Bordow: ASU would like to emulate Texas

What would you say about a college football program that’s won at least nine games every year since 1997, has won or shared four national championships and has played in 46 bowl games, second only to Alabama’s 54? You’d say that’s what Arizona State should strive to be.

• Is it possible?

Could ASU ever become a national powerhouse like Texas, a school that routinely is mentioned in national championship talk and consistently is ranked in the top 20?

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Dennis Erickson isn’t sure, but he’d like to find out.

“They’re the program that you’d like to be like,” he said. “If we can get our program to those heights it would be unbelievable.”

Texas is not the pre-eminent college football program in the country. That honor belongs to USC. Or, perhaps, Ohio State.

But the Longhorns’ standard of excellence is a road map ASU would be wise to follow.

Since Mack Brown replaced John Mackovic after the 1997 season, Texas has played in nine straight bowl games — today’s Holiday Bowl will be No. 10 — won a national championship (2005) and only once lost more than two Big 12 games in a single season.

The Longhorns have been so good for so long their 9-3 record this year is considered a disappointment. Contrast that with ASU, which has won nine or more games in a season just three times since 1996.

“This is a great opportunity for our program to be showcased against somebody like Texas,” Erickson said.

In comparing the two programs, the Longhorns have three distinct advantages.

First, Texas has money. Lots of it.

In the latest Equity of Athletics report published by the U.S. Department of Education, Texas’ football program generated $63.7 million in revenue from Sept. 1, 2006 to Aug. 31, 2007.

During that same period, ASU’s program brought in $23.5 million.

That $40 million is the difference between a school that has had an indoor practice facility since 2002 (Texas) and a school (ASU) that’s just building one now. It’s the difference between a student-athlete lounge that’s available to all athletes (ASU) and a football locker room (Texas) that includes a lounge area and five flat-screen TVs.

Excessive?

Perhaps.

But if you’re a 17-year-old kid and you see ASU’s locker room one week and Texas’ the next, which is going to leave a greater impression?

Second, Texas football is the only show in town. The Longhorns don’t have to compete with four pro sports teams for fans’ interest and dollars. That translates into six home crowds of at least 84,440 this season. Current expansion plans will increase seating at Texas Memorial Stadium to more than 90,000 next year.

More fans means more dollars which means bigger and better facilities.

Finally, and most importantly, Texas has players. Lots of them.

It’s far easier to be a national power when your state is a fertile recruiting field, and Texas is sick with talent. Of the 121 players on its roster, including walk-ons, 113 are in-state products.

And the Longhorns’ stature in Texas is so grand — compared to, say, Texas A&M — Brown essentially can pick and choose the players he wants.

“Without question,” Erickson said. “We’ve got some right here on this team that wanted to go there all their lives.”

ASU, on the other hand, has 26 home-grown players and 69 from out-of-state. It’s hard to win 10 games year in and year out when you’re trying to beat USC for California recruits.

Erickson believes there’s more high school talent in Arizona than meets the eye, but he knows there’s never going to be a day when the majority of the roster is made up of local players.

“It’s still all about evaluation,” Erickson said. “There are a lot of players in a lot of places.”

• So is it possible?

Can ASU ever walk the ground Texas has trampled?

“I think Dennis can get it done there,” Brown said. “Recruiting in California for Arizona State has always been huge, but Dennis has a national name. He’s got two national championships next to that name and a face that kids have seen on NFL sidelines. And kids want to play in the NFL.

“He brings instant credibility to a program that was pretty good to begin with. I thought he was the perfect hire because he can into any school in L.A. or California or Washington, and kids know who he is when he walks down the hall. That name and face recognition is so important in our business.”

Erickson already has transformed ASU. But to catch Texas, to become Texas, he — and ASU — has a long ways to go.

Beating the Longhorns would be a nice start, though.

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Listen to Scott Bordow every Monday at 3:25 p.m. on The Fan (1060 AM) with Bob Kemp.

NCAA All-Time Bowl Appearances

Team Total Record

1. Alabama 54

2. Texas 46

2. Tennessee 46

4. USC 45

5. Nebraska 44

6. Georgia 42

7. Oklahoma 40

8. Penn State 39

9. LSU 38

9. Michigan 38

9. Ohio State 38

Texas won or shared national championships in 1963, 1969, 1970, 2005

Texas’ year-by-year records under Mack Brown

2007: 9-3

2006: 10-3

2005: 13-0

2004: 11-1

2003: 10-3

2002: 11-2

2001: 11-2

2000: 9-3

1999: 9-5

1998: 9-3