Month: November 2024

ASU-Oklahoma State in weather delay, play to resume

Saturday’s ASU-Oklahoma State football game saw a lengthy weather delay with a planned resumption of play at 4:55 p.m. MST as the Sun Devils led 21-14 after the first half.

FOX will continue to carry the second half locally, and FS1 and FS2 will have the national broadcast.

The game had already been moved from 4 p.m. MST to 12:30 p.m. in an effort to avoid the impending weather system, which includes a flood watch through Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

According to NCAA rules, a lightning delay must last for at least 30 minutes:

To resume athletics activities, lightning safety experts recommend waiting 30 minutes after both the last sound of thunder and after the last flash of lightning is at least six miles away, and moving away from the venue. If lightning is seen without hearing thunder, lightning may be out of range and therefore less likely to be a significant threat.

At night, be aware that lightning can be visible at a much greater distance than during the day as clouds are being lit from the inside by lightning. This greater distance may mean that the lightning is no longer a significant threat. At night, use both the sound of thunder and seeing the lightning channel itself to decide on when to reset the 30-minute return-to-play clock before resuming outdoor athletics activities.

ASU athletic director Graham Rossini on the pregame radio show confirmed one contingency plan for potential weather delays could be calling the game as is after the half, which is allowed in accordance with Big 12 bylaws.

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ASU football at Oklahoma State moved up due to weather

ASU football’s game at Oklahoma State was pushed up from 4 p.m. MST to 12:30 p.m. due to weather concerns, the Big 12 Conference announced Friday.

The TV broadcast will be on FOX in Arizona and Oklahoma with an FS2 broadcast available in other markets.

The game had already seen a broadcast change from FS1 to FOX after the World Series was wrapped up in five games by the Los Angeles Dodgers, leaving the primetime evening slot open.

There will be a flood watch in effect from Saturday morning through Monday in Stillwater, according to the National Weather Service. Lightning is expected by Saturday night.

“We don’t see a lot of (rain). We can try to simulate it, but it’s different,” ASU coach Kenny Dillingham told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Friday, before the time change was announced. “How windy is it, how rainy is it definitely has an effect on the calls in the game and the rhythm of the game, the aggressiveness of the game.

“Some people think rain makes you less aggressive. Well sometimes rain and wind actually make you more aggressive because if you’re punting into 20 mph wind on the 50, you may only gain 30 yards. It’s fourth-and-three, maybe you gotta go for those.”

Dillingham added the week’s practices included wet-ball drills but admitted that those are a far cry from simulating thunderstorm weather.

The Cowboys’ in-state rival, Oklahoma, had already moved up its home game against Maine from 11:30 a.m. MST to 9 a.m., saying “some weather models show a higher risk of severe weather beginning earlier in the afternoon.”

How to watch, listen to ASU football at Oklahoma State

The broadcast will run on FOX in the local markets and FS2 outside of them while play-by-play coverage will be available on the Arizona Sports app, 620 AM or ArizonaSports.com.

Pregame coverage begins with the debut of the State of the Sun Devils Podcast’s pregame show that will begin three hours ahead of kickoff each week, leading into ASU’s pregame show with Jeff Munn right after.

Radio coverage will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the adjusted kickoff time.

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Budda Baker trade? ‘Don’t believe everything you read’

The NFL trade deadline is quickly approaching. As far as the Arizona Cardinals, there hasn’t been a name thrown around more in potential trade rumors than veteran safety Budda Baker.

And it’s not all that surprising.

Currently in the final year of his contract and stringing together an impressive 2024 campaign behind the fifth-most tackles in the NFL (79), it wouldn’t be the most shocking of moves, especially if it means Arizona brings back an edge rusher or added defensive line help.

Even before 2024 kicked off, Baker was viewed as a potential trade piece.

But when it comes to what the Cardinals might obtain in any Baker trade, making that kind of move would likely do more harm than good, according to general manager Monti Ossenfort.

“I’d say don’t believe everything you read,” Ossenfort told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Friday. “Budda’s a big part of what we’re doing … not only on the field but off the field and the leadership he provides.

“I think there’s a lot of misinformation that’s out there this time of year, whether it’s pertaining to our players or somebody else’s players. Unfortunately, that’s the world we live in. … Couldn’t be more excited to have Budda with us.”

Ossenfort isn’t wrong there, as Baker continues to embody what Arizona wants out of its players. With that thinking and the fact Arizona sits atop the NFC West eight weeks in, what kind of message would that be sending to the rest of the team?

It’s unclear what might transpire this offseason when it comes to Baker’s impending free agency — or if a contract extension comes down the wire before then — but for now, all signs point to Baker at the very least finishing out the year in Arizona.

What’s Budda Baker think about all this trade talk?

Different year, same stuff.

This is far from the first time Baker has heard his name being in trade chatter.

And much like he’s said in the past, the safety is focused squarely on his next opponent.

“Personally, I just be where my feet are and push it to the side,” Baker said last week. “I don’t really see the trade stuff, because I’m not heavily on social media.

“I might open my phone up and get a random fan, ‘Come to the team.’ But I’m here, I’m excited, I’m happy and just ready to grind through this week and grind throughout this process, play on Sunday and try and get a W.”

Baker = unbothered.



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