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Arizona State losing ground to Arizona?

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08:18 AM ET 07.18 | A national title in baseball is but the most recent example of a Wildcats revival. The rebranding of Arizona athletics is impossible to miss. Since the arrival of Athletic Director Greg Byrne, the Wildcats are operating on a much higher plane. Most recently, school officials listened to Byrne's pitch for investing in the baseball program, and he promptly returned with a national championship. ... Meanwhile, [Arizona State Vice President for University Athletics Steve Patterson] doesn't sound the least bit concerned. "From a fan's perspective, people like to look at rivals," Patterson said. "From my perspective, we have to mind our own knitting. We have a lot of work to do."

The Arizona Republic

Herb Sendek, Getty Images Herb Sendek, Getty Images
Comment #1 has been removed
July 18, 2012  08:57 AM ET

This story has miniscule regional appeal. Definitely in the "who cares?" neck of the woods.

Comment #3 has been removed
July 18, 2012  09:09 AM ET

Who will have the better football team? Can ASU go to Mizzou and beat a mighty SEC team? Not sure I even know who coaches these programs...

<<see if the fish are biting today>>

July 18, 2012  09:17 AM ET
QUOTE(#3):

depends on the region I guess.

I meant "miniscule even for the region."

Comment #6 has been removed
July 18, 2012  09:45 AM ET

I'm a big Greg Byrne fan. In his short time at Moo State, he helped to change the culture around the athletic department. He moved things from the 70's to the now.

Comment #8 has been removed
July 18, 2012  11:04 AM ET
QUOTE(#2):

This story has miniscule regional appeal. Definitely in the "who cares?" neck of the woods.

The interns are hoping that we post AZ St coed pics.

July 18, 2012  12:30 PM ET
QUOTE(#4):

...<<see if the fish are biting today>>

Fishing sux today

July 18, 2012  01:11 PM ET
QUOTE(#4):

Who will have the better football team? Can ASU go to Mizzou and beat a mighty SEC team? Not sure I even know who coaches these programs...<<see if the fish are biting today>>

Let's not call Mizzou a Mighty SEC team just yet... Start above vandy and work your way up!!!

July 18, 2012  01:22 PM ET
QUOTE(#11):

Let's not call Mizzou a Mighty SEC team just yet... Start above vandy and work your way up!!!

OK....fishing's getting better! :-)

July 21, 2012  03:38 AM ET

The Arizona - Arizona St. rivalry is a great one. The football rivalry is about 50-50 for the past several years, Arizona has done well in basketball for the past 2 decades. Of the two schools, only Arizona has a championship in football or basketball, however, Arizona has never gone to the Rose Bowl, a fact that ASU reminds them of as necessary. My father was an ASU professor for about 10 years, I graduated from Arizona (who wants to go to college and live at home), so the rivalry exists even in our homes. I'm not going to insult any other college rivalries, many are excellent, but the ASU - Arizona rivalry is a good one. That said, Herb Sendek strikes fear into NO Arizona fan. He simply is gunning for second place in a race of two schools. No top basketball recruit would select ASU over Arizona if he had any intelligence whatsoever.

July 21, 2012  03:48 AM ET

I'm also pretty sure that Arizona has a far better pipeline to the NBA compared to ASU.

 
July 21, 2012  07:48 PM ET

This is silly really,... for Arizona leads the all time series in football, basketball and baseball between the 2 schools,... in the history of the directors cup,.. Arizona has had a better overall sports program than ASU 14 of the 19 years.

Arizona has the 2nd most dominant softball program ever, very strong in men and women's swimming and diving,... very respectable programs in many sports from volleyball, gymnastics, golf, etc

Arizona has had a top 10 overall sports program 9 of the 19 years,... ASU has had a top 10 overall sports program 4 of the 19 years.

If anything Arizona had lost ground and slipped down a bit closer to ASU,... now the trend is Arizona is getting back to its normal place as seen with the recent resurgence in the baseball program and the basketball will be back to the consistent high level soon enough.

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