College football is full of tradition, passion, and debate-but every so often, a fresh perspective shakes up the conversation. Recently, respected analyst Josh Pate made a surprising declaration about which program best embodies the spirit of the sport. His answer is sure to spark discussion across college football fandom.
Josh Pate Chooses Arizona State as “America’s Team”
When asked which team he would call “America’s College Football Team,” analyst Josh Pate didn’t hesitate to look beyond the usual suspects.
“Yes, they’re in the Big 12. It’s Arizona State,” he stated, breaking from the expected picks like those in the SEC or Big Ten. For Pate, the Sun Devils represent everything that makes college football compelling: resilience, authenticity, and a sense of possibility.
Pate’s admiration for Arizona State is rooted in their recent journey.
“The program was left for dead… Herm Edwards was the head coach there and the program was going nowhere fast and then you’ve got the sanctions and you’ve got the firings and the program just spiraled into the desert,” he recalled.
Yet, instead of fading into obscurity, Arizona State made a bold move by hiring Kenny Dillingham, a coach with deep local ties and a genuine passion for the school.
“Kenny grew up in the shadow of the stadium. I mean, the guy would have crawled over broken glass. He’d probably take a 50% pay cut to stay there just because,” Pate explained.
What truly sets Arizona State apart, according to Pate, is the atmosphere Dillingham has cultivated. It’s a place where “it’s really loose. It’s like a frat house half the time, but then it gets militaristic.
As soon as someone blows a whistle or snaps their finger, it’s right in line and it’s disciplined and it’s regimented.” This balance of freedom and structure is rare and, in Pate’s view, a key ingredient in the team’s renewed identity.
Unlike many coaches who see their current job as a stepping stone, Dillingham’s commitment is unwavering.
“The rest of the world around him is full of guys that… are working their way towards winning where you are so you can get a bigger job. But that’s not him. I promise it’s not him.”
As Arizona State embarks on its Big 12 journey, the “Dilly effect” is already turning heads.
“If you saw it, you would say, I don’t think there’s any other place operating like this in the country. And you know why? Because it’s the personality of the head coach and it works,” Pate concluded.
With Kenny Dillingham at the helm and a culture unlike any other, Arizona State has captured the imagination of one of college football’s most respected voices. As the Sun Devils look to make their mark in the Big 12, they do so as Josh Pate’s pick for “America’s College Football Team.”
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