It was just a passing reference, two words spoken during a half-hour video news conference during which more than 3,000 were uttered. But man, were those two words jarring.
UA coach Kevin Sumlin, speaking to reporters Tuesday, noted that the Wildcats鈥 season was supposed to start next week. The Wildcats were supposed to face Hawaii at 蜜柚直播 Stadium on Aug. 29.
That game, as we all know, was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. So was the entirety of the Pac-12 season, even after the schedule was remade.
Instead of fine-tuning the鈥 game plan for the Rainbow Warriors, Sumlin and his staff have been formulating a plan for the rest of this football-less fall.
鈥淪o many times, athletes, coaches, trainers, (they) train for that particular season,鈥 Sumlin said. 鈥淪o everything鈥檚 put into a timeline: Here鈥檚 when we start, here鈥檚 what we鈥檙e looking for this season.
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鈥淏ut as a competitor, what we鈥檝e talked about (is), this is completely different. You have to continue to train, not necessarily prepare for a certain opponent but prepare for the next opportunity that you鈥檙e going to get, (even though) you don鈥檛 know when that happens.
鈥淚s that difficult? Yes. But that鈥檚 what they pay us to do as coaches.鈥
Sumlin and his staff are trying to build a team culture despite not knowing when that team will play its next game or what the roster will look like. The Wildcats had just begun what Sumlin described as 鈥渁n NFL-style OTA model鈥 of practice 鈥 20 hours a week consisting of workouts, meetings and walk-throughs 鈥 when the Pac-12 decided to postpone the fall season on Aug. 11.
That program continues indefinitely while the Pac-12 and the other leagues that opted to shut down, including the Big Ten, begin to formulate plans for a spring alternative. Sumlin isn鈥檛 ready to go there yet, because so much remains uncertain. It was the idea of a spring season that prompted his reference to 鈥渘ext week.鈥
鈥淥ur preparation is going to be to get us better through this process,鈥 Sumlin said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to say, to make that kind of plan right now, based on what we鈥檝e seen over the last couple months.
鈥淲hat we would like was to play football and play next week. But that didn鈥檛 happen. When you ask a coach what you鈥檇 like to see, that鈥檚 fine. But what can really happen is going to be a different scenario.

In coach Kevin Sumlin鈥檚 second season at UA, the Wildcats went 4-8 and averaged 26 points per game.
鈥淒o the kids want to play? The majority of them do. I really believe that, particularly if they know it鈥檚 about a safe an environment as it could be.鈥
鈥楴ow what?鈥
The news, as UA athletic director Dave Heeke noted last week, already had leaked by the time the fall sports teams officially were informed. That didn鈥檛 make Sumlin鈥檚 address to his squad any easier. The normally nonchalant coach had to compose himself first.
鈥淲e鈥檙e all human,鈥 Sumlin said. 鈥淚t affected me. I knew a little bit before the announcement happened. Some people saw me and knew something was up because I wasn鈥檛 myself that day.鈥
Sumlin鈥檚 job sometimes forces him to deliver news that his players and fellow coaches don鈥檛 want to hear. Such was the case the previous Tuesday. Sumlin didn鈥檛 have many concrete answers for the group either.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 a great situation for anybody,鈥 Sumlin said. 鈥淏ut as I said (to the players), it鈥檚 鈥楴ow what?鈥 Once that decision is made, now what? What we鈥檝e worked on and what we鈥檙e working on constantly is the plan for 鈥楴ow what?鈥 鈥 what鈥檚 that going to look like?鈥
As Sumlin said Tuesday, it isn鈥檛 as simple as 鈥渏ust moving on.鈥 It鈥檚 critical that the Wildcats be ready for the next season, no matter when it starts or what it looks like. As such, they have shifted the emphasis to self-improvement.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e not preparing for a specific opponent yet,鈥 Sumlin said. 鈥淲hat you鈥檙e preparing is yourself.鈥
Sumlin acknowledged that the situation isn鈥檛 the same for everyone. Newcomers are happy to be here and to have started their college careers, even if the current reality doesn鈥檛 match what they envisioned. Some upperclassmen are contemplating what might be next 鈥 and it might not be playing football in a UA uniform.
鈥淟et鈥檚 be honest,鈥 Sumlin said. 鈥淧layers are gonna make decisions about this year.鈥

