchdowns in one game and led the Sabercats to the Division III state title.

It might be seen as a desperation move after arguably the worst loss in the Norris Vaughan era.

Despite being the Cardinals’ leading tackler this season, safety Adrian Wilson hadn’t exactly sparkled on the stat sheet.

At long last, the Arizona State football team seems to be back in the habit of winning, but there are no bold proclamations or bowl guarantees coming out of the Sun Devils’ mouths.

What happens when 15 goes against six in a highly charged, emotional battle between the two top teams in the state? That’s what a massive, spirited crowd found out Friday night at Hamilton High School as rivals Pheonix Brophy and Chandler Hamilton clashed in a rematch of last year’s 5A-I state semifinals.

FLAGSTAFF - For years, the position has been one of mystery and intrigue.

The Ironwood High School football team is going to test an old adage this season: what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. In their first three games, coach Larry Allen's Eagles travel to a pair of Class 5A Division 1 powers in Chandler, a 12-1 semifinalist a season ago, and Mesa Mountain View, which went 12-2 and finished as the state runner-up last season. In between, the Eagles play host to Marcos de Niza, the team that ended Ironwood's season a year ago in the Class 5A Division 2 playoffs. Allen, who begins his fifth season at the helm, will look to lead his third straight team to the postseason. "I think this team can draw on our experiences from last year," he said. "We've got talent, but I want to see how we'll compete because we're facing some of the premier teams in Arizona in Chandler and Mesa Mountain View, and I think Marcos has one of the best running backs in the state. There won't be any nights off that's for sure." All told, seven of Ironwood's 10 opponents in 2007 made the playoffs a season ago. But Allen is guessing that teams aren't licking their chops waiting to take on his Eagles. "We think we've got a shot to be better than we were last year," he said. "We've got more depth. We've got a good number of players out this year so we're going to platoon, which should keep our guys fresher." Offensively, Ironwood returns Randy Klucznik, a part-time starter a year ago at quarterback. Klucznik is a dual threat running the option, but also can air it out. "He's a student of the game," Allen said. "He'll make good decisions." The running game returns junior Obafenni Oso, who averaged 6 yards per carry in limited action a year ago. Allen said his team should be able to move the ball on the ground running behind a solid line that includes junior Fletcher Hunt (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) as well as seniors Joshua Williams (5-11, 180) and Kristoffer Whitler (5-10, 230). Ironwood will attempt to get more people involved in the passing game compared to a season ago when Eric Hagg, now at Nebraska, had 49 of the 91 pass receptions in the Eagles attack. Klucznik's top option figures to be senior Cody Lenhart, the team's third leading receiver in 2006. "We're a balanced team with a lot of players that can contribute," he said. "I like our offense. We'll run the option, but I think our passing game is going to be very good too." Defensively, Caleb McGee (6-2, 230) is a standout on a sizable defensive line. Derek Holme, the team's second-leading tackler in 2006, returns at safety while senior Aaron Prince leads a talented linebacking group. "We've got a good pass-rushing defensive line, our defensive backs can cover and I think the linebackers are a strength too," said Prince, in his second year on the varsity. "We've got a good bunch of guys working hard. We want to do big things this season."

It’s become a tired story line for the Cardinals, but only because they have let it go on so long.

Centennial’s supposedly soft schedule looks tougher three weeks into the season.

The Arizona Cardinals are pummeling that "finesse team" label into submission. Sure, Kurt Warner throws some pretty passes and he has some marvelous receivers to catch them. But the Cardinals' tough side was on national display Sunday night in a dominating 30-17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

CHICAGO — Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin may have formally severed his relationship with the organization Sunday when he criticized coach Ken Whisenhunt after Arizona’s 41-21 victory over the Chicago Bears.

Sure, it's only a regular season game, but Chandler Hamilton vs. Phoenix Brophy has the history, talent level and Fiesta Region/power point implications to be as entertaining a game as we'll see this season.

BOSTON — Tedy Bruschi began the first day of his post-football life by taking out the trash.