North Carolina State routs ASU in coach Todd Graham's final game

EL PASO – The first postgame question dealt with the finality of it all, a moment put in motion 33 days ago with a coaching change, but a moment that seemed to take an eternity to arrive.

Junior quarterback Manny Wilkins, his eyes red, took a deep breath, started to say something and then dropped his head, unable to continue. Senior running back Demario Richard looked at his Arizona State teammate.

"You want me to do it?" Richard asked.

Wilkins nodded.

"Obviously, the outcome wasn't what we wanted it to be," Richard said.

Since ASU dismissed coach Todd Graham over a month ago, the football program has been stuck in neutral. While half the program worked for a future under new coach Herm Edwards, the other prepared for Friday's Hyundai Sun Bowl, one last game for Graham and the program's seniors.

It's a difficult way to compete, and it showed. No matter how much fight ASU showed this season, North Carolina State's 52-31 win here was expected, the emotional toll and uncertainty too big for the Sun Devils to hurdle.

This is nothing against ASU, which gave Graham the opportunity to coach in a bowl game he had earned, the right thing to do. Or against Graham, who simply wanted to show his team that strong leaders don’t quit in times of adversity.

But the transition was awkward and strange, as these things often are, and the outcome predictable. ASU finished 7-6. Over six seasons, Graham finished 46-32.

"No excuses," Graham said. "We didn't play good today, but it's been very, very challenging preparing in this circumstance. But I'll tell you this: I am very thankful that the administration gave me the opportunity. This last month has meant the world to me."

Over six years, ASU leaders thought Graham did a solid job of elevating the program from a “B” to a “B-plus,” but neither above-average grades nor the Sun Bowl are ASU's preferred destinations. Edwards – introduced as Graham’s replacement Dec. 4 – is now officially on the clock.

It’s not like the former NFL head coach has been on vacation. He spent much of December helping assemble his first recruiting class as well as his staff. In doing so, he kept a distance from ASU bowl preparations, giving Graham space during his final month. For similar reasons, Edwards did not attend Friday's contest. 

ASU showed flair, opening with a trick play, but the Sun Devils ultimately had few answers, especially defensively. North Carolina State amassed 491 yards and punted only once. The Wolfpack (9-4) were 10 of 15 on third down.

A 28-10 halftime lead turned into 38-10 early in the fourth quarter. Although the Sun Devils made a brief surge, the outcome never was in doubt.

An ASU bright spot: N’Keal Harry. The sophomore receiver had nine catches for 142 yards, putting him over 1,000 for the season. His diving, one-handed grab of a 37-yard pass was the play of the game. It also set up his 6-yard touchdown catch, which pulled the Sun Devils to within 21-10.

"I think we did a real good job of blocking out all the noise and all the extra stuff," Harry said. "When we get on that field, it's just football. ... I just feel like we just shot ourselves in the foot a lot."

With offensive coordinator Billy Napier off to Louisiana, where he was named head coach, ASU had consultant Dave Christensen call plays. Graham thought Christensen did an outstanding job, but the offense didn't look the same.

Entering the contest, ASU had averaged 297 rushing yards over its previous four games. Against North Carolina State, however, the Sun Devils struggled.

Complicating matters: Wilkins wasn’t himself.

Among the nation’s best at protecting the football, the junior quarterback completed 25 of 40 for 352 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw three interceptions. The first – coming off a tipped pass – was returned 52 yards and set up a North Carolina State field goal.

The second came after ASU took possession after recovering a muffed punt. With a chance to cut into the Wolfpack’s 31-10 cushion, Wilkins overthrew his man and was picked off in the end zone.

"We did some stuff outside the norm that we don't usually do," Richard said. "Like turn the football over, start off slow ... "

"You can't throw three interceptions and win," Wilkins said.

As he left the postgame news conference, Graham posed with fans for photos. As they left the locker room, his players grabbed food and walked to the bus, leaving one era of ASU football behind while approaching another.

After a difficult stretch, the school finally had reached a point where it could shift the football program into drive. But 30 minutes after the game, Wilkins wasn't quite ready to move on.

"Yeah, I ain't worried about that right now," the quarterback said, adding that he's talked with Edwards but only briefly. "I'm sure when we get back, there will be more conversations, but it's the least of my worries. Right now, I'm worried that I lost this game for these seniors. That's what's on my mind."

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Contact Doug Haller at 602-444-4949 or at doug.haller@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/DougHaller.