蜜柚直播 coach Kevin Sumlin talks with Chris Petersen before Washington鈥檚 51-27 win in 蜜柚直播 in October.
The timing and structure of a 鈥渟pring鈥 season could influence those decisions. In a radio interview Monday, Stanford coach David Shaw called for 鈥渨inter football鈥 taking place in January, February and March. That schedule would give NFL hopefuls adequate time to prepare for the draft and returning players more time to rest for the following season.
Most important, Sumlin said, is figuring out the eligibility ramifications for participants.
鈥淭hat conversation needs to be had and needs to be solved,鈥 Sumlin said.
A father鈥檚 perspective
Nothing illustrates the strangeness of the current situation for Sumlin better than this: One of his sons, Jackson, is a walk-on tight end/H-back at Oklahoma, where his father once coached. The Sooners play in the Big 12, one of three Power Five conferences that are forging ahead with the fall season.
Kevin Sumlin last week participated in a Zoom call with Lincoln Riley and OU medical personnel 鈥 as a parent.
鈥淚 have a son who鈥檚 right in the thick of it in a league that鈥檚 trying to ramp up to play,鈥 Sumlin said. 鈥淚t gives me another perspective, sure, but I think it also gives our own players another perspective of where I am 鈥 not just as a coach but as a dad.鈥
Another twist: Sumlin鈥檚 youngest son, Joey, plays for Salpointe Catholic High School. The Lancers just started virtual classes. While Kevin Sumlin spoke from his office at the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility, Joey was engaged in online school at his father鈥檚 home office.
Salpointe still plans to play football this fall, although that remains far from certain. Sumlin is hopeful his sons will have an opportunity to play. But he鈥檚 skeptical that the Pac-12鈥檚 rivals will make it to the starting blocks, let alone the finish line. Several universities already have shifted to online instruction amid outbreaks of the virus.
鈥淭oday, people are saying they鈥檙e gonna play,鈥 Sumlin said. 鈥淛ust like we came out with a schedule, and a week later we were done. Let鈥檚 wait a couple of weeks and see what happens.鈥
Extra points
- Sumlin said players are welcome to seek second opinions on medical issues, a concern that arose after suspended offensive tackle Edgar Burrola contended that a shoulder injury of his was brushed off last season. 鈥淲herever I have been as a head coach, including here, the players have had the right to seek a second opinion,鈥 Sumlin said. 鈥淎t no point have I ever said anything other than that.鈥
- Recruiting remains under a 鈥渄ead period鈥 through at least the end of September, and Sumlin doesn鈥檛 think that鈥檚 going to change anytime soon. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how you鈥檙e going to have official visits before the end of the year, or even early in the spring, or unofficial visits (with) guys coming on campus not being tested,鈥 Sumlin said. He suggested that the early signing period, slated for Dec. 16-18, could be 鈥渁 great opportunity for a young man in a time that is uncertain.鈥 蜜柚直播 currently has 20 verbal commitments for 2021.
Photos: Every U of A vs. ASU football game since 1975

1975: ASU 24, UA 21 鈥 "The Catch" by 蜜柚直播 State University receiver John Jefferson during the 1975 ASU/UA football game. Courtesy ASU

1976: ASU 27, UA 10 鈥 This ASU receiver missed the catch, but ASU won the game against UA on Nov. 27, 1976. 蜜柚直播

1977: ASU 23, UA 7 鈥 蜜柚直播 State鈥檚 Bob Pfister raises his arms over a downed University of 蜜柚直播 quarterback Marc Lunsford after ASU forced a 2-point safety on Nov. 26, 1977 in Tempe, Ariz. ASU won, 23-7. P.K. Weis / 蜜柚直播 Citizen

1978: ASU 18, UA 17 鈥 蜜柚直播 State quarterback Mark Malone is sacked by an University of 蜜柚直播 defender in 蜜柚直播 Stadium on Nov. 25, 1978. H. Darr. Beiser / 蜜柚直播 Citizen

1979: UA 27, ASU 24 鈥 蜜柚直播 Wildcats players celebrate after edging 蜜柚直播 State, 27-24, in Tempe on Nov. 24, 1979. H. Darr Beiser / 蜜柚直播 Citizen

1980: ASU 44, UA 7 鈥撀燯A fullback Courtney Griffin is wrapped up by the ASU defense on Nov. 29, 1980 in 蜜柚直播, when the north end zone was still wide open. P.K. Weis / 蜜柚直播 Citizen

1981: ASU 24, UA 13 鈥 The celebration was short-lived for the Wildcats, since the Sun Devils pulled off a victory on at wet, muddy day on Nov. 28, 1981. Peter Weinberger / 蜜柚直播 Citizen

1982: UA 28, ASU 18 鈥 University of 蜜柚直播 quarterback Tom Tunnicliffe looks to pass during the 1982 ASU/UA football game. 蜜柚直播 Citizen

1983: UA 17, ASU 15 鈥 The 蜜柚直播 offense stretches for yardage against ASU on Nov. 26, 1983 in Tempe. Glenn Capers / 蜜柚直播 Citizen

