We continue our best teams from ASU ever this summer with our next matchup. No. 7 1972-73 Football beat No. 10 1976 Baseball in our last matchup. Now it’s No. 6 1970-71 Football vs No. 11 2009 Baseball.
Here’s the current bracket.
No. 6 1970-71 Football
Record: 11-0, Finished 6th in AP Poll
Head Coach: Frank Kush
Notable Players: Joe Spagnola, Bobby Thomas, J.D. Hill
The Rundown: After a perfect season under Frank Kush in which ASU finished the year as one of only four undefeated teams in the country, the Devils won the WAC and placed sixth in the country, per the AP Poll. Quarterback Joe Spagnola put together a 2,000-yard season while wide receiver J.D. Hill racked up 13 total touchdowns to lead the charge of an offense that averaged the second most points per game in the nation that year (36.8). Capping off the season, the maroon and gold conquered the Peach Bowl in a bruising 48-26 win over North Carolina.
No. 11 2009 Baseball
Record: 51-13
Head Coach: Pat Murphy
Notable Players: Mike Leake, Jason Kipnis, Kole Calhoun
The Rundown: Pat Murphy’s juggernaut ballclub strung together a 51-win season in the midst of their 33rd NCAA Tournament appearance and their 21st trip to the College World Series. Jason Kipnis posted a menacing .384 average for the year to go along with 41 extra-base hits while future No. 8 overall pick Mike Leake posted a 1.71 ERA in 142 innings of work, 40 innings more than any other Devil that season. ASU went on to knock off the UNC Tar Heels during the opening round in Omaha before losing to top-ranked Texas. They mirrored those results again before their exit from the College World Series with an additional UNC win facing elimination before being bounced by the Longhorns.
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— House of Sparky (@HouseOfSparky) June 8, 2019