asu in the news 02-06-08 to - ASU News - Arizona State University

ASU in the News
URL: Link to original text
Source: USATODAY.com
Title: Comments by Stoops fan Arizona-Arizona State riv...
Nielsen NetRatings: 9461451
Favorability: Unspecified
Full Text: TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - The smoldering Arizona-Arizona State football rivalry grew hotter
Wednesday when Wildcats coach Mike Stoops said ASU has ’turned into a J.C .’ Speaking at a
football signing day news conference in Tucson, Stoops, who coached with brother Bob at Oklahoma,
said some recruits had told him that it was easier to earn acceptance at ASU. ’Each school has to
recruit to that school and what type of academic requirements there are,’ Stoops said. ’Obviously,
Arizona State has turned into a J.C . and we are a four-year college. According to all the players, they
say it is easier to go to school there, easier to get in. I thought we had the same requirements. It is
news to me.’ It was also news to Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson, who had little to say about
Stoops’ remarks. ’He can say what he wants,’ Erickson said. ’We’re all the same. There is no
difference. ’The bottom line with recruiting, and all that talking back and forth and all the stuff, is who’s
going to win games and who isn’t right now,’ said Erickson, who defeated Stoops and Arizona 20-17
on Dec. 1 in Tempe. ’What we’ve done with our group academically, as far as helping our guys be
successful, that’s what it’s all about. ’I really don’t know what he’s referring to.’ Stoops offered an
apology for his comments on Thursday. ’Yesterday in my annual signing day news conference I
regretfully made some comments about sister institution Arizona State University,’ Stoops said in a
statement released by Arizona.’These remarks were dutifully reported by the media, and not
necessarily taken out of context which was within some of my heartfelt observations about the
recruiting process and what it entails for individuals and college football programs. ’I’ve since spoken
with ASU Coach Dennis Erickson. It was a personal mistake and one for which I apologize.’ Earlier in
the day, Virgil Renzulli, VP for public affairs at Arizona State, disputed Stoops’ comments. ’Our
academic standards are as high as Arizona’s,’ he said. ’All three state universities are governed by
the same board of regents. The academic profile for our incoming freshmen class is the same as the
University of Arizona’s with the exception that we admit 40% more students.’ Tensions between the
Pac-10 football programs, located 90 miles apart, grew last month when highly touted tailback Ryan
Bass of Corona, Calif., backed out of an oral commitment to Arizona and said he would attend ASU.
Bass was among the 27 signees announced by the Sun Devils on Wednesday.
Arizona signed only two players from the state seven fewer than Arizona State. The disparity could
be a byproduct of ASU’s three-game win streak in the Territorial Cup series. Stoops is 1-3 against
Arizona State. ’I am disappointed we didn’t sign more kids from the state of Arizona,’ Stoops said.
’When you don’t have the success it hurts you probably the closer you are to home. ’They read and
they understand what is out there,’ Stoops said. ’Arizona State had great success this year. That is
not something that is shocking. It is something we have to take care of and win. They have beat us
three years in a row. We have to go out and beat them and play better than they do, and hopefully we
will have a better year recruiting.’
88