ASU football notebook: Sullivan rarin' to go

To Danny Sullivan, it's been like the night before Christmas for weeks now.

In three days, the Arizona State senior quarterback will get the first start of his career against Idaho State after backing up Rudy Carpenter for the past three years.

At last, a light at the end of the tunnel.

"I've been sitting her forever - long days, long nights, just waiting," Sullivan said. "Finally I can see it coming."

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All eyes will be on the new signal caller, dissecting how he does with a game on the line. Sullivan has only played during mop-up duty of blowouts, but he says there is no nervousness.

Just excitement.

"I'm ready to get out there," he said.

Coach Dennis Erickson can see the anxiety.

"He's been waiting for this for four years, and now he's got his chance," he said. "He's anxious to go out and show people what he can do."

BURFICT LIKELY SITTING

Highly touted freshman linebacker Vontaze Burfict wasn't at practice for the second straight day on Wednesday and will almost certainly miss Saturday's season opener.

Arizona State is waiting on word from the NCAA Clearinghouse as to whether he has academically qualified, but nothing has come back yet.

Even if Burfict is cleared in the next two days, it would seem unlikely for him to get up to speed quickly enough to participate against Idaho State.

MORE ON SUSPENSIONS

Erickson talked more on Wednesday about his decision to suspend ''five or six'' players for the opener for breaking a team rule. Defensive end James Brooks was suspended for three games earlier in camp for violating team rules.

"I'm an old-time coach, I've been around for a long time," Erickson said. "If people don't do the right things in our program, they're going to get suspended. And that's what happened."

SAMSON BACK IN PICTURE

Quarterback Samson Szakacsy, who had been the backup to Sullivan before arm trouble sidelined him for a spell, is starting to feel better, Erickson said.

While freshman Brock Osweiler will likely be the second quarterback in on Saturday, Szakacsy is throwing more at practice and could be back in the mix for the second game against Louisiana-Monroe.

"His arm's still bothering him, but it's getting stronger," Erickson said. "I don't know that he'll play Saturday, but the biggest thing is for him to get healthy and get ready to go as we get into the season."

SMITH TO PLAY?

True freshman tight end Max Smith, a Scottsdale Saguaro High product, was impressive at practice on Wednesday, and the coaching staff must decide whether to play or redshirt him this season.

"A lot of it depends on some injuries that we have at tight end," Erickson said. "That's kind of a key. I'm going to have to make a decision, obviously, in the next day or two, but I don't know."