1984: UA 16, ASU 10 鈥 The goal posts came down at 蜜柚直播 Stadium on Nov. 24, 1984, as 蜜柚直播 edged ASU. David Schreiber / 蜜柚直播 Citizen

1985: UA 16, ASU 13 鈥 Max Zendejas of UA leaps into the air after booting the game-winning field goal against ASU on Nov. 23, 1985 in Tempe. Warren Faidley / 蜜柚直播 Citizen

1986: UA 34, ASU 17 鈥 UA's Chuck Cecil #6 races out of the ASU end zone enroute to a 106-yard interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter on Nov. 22, 1986. Photo by Bruce McClelland / 蜜柚直播

1987: ASU 24, UA 24 鈥 An 蜜柚直播 running back gets wrapped up by ASU defenders on Nov. 28, 1987. Warren Faidley / 蜜柚直播 Citizen

1988: UA 28, ASU 18 鈥 Fans toppled the goal posts after UA beat ASU in 蜜柚直播 on Nov. 26, 1988. Rick Wiley / 蜜柚直播 Citizen

1989: UA 28, ASU 10 鈥 UA鈥檚 Reggie Johnson forces ASU quarterback Paul Justin to fumble, which set up a UA score on Nov. 25, 1989 in Tempe. Rick Wiley / 蜜柚直播 Citizen

1990: UA 21, ASU 17 鈥 ASU鈥檚 Adam Brass dips his head after UA scored on a bad snap on Nov. 24, 1990 in 蜜柚直播. Rick Wiley / 蜜柚直播 Citizen

1991: ASU 37, UA 14 鈥 ASU鈥檚 Michael Williams defiantly downs UA running back Ontiwaun Carter on Nov. 23, 1991. Rick Wiley / 蜜柚直播 Citizen

1993: UA 34, ASU 20 鈥 ASU quarterback Jake Plummer on the turf after he was downed by UA鈥檚 defense, including Tedy Bruschi, on Nov. 26, 1993 in Tempe. Rick Wiley / 蜜柚直播 Citizen

1994: UA 28, ASU 27 鈥 UA kicker Steve McLaughlin, right, and holder Ryan Hesson watch the ball go through the uprights during the 蜜柚直播 State vs. 蜜柚直播 football game on Nov. 25, 1994. Photo by Rick Wiley / 蜜柚直播 Citizen

1995: UA 31, ASU 28 鈥 ASU head coach Bruce Snyder greets UA head coach Dick Tomey after the game during the 1995 蜜柚直播 vs. 蜜柚直播 State football game on Nov. 24, 1995. Photo by Bruce McClelland / 蜜柚直播

1996: ASU 56, UA 14 鈥 ASU's Jake Plummer got his revenge, powering the Sun Devils to victory on Nov. 23, 1996聽and a trip to the Rose Bowl. Brian Winter / 蜜柚直播

1997: UA 28, ASU 16 鈥 UA Tight End Mike Lucky #88, catches a pass in front of ASU's Damien Richardson #39 on Nov. 28, 1997. Jeffry Scott / 蜜柚直播

1998: UA 50, ASU 42 鈥 ASU QB Ryan Kealy #8 is sacked by UA's Mike Robertson #55 on Nov. 27, 1998. UA went on to finish the season with a 11-1 record, the best the school has ever had. Benjie Sanders / 蜜柚直播

1999: ASU 42, UA 27 鈥 UA's Dennis Northcutt is trying to get away from ASU defender Adam Archuleta #40, who dragged down Northcutt for a loss on Nov. 27, 1999. Benjie Sanders / 蜜柚直播

2000: ASU 30, UA 17 鈥 UA football coach Dick Tomey walks off the field at 蜜柚直播 Stadium after congratulating ASU coach Bruce Snyder on Nov. 24, 2000. Tomey resigned after the game.

2001: UA 34, ASU 21 鈥 蜜柚直播's Bobby Wade, a Phoenix native, scores the first touchdown of the game on Nov. 24, 2001. His 11 catches and 157 yards were career bests for the junior. David Sanders / 蜜柚直播

2002: ASU 34, UA 20 鈥 ASU tailback Mike Williams dives into the end zone for one of his three second-half touchdowns Nov. 29, 2002 against 蜜柚直播. Aaron J. Latham / 蜜柚直播

2003: ASU 28, UA 7 鈥 蜜柚直播 State's Chris McKenzie, left, holds on to 蜜柚直播 wide receiver Ricky Williams after Williams caught a pass from Kris Heavner on Nov. 28, 2003, in Tempe. (AP Photo/Roy Dabner)

2004: UA 34, ASU 27 鈥 蜜柚直播's Steve Fleming (87) out runs 蜜柚直播 State's Chad Green (21) for a second quarter touch down. Xavier Gallegos / 蜜柚直播 Citizen

