imported>Jweiss11: /* Schedule */ add time for San Jose State game

2025-05-26T19:37:03Z

Schedule: add time for San Jose State game

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{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1972
| team = Arizona State Sun Devils
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = [[Western Athletic Conference]]
| short_conf = WAC
| CoachRank = 13
| APRank = 13
| record = 10–2
| conf_record = 5–1
| head_coach = [[Frank Kush]]
| hc_year = 15th
| off_coach =
| oc_year =
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = [[Larry Kentera]]
| dc_year = 2nd
| def_scheme =
| captain = Larry Delbridge
| captain2 = Steve Matlock
| stadium = [[Mountain America Stadium|Sun Devil Stadium]]
| champion = WAC champion<br>Fiesta Bowl champion
| bowl = [[1972 Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta Bowl]]
| bowl_result = W 49–35 vs. [[1972 Missouri Tigers football team|Missouri]]
}}
{{1972 Western Athletic Conference football standings}}
The '''1972 Arizona State Sun Devils football team''' represented [[Arizona State University]] as a member of the [[Western Athletic Conference]] (WAC) during the [[1972 NCAA University Division football season]]. Led by 15th-year head coach [[Frank Kush]], the Sun Devils compiled an overall record of 10–2 with a mark of 5–1, winning the WAC title for the fourth consecutive season. Arizona State earned a berth in the [[1972 Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta Bowl]], where the Sun Devils defeated [[1972 Missouri Tigers football team|Missouri]]. The team played home games at [[Mountain America Stadium|Sun Devil Stadium]] in [[Tempe, Arizona]].

==Schedule==
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1972
| poll = AP
| timezone = Mountain

|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 16
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 13
| opponent = [[1972 Houston Cougars football team|Houston]]
| site_stadium = [[Astrodome|Houston Astrodome]]
| site_cityst = [[Houston|Houston, TX]]
| score = 33–28
| attend = 24,628
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/express-news-sun-devils-nip-cougars-by-3/156784492/|work=San Antonio Express-News|title=Sun Devils nip Cougars by 33–28|date=September 17, 1972|accessdate=October 8, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 23
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 10
| opponent = [[1972 Kansas State Wildcats football team|Kansas State]]
| site_stadium = [[Mountain America Stadium|Sun Devil Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[Tempe, Arizona|Tempe, AZ]]
| score = 56–14
| attend = 50,682
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-a-state-smothers-ka/156784667/|work=The Arizona Republic|title=A-State smothers Kansas State, 56–14|date=September 24, 1972|accessdate=October 8, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 30
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 11
| opponent = [[1972 Wyoming Cowboys football team|Wyoming]]
| site_stadium = [[War Memorial Stadium (Laramie, Wyoming)|War Memorial Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[Laramie, Wyoming|Laramie, WY]]
| score = 43–45
| attend = 19,298
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-cowboys-nip-sun-devil/156784780/|work=The Sacramento Bee|title=Cowboys nip Sun Devils|date=October 1, 1972|accessdate=October 8, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 7
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = [[1972 Oregon State Beavers football team|Oregon State]]
| site_stadium = Sun Devil Stadium
| site_cityst = Tempe, AZ
| score = 38–7
| attend = 50,879
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-sun-devils-roll-past-os/156785025/|work=Tacoma News Tribune|title=Sun Devils roll past OSU 38–7|date=October 8, 1972|accessdate=October 8, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 14
| w/l = w
| opponent = [[1972 Utah Utes football team|Utah]]
| site_stadium = Sun Devil Stadium
| site_cityst = Tempe, AZ
| score = 59–48
| attend = 49,168
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-furious-utah-rally/156785183/|work=The Salt Lake Tribune|title=Furious Utah rally fails as Devils nab 59–48 win|date=October 15, 1972|accessdate=October 8, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 21
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 19
| opponent = [[1972 BYU Cougars football team|BYU]]
| site_stadium = [[LaVell Edwards Stadium|Cougar Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[Provo, Utah|Provo, UT]]
| score = 49–17
| attend = 23,561
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-slow-starting-devil/156785365/|work=The Arizona Republic|title=Slow-starting Devils drub BYU, 49–17|date=October 15, 1972|accessdate=October 8, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 28
| time = 1:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| rank = 16
| opponent = [[1972 Air Force Falcons football team|Air Force]]
| site_stadium = Sun Devil Stadium
| site_cityst = Tempe, AZ
| score = 31–39
| attend = 47,091
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-falcons-upset-arizona-state/156785468/|work=The Tulsa World|title=Falcons upset Arizona State|date=October 29, 1972|accessdate=October 8, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 4
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = [[1972 UTEP Miners football team|UTEP]]
| site_stadium = [[Sun Bowl (stadium)|Sun Bowl]]
| site_cityst = [[El Paso, Texas|El Paso, TX]]
| score = 55–14
| attend = 7,414
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/rapid-city-journal-arizona-state-hopes-f/156785586/|work=Rapid City Journal|title=Arizona State hopes flicker|date=November 5, 1972|accessdate=October 8, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 11
| w/l = w
| homecoming = y
| rank = 19
| opponent = [[1972 New Mexico Lobos football team|New Mexico]]
| site_stadium = Sun Devil Stadium
| site_cityst = Tempe, AZ
| score = 60–7
| attend = 44,172
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-sun-devils-overwhelm/156785708/|work=The Arizona Daily Star|title=Sun Devils overwhelm New Mexico|date=November 12, 1972|accessdate=October 8, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 18
| time = 7:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 18
| opponent = [[1972 San Jose State Spartans football team|San Jose State]]
| site_stadium = Sun Devil Stadium
| site_cityst = Tempe, AZ
| score = 51–21
| attend = 43,912
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-arizona-state-blast/156785794/|work=The Spokesman-Review|title=Arizona State blasts San Jose|date=November 19, 1972|accessdate=October 8, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 25
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 18
| opponent = [[1972 Arizona Wildcats football team|Arizona]]
| site_stadium = [[Arizona Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson, AZ]]
| gamename = [[Arizona–Arizona State football rivalry|rivalry]]
| score = 38–21
| attend = 38,500
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-arizona-st-wins-fi/156785972/|work=Lincoln Journal Star|title=Arizona St. wins Fiesta Bowl trip|date=November 26, 1972|accessdate=October 8, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 23
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| neutral = y
| rank = 15
| opponent = [[1972 Missouri Tigers football team|Missouri]]
| site_stadium = Sun Devil Stadium
| site_cityst = Tempe, AZ
| gamename = [[1972 Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta Bowl]]
| score = 49–35
| attend = 51,318
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-arizona-state-gree/156786110/|work=The Kansas City Star|title=Arizona State, Green too much for Tigers|date=December 24, 1972|accessdate=October 8, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
}}
<ref>{{cite web |author= |title=1972 NCAA Football Statistics (Arizona State) |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/251383 |publisher=[[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] |accessdate=October 8, 2024 }}</ref>

==Rankings==
{{Ranking movements
| poll1title = [[AP poll|AP]]
| poll1firstweek = 0
| poll1lastweek =13
| poll1_0= 12
| poll1_1= 13
| poll1_2= 10
| poll1_3= 11
| poll1_4= NR
| poll1_5= NR
| poll1_6= 19
| poll1_7= 16
| poll1_8= NR
| poll1_9= 19
| poll1_10= 18
| poll1_11= 18
| poll1_12= 15
| poll1_13= 13
}}

==Game summaries==
===Houston===
{{AFB game box start
|Title=
|Visitor='''Arizona St'''
|V1=20 |V2= 10|V3=0 |V4=3
|Host=Houston
|H1=14 |H2= 0|H3=0 |H4=14
|Date=September 16
|Location=[[Robertson Stadium]], [[Houston, Texas]]
|StartTime=
|TimeZone=
|ElapsedTime=
|Attendance=
|Weather=
|Referee=
|TVAnnouncers=
|TVStation=
}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry=yes |Quarter= 1|Time= |Team= Arizona St|Event=Holden 55-yard pass from White (Cruz kick) |Score= Arizona St 7-0}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=1 |Time= |Team=Arizona St |Event=Holden 52-yard pass from White (kick failed) |Score= Arizona St 13-0}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=1 |Time= |Team=Arizona St |Event= Green 9-yard run (Cruz kick) |Score= Arizona St 20-0}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=1 |Time= |Team=Houston |Event=Nobles 1-yard run (Terrell kick) |Score= Arizona St 20-7}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=1 |Time= |Team=Houston |Event=Evans 20-yard interception return (Terrell kick) |Score= Arizona St 20-14}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=Arizona St |Event=McClanahan 2-yard run (Cruz kick) |Score= Arizona St 27-14}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=2 |Time= |Team=Arizona St |Event=Cruz 44-yard field goal |Score= Arizona St 30-14}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=4 |Time= |Team=Houston |Event=Watts 17-yard pass from Nobles (Terrell kick) |Score= Arizona St 30-21}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=4 |Time= |Team= Arizona St|Event=Cruz 38-yard field goal |Score= Arizona St 33-21}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=4 |Time= |Team=Houston |Event= Johnson 46-yard pass from Nobles (Terrell kick)|Score= Arizona St 33-28|LastEntry=yes}}
{{AFB game box end}}

<ref>''Palm Beach Post''. 1972 September 17</ref>

{{Clear}}

==Personnel==
===Coaching staff===
Head coach: [[Frank Kush]]

Assistants: Don Baker (offensive backfield), Larry Kentera (DE/LB), Jerry Thompson (DL), Al Luginbill (DB), Joe McDonald (WR), Al Tanara (OL), Bill Kajikawa (freshman)<ref name="2010MG" />

===Depth chart===
<div style="float:left; width:36%;">

====Offense====
{|width=100% class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%; text-align:left"
!'''POS'''
!'''Name'''
|-
|QB || [[Danny White]]
|-
|HB || [[Woody Green]]
|-
|FB || [[Brent McClanahan]]
|-
|SE || Ed Beverly
|-
|WB || [[Steve Holden (American football)|Steve Holden]]
|-
|TE || Joe Petty
|-
|LT || Steve Gunther
|-
|LG || John Houser
|-
|C || Ron Lou
|-
|RG || Steve Matlock
|-
|RT || Ed Kindig
|-
|}

====Defense====
{|width=100% class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%; text-align:left"
!'''POS'''
!'''Name'''
|-
|LDE || Larry Shorty
|-
|LDT || Deke Ballard
|-
|MG || Tim Hoban
|-
|RDT || Neal Skarin
|-
|LLB || [[Bob Breunig]]
|-
|RLB || Larry Delbridge
|-
|LCB || Reedy Hall
|-
|RCB || Prentice McCray
|-
|WS || Wayne Bradley
|-
|SS ||Ron Lumpkin
|-
|K || Juan Cruz
|}
</div>
{{Clear}}
<ref name="2010MG">2010 Arizona State football media guide</ref>

==1972 team players in the NFL==
The following players were claimed in the [[1973 NFL draft]].
{|class="wikitable" width="80%"
|- align="center" style="background:#82022c;color:#FFFFFF;"
| '''Player''' || '''Position''' || '''Round''' || '''Pick''' || '''NFL club'''
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| [[Steve Holden (American football)|Steve Holden]] || Wide receiver || 1|| 16 ||[[1973 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]]
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| Brent McClanahan || Running back ||5 ||118 || [[1973 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| Ed Beverly|| Wide receiver || 5 || 122 || [[1973 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]]
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| Prentice McCray|| Defensive back || 8 || 200 || [[1973 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| Ron Lou || Center || 14 || 339 || [[1973 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]]
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| Ron Lumpkin || Defensive back || 12 ||303 || [[1973 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]
|}
<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1973.htm| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071221231842/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1973.htm| archive-date = 2007-12-21| title = 1973 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com}}
</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Arizona State Sun Devils football navbox}}
{{Western Athletic Conference football champions}}

[[Category:1972 Western Athletic Conference football season|Arizona State]]
[[Category:Arizona State Sun Devils football seasons]]
[[Category:Western Athletic Conference football champion seasons]]
[[Category:Fiesta Bowl champion seasons]]
[[Category:1972 in sports in Arizona|Arizona State Sun Devils football]]

1972 Arizona State Sun Devils football team - Revision history

imported>Jweiss11: /* Schedule */ add time for San Jose State game