Arizona Republic: Cal game is chance at big step for Koetter

Dan Bickley

Unless his last name begins with "K" and rhymes with "bush," the head football coach at Arizona State is under constant scrutiny.  Dirk Koetter has ridden the roller coaster. He has heard the cheers that come with big victories. He has heard the bloodthirsty screams accompanying every defeat. And events in successive off-seasons - from the Loren Wade arrest to the controversial switch in quarterbacks - have polarized the community.

Now comes a precious chance to reach higher ground. "This is a big test," Koetter said at his weekly news conference. Oh, it's way more than that.

When ASU plays at California on Saturday, it's more than an opportunity to lose the growing monkey on his shoulders. Koetter is 0 for 10 when playing Pac-10 games in the state of California. Left unchecked, it's the kind of statistic that can doom the brightest of offensive minds. More than that, this early exam against Cal is the kind of game that can catapult a team to a BCS bowl and help its coach cross that final bridge, the one separating great potential from great accomplishment.

The folks at ASU have been waiting a long time for the latter.  In his sixth year, it hasn't always been this brutal for Koetter. But over the past few seasons, doubts have arisen over the staying power of his defenses, his running backs and his team's ability to cope when the schedule gets hard and the soft candy is gone. These days, Koetter's approval rating can shift wildly on any given Saturday, and the changing winds of popularity can be exhausting for a guy who spends far too much time reading message boards. For proof, check out this exchange with TBS broadcaster Craig Sager following last week's win at Colorado, when the sideline reporter mentioned that ASU had won five of its past seven road games, including two bowl games. Koetter: "Five out of the last seven? Send that back to Phoenix. Are you guys on in Phoenix?" Sager: "Of course we are." Koetter: "All right then. Let's keep talking to them. Go Devils . . . Go Devils!"

Alas, while Sun Devils fans are full of raw emotion, their happiness has become a week-to-week proposition. Games against rival Arizona and lackluster bowl opponents are often blown out of proportion. And while gnawing on the short term, many have missed the big picture. Every year he's been in Tempe, Koetter has gotten better, even if the record hasn't. He's hired better assistant coaches. He's targeted weaknesses in his program and himself. While there might be fewer NFL players coming out of ASU than during the Bruce Snyder era, Koetter has greatly improved the depth of talent. This season, he is rotating 10 defensive linemen, seven offensive linemen, six wide receivers, six linebackers, five safeties, four tailbacks, four tight ends and four cornerbacks. So far, these massive personnel changes come without a blip in overall performance. And lost in the Sam Keller-Rudy Carpenter fiasco was the fact that Koetter had two blue-chip quarterbacks in the fold, a rarity in college football.

These are definitely signs of progress, and slowly, Koetter is bringing ASU ever closer to the big prize. So, while many have questioned the timing of his contract extension (he's signed through 2009, and will barely exceed the $1 million mark next season), he could ultimately turn out to be a bargain.  For all the hand wringing regarding Koetter's personality and poor conference record, the ASU administration has recognized that Koetter can be among the elite coaches in college football. All that's left is for potential to melt into reality. A victory against Cal would be the perfect place to start.