News updates are sent daily. You can unsubscribe at any time.
ASU's Burgess finally able to finish a season strong
Digg|
Save|
License|
Print|
E-mail|
FOR SIX: Arizona State wide receiver Rudy Burgess scores a touchdown against Stanford cornerback Tim Sims during their game Sept. 29.
The Associated Press
ASU's Rudy Burgess celebrates a touchdown reception against San Diego State on Sept. 15.
Lisa Olson, Tribune
If Arizona State is approaching the end of the regular season, Rudy Burgess is usually aching, the product of his willingness to play anywhere on the field.
Last year, the senior receiver was unavailable for the rivalry game against Arizona because of a high ankle sprain he suffered while playing cornerback. In 2004, the 188-pound Burgess was nursing a battered body from all the hits taken while playing running back.
This season, however, he is feeling fine at the end, thanks primarily to his sticking to one position, slotback. He has 29 catches for 419 yards and three touchdowns on the year, and last week against Southern California, he returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score.
“I’m feeling healthy, no bumps or bruises,” Burgess said earlier this week. “There have been times where I could barely finish out the season. Being able to have fresh legs and run around with my teammates is a good feeling.”
Not all of Burgess’ teammates share that feeling heading into Saturday’s rivalry game against Arizona.
Safety Josh Barrett (MCL sprain) watched practice on Thursday in street clothes and is out. Tackle Brandon Rodd (ankle sprain) ran plays with the first team during the no-pads workout, but his availability remains questionable.
Coach Dennis Erickson was not available for interviews on Thursday.
FULL HOUSE
All of the tickets for Saturday’s contest have sold, giving ASU its third consecutive home capacity crowd. The school last achieved the feat in 1988.
Expansion that year increased Sun Devil Stadium’s number of seats to its current 71,706, but the listed capacity for the ’88 football season was 70,491. Consecutive games against Washington (70,934), Oregon State (70,508) and USC (72,203) were sellouts.
BANQUET AND BOWL
ASU’s bowl destination will probably be revealed during its football awards banquet on Sunday at the Phoenician resort in Scottsdale. (The Sun Devils could know on Saturday, as they would go to the Rose Bowl if they beat Arizona and USC loses to UCLA.)
The banquet is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. That is also when Fox’s broadcast of the Bowl Championship Series selection show starts, as does ESPN’s program that unveils matchups for each of the 32 bowl games.
If USC wins on Saturday, a Fiesta Bowl berth is possible for ASU with a victory against Arizona. Erickson would have to depart the banquet temporarily to participate in a media conference call if his team gets a BCS invitation.
Related
Please add your comments, but follow these guidelines to keep this a safe, credible place for discussing the news: