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ASU Best Teams: No. 1 1981 Baseball vs. No. 6 1970-71 Football

Another historic head coach matchup

Photos from Sun Devil Athletics

We continue our best teams from ASU ever this summer with our next matchup. No. 7 1978 Baseball beat No. 6 2012 Softball in our last matchup. Now it’s No. 1 1981 Baseball vs. No. 6 1970-71 Football.

Here’s the current bracket:

No. 1 1981 Baseball

Record: 55-13 (26-4 Pac-12) Won College World Series

Head coach: Jim Brock

Notable players: Alvin Davis, Stan Holmes, Mike Sodders

The rundown: The last ASU team to win the College World Series. After winning the conference in dominant fashion, Jim Brock’s team set sail for Omaha. There they lifted the trophy at Rosenblatt Stadium after wins over Texas, Oklahoma State, Mississippi State and South Carolina. The team had eight MLB draftees on the roster including first rounder and 1981 Baseball America Player of the Year Mike Sodders.

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.

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