2005: ASU 23, UA 20 鈥 Off and running: ASU's Terry Richardson sprints down the sidelines on the way to a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown against 蜜柚直播 on Nov. 26, 2005, that tied the game at 20. David Sanders / 蜜柚直播

2006: ASU 28, UA 7 鈥 蜜柚直播 State wide receiver Chris McGaha (13) and Jamaal Lewis celebrate McGaha's touchdown at 蜜柚直播 Stadium on Nov. 25, 2006. Greg Bryan / 蜜柚直播

2007: ASU 20, UA 17 鈥 ASU Receiver Michael Jones hauls in a TD pass in front of UA's Wilrey Fontenot in the fourth quarter in Tempe on Dec. 1, 2007. David Sanders / 蜜柚直播

2008: UA 31, ASU 10 鈥 蜜柚直播's quarterback Willie Tuitama is carried off the field by the crowd after engineering a 31-10 win against ASU at in 蜜柚直播 on Dec. 6, 2008. Kelly Presnell / 蜜柚直播

2009: UA 20, ASU 17 鈥 University of 蜜柚直播 running back Keola Antolin breaks downfield for 蜜柚直播's first score against ASU on Nov. 28, 2009 in Tempe. Dean Knuth / 蜜柚直播

2010: ASU 30, UA 29 2OT 鈥 With the scored tied 20-20, University of 蜜柚直播's Alex Zendejas has his game winning extra point blocked by ASU's James Brooks at 蜜柚直播 Stadium on December 2, 2010. 蜜柚直播 lost in double overtime 30-29. Dean Knuth / 蜜柚直播

2011: UA 31, ASU 27 鈥 After Mike Stoops was fired, interim coach Tim Kish and quarterback Nick Foles carried 蜜柚直播 through the end of the season, culminating in a victory over ASU in Tempe on Nov. 19, 2011. David Sanders / 蜜柚直播

2012: ASU 41, UA 34 鈥 蜜柚直播 State's Marion Grice leaps over a teammate on Nov. 23, 2012, at 蜜柚直播 Stadium.聽

2013: ASU 58, UA 21 鈥 蜜柚直播 head coach Rich Rodriguez looks on none too pleased during the fourth quarter on Nov. 30, 2013 in Tempe.聽

2014: UA 42, ASU 35 鈥 蜜柚直播 wide receiver Samajie Grant strides into the end zone on a 69-yard touchdown pass on Nov. 28, 2014

2015: ASU 52, UA 37 鈥 蜜柚直播 State Sun Devil running back Demario Richard (4) runs into a swarm of 蜜柚直播 Wildcats defenders during the fourth quarter of the Territorial Cup at Sun Devil Stadium on Nov. 21.

2016: UA 56, ASU 35 鈥撀犆坭种辈 Wildcats cornerback DaVonte' Neal (19) celebrates his interception during the first quarter of the 蜜柚直播 State University Sun Devils vs. University of 蜜柚直播 Wildcats in the Territorial Cup college football game on Nov. 25 at 蜜柚直播 Stadium. The Wildcats redeemed a dismal season, beating the Sun Devils, 56-35.

2017: ASU 42, 蜜柚直播 30 鈥 蜜柚直播 State Sun Devils players celebrate with the Territorial Cup after the University of 蜜柚直播 Wildcats vs. 蜜柚直播 State University Sun Devils in the Territorial Cup college football game on Nov. 25.

2018: ASU 41, 蜜柚直播 40 鈥斅犆坭种辈 State Sun Devils offensive lineman Steven Miller (71) rams the pitchfork into the 蜜柚直播 Wildcats end zone after the Territorial Cup on Nov. 24 at 蜜柚直播 Stadium in 蜜柚直播. 蜜柚直播 State rallied in the fourth quarter for the win.

2019: ASU 24, UA 14 鈥 蜜柚直播 Wildcats wide receiver Jamarye Joiner (10) jukes 蜜柚直播 State defensive back Evan Fields (4) as he moves the ball up field for a touchdown during the Territorial Cup at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe on Nov. 30.

蜜柚直播鈥檚 bench watches the second quarter unfold in the Wildcats鈥 70-7 loss against 蜜柚直播 State at 蜜柚直播 Stadium on Dec. 11, 2020. Head coach Kevin Sumlin was fired afterward.

2021:聽ASU 38, UA 15: 蜜柚直播 Wildcats safety Jaxen Turner brings down 蜜柚直播 State wide receiver Ricky Pearsall after a midair catch in the third quarter at Sun Devil Stadium. The loss ended a disappointing first season for new head coach Jedd Fisch at 1-11. But the slow rebuilding process was showing fruit, with better morale and a Homecoming win over Cal.