ASU vs. Arizona game lacks sizzle

In the good ol' days, when Frank Kush owned the city of Tucson, the University of Arizona Wildcats' season was defined by one game.

If they beat Arizona State it was a successful year, no matter their record. If they lost, well, thank goodness for basketball.

ASU, on the other hand, never has had a football inferiority complex when it comes to its southern neighbors. That's why it's so hard for Sun Devil fans to be enthusiastic about Saturday's game at Sun Devil Stadium.

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A loss would be the loudest scream of a nightmarish season. The Sun Devils would finish with eight losses for the first since 1994. And to watch the Wildcats celebrate on their home turf?

Dennis Erickson's reputation, already tarnished, will take a severe beating.

But what if ASU wins? Is there enough satisfaction in beating Arizona that it will ease the sting of back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1946-47?

Or will a victory be a Band-Aid that's ripped off as soon as Arizona receives its invitation to a bowl game?

"It's a typical, traditional game," Erickson said. "When you play that game it's bragging rights for a year. That's what it's about. They're fun games to be involved in. People talk about them for 364 days and then the game comes and then they talk about it for another 364 days."

That's the way it used to be, when sellouts were routine and the games were significant. But those days are long gone. Only once since 1993 have both teams had winning records when they met. Even, then, in 2006, it wasn't exactly a clash of the titans. ASU and UA were 6-5.

Furthermore, there will be plenty of good seats available Saturday afternoon. Once upon a time, that was unthinkable.

So we'll ask again: Just what does ASU gain from a win?

For Erickson, it's a chance to be able to breathe a bit easier in the offseason. His job is secure, but his popularity with the fan base - and ASU's boosters - is at an all-time low. He needs a win simply to ease the verbal beatings he'll inevitably take in the offseason.

For sophomore Samson Szakacsy, it's an opportunity to get a leg up on the quarterback competition heading into spring ball. Brock Osweiler and Steven Threet will get their cuts, but if Szakacsy can lead ASU to a win, he'll likely be atop the depth chart when practices begin.

For all but a few of the 22 seniors, it will be the last time they play a meaningful football game. Defensive end Dexter Davis, left tackle Shaun Lauvao, wide receivers Chris McGaha and Kyle Williams and linebacker Travis Goethel might get a shot at the NFL.

For the rest of them, this is it. More than anything, they'll want their final 60 minutes to be a fond memory.

"That's what this is about this week; it's about our seniors," Erickson said. "Obviously it's U of A, a big game, the biggest game of the year for us every year, but it's also about the seniors."

For everyone else - fans, media, Tempe restaurant owners, stadium concessionaires, merchandise salesmen - Saturday is a letdown.

This is supposed to be the biggest game of the year, when taunts are flying and jokes about the opposing school are popping up in e-mails.

Instead, the lack of buzz is palpable. Arizona still has another game to play - it travels to USC on Dec. 5 - and ASU students guarding "A" Mountain couldn't bother to stay awake long enough to prevent Arizona fans from painting the gold "A" red.

You know what's really sad, though?

There hasn't been a single inflammatory, bulletin-board quote from either team all week.

When the players aren't even revved up enough to trade barbs, how are the rest of us supposed to feel?