Szakacsy Gets The Nod for UA

The last time a first-year started went under center for Arizona State in a Duel in the Desert, it worked out pretty OK.

In 2005, in the midst of spelling Sam Keller and his busted thumb/hand/ego, freshman Rudy Carpenter led the Sun Devils against the Wildcats.

Behind 17-5 in the 3rd, Carpenter led a series of drives that culminated in a 20-17 comeback victory and a trip to the Insight Bowl.

This season, we have been guaranteed all season to have a first-year starter taking on Arizona. Now we know that it will be Samson Szakacsy in his second consecutive start.

Coming off a shaky performance at the Rose Bowl in the Sun Devils 23-13 loss to UCLA where he turned the ball over himself four times, Szakacsy is now tasked with the most important task of a second consecutive losing season.

All he has to do to become a folk hero in Tempe is beat the Arizona Wildcats.

So, you know, no pressure.

I’m in no way comparing Arizona State to the Oregon Ducks here, but from what we saw out of that thrilling 44-41 Ducks OT win in Tucson last Saturday, the Wildcats defense has a bit of trouble dealing with a quarterback who can move.

Szakacsy might not have the arm or glut of offensive weapons Jeremiah Masoli has, but he’s certainly got an able body and he’ll need to use it if the Sun Devils want to avoid a 2nd straight loss to Arizona and finishing the season on a disastrous six-game losing streak.

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