Arizona State football fans have been sounding off on the state of the program since before ASU’s disastrous 34-21 loss to Washington State was even in the second half.
But they aren’t just bashing coach Herm Edwards for the Sun Devils’ woes on the football field.
Many have turned their attention higher up, calling for the dismissal of Athletic Director Ray Anderson, the man who hired Edwards.
Four years ago upon firing Todd Graham, Anderson said, “we want to compete for championships and we want to win consistently across the board in all of our sports. In football, we have not done that in the four years that I have been there. Not consistently. We have been average. (A record of) 7-5 and second place in a riddled Pac-12 South is not our aspiration. We deserve more.”
ASU fans are now using those words against Anderson, calling for him and Edwards to be fired after failing to meet the expectations set by Anderson.
More: Fire Herm Edwards? Arizona State football fans sound off on coach, state of ASU program
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Trojans Wire wrote a piece about the possibility of Edwards and Anderson getting fired from Arizona State.
Matthew Zemek wrote: “Given how important this season was, and given how dark the clouds of scandal are in the Valley of the Sun, fans would revolt if Edwards and Anderson are retained for 2022 (casting aside anything the NCAA might do). The big question, then, is when school president Michael Crow decides to fire his football coach and AD. He knows fans are fed up with the athletic department and the football program. He knows the NCAA investigation into COVID-19 recruiting violations has not yet run its course. He knows an incoming football coach needs to know whether he will have to deal with NCAA penalties. He knows college basketball season is just about to start (in one week). There is a lot for Crow to consider. He has to orchestrate a transition, but the timing of his move will elicit many questions. Stay tuned in the desert. Change is coming, and the coaching carousel will have a new vacancy, attached to an open athletic director position in Tempe.”
More: ASU football coach Herm Edwards’ future questioned after loss to Washington State
Social media blasted Anderson for the state of the ASU football program:
Ray Anderson built this great athletic district just to let it sit empty — and as a welcoming place with plenty of seats for opposing fans. https://t.co/gQlN8qezVW
— PHX Fans (@PHXFansApp) October 30, 2021
ASU Athletics have gone backwards under Ray Anderson. Almost none of what was sold to the Arizona Board of Regents 10 years ago has been accomplished.
— Tyler Bowyer 🇺🇸 (@conservatyler) October 30, 2021
Ray Anderson and Herm Edwards have set this program back four years and made us a national laughing-stock, while making out like bank robbers. It’s time to face the music.
— PHX Fans (@PHXFansApp) October 30, 2021
Ray Anderson has to be fired before Herm is.
Keep in mind that Bobby Hurley and Ray Anderson don’t like each other. Firing Ray would make Hurley very happy before college basketball season begins. https://t.co/hK1tAAS7xF
— Matt Zemek (@MattZemek) October 30, 2021
If Herm does in fact get fired during or immediately after this season, Ray Anderson should go, too. I doubt that will happen, though.
— Chris Jenkins (@SmartSunDevil) October 30, 2021
It starts at the top. Ray Anderson has got to go. Another year playing in the Sun Bowl and saying “at least we aren’t U of A.” Same old story
Not to mention the investigation and recruiting violations
Bring back Bill Napier. Pay the man
— Papa Bear (@DaRealPapaBear) October 30, 2021
From the “ASU Prez @michaelcrow needs a complete reboot” file…#RayAnderson said he fired #ToddGraham for “mediocre results” & now it is time that he & @HermEdwards both be dismissed for the same. It is time for, one an apology, & two, then hire experienced AD & Head Coach.
— Kurt Davis (@KurtRDavis) October 31, 2021
Matt, let’s just call it like it is. The NFL experiment has failed at ASU. It’s time to clean house and start all over again unfortunately. I don’t have anything against Herm or Ray Anderson as individuals, but as professionals in their current positions, it’s time for a change.
— David Granillo (@SunDevil84) November 1, 2021
My hotter take is that Crow needs to fire Ray Anderