Sun Devil fans embrace Carpenter
Westlake grad quarterbacks ASU to a 9-1 start, first win at Rose Bowl since 1996
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

Photo courtesy of Arizona State Athletics GOLDEN ARM- Rudy Carpenter ranks 28th on the Pac10's alltime career passing list with 7,324 yards. He's tied for 15th in TDs.

Rudy Carpenter is feeling the love.

Prior to their team's 2420 victory over UCLA at the Rose Bowl last Saturday, a large contingent of Arizona State football fans partied outside of the stadium at Sparky's Touchdown Tailgate. Sprinkled into the maroon-and-gold-clad mix were several supporters who proudly wore Carpenter's No. 12 jersey.

When discussing the junior quarterback, a 2004 graduate of Westlake High, Sun Devil fans speak like proud siblings who've watched their young signal-caller develop into something special on the field.

"The thing I like about Rudy is he plays with so much passion and so much guts," said Dallen Hohulin, a 22yearold from Glendale, Ariz., who traveled to the Rose Bowl with his father, Dan.

"He's been sacked so many times- I believe nine times a week ago- but he keeps getting up and throwing into double coverage if he has to. Rudy just does whatever it takes to win games."

Payton Goett, a 14-year-old from Phoenix, Ariz., flew to the game with her family in hopes of seeing Arizona State win at the Rose Bowl for the first time since Jake Plummer was quarterbacking the team in 1996.

Goett also wanted to watch her favorite player, a certain No. 12 for ASU.

"He's really good, and he can throw so far," she said. "He has a lot of energy, and he does what he has to do."

When the Arizona State fans finally headed into the stadium, Carpenter and the Sun Devils gave them what they came to see.

Despite being constantly harassed by a UCLA defense that recorded five sacks on the afternoon, Carpenter completed 16of31 passes for 200 yards and a score to lead his team to its ninth win in 10 games.

Carpenter briefly left the game late in the fourth quarter when an existing injury to his throwing hand flared up. Despite the discomfort, he returned to help the Sun Devils finish off the Bruins.

"He has the intangibles," ASU head coach Dennis Erickson said of Carpenter. "Intangibles like toughness- and leadership by doing- more than anything else."

When the game ended, Carpenter and his teammates went over to the Arizona State student section to shake hands and share hugs. The quarterback even signed a few balls for fans that waited for him near the exit tunnel.

"It feels really good to know that you work real hard and the fans appreciate what you're doing, even when things aren't going perfect," said Carpenter, who ranks third on the ASU career list with 7,324 passing yards.

With 60 career touchdown tosses, Carpenter is tied with former Oregon signal-caller Bill Musgrave for 15th place in Pac10 history.

Carpenter's second trip to the Rose Bowl was more satisfying than his first.

When the Sun Devils lost to UCLA in Pasadena during his freshman season two years ago, Carpenter threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns. This time Carpenter was in the spotlight in front of his friends and family again- and a little less than 79,000 spectators and a TV audience.

While his numbers weren't quite the same, the results made the week's preparation worthwhile.

"It was a little bit different (this week) because everybody wanted tickets and stuff," Carpenter said. "But it's fun to come back to where I'm from and to play in the Rose Bowl. It's a fun place."

At 9-1 overall and 6-1 in the Pac-10, Arizona State enters its bye week ranked No. 8 in the BCS. The Sun Devils are tied with Oregon for first place in the conference and still have a good shot at playing in a BCS bowl game.

Up next for Carpenter and the Sun Devils is a Nov. 22 home game with No. 11 USC. If the quarterback can find a way to solve the tough Trojan defense, Carpenter may very well supplant Sen. John McCain as Arizona's favorite son.

"It's a lot of fun," said Carpenter, who was named a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award, given annually to the nation's top quarterback. "Since I've been here my career has been real good and then down a little bit. Now it's pretty good again.

"Obviously, you always want the fans' support, and it feels good when they support you, especially around town, around campus, around school. Everyone is always talking to me, coming up to me and letting me know they're supportive. It's fun to be a part of something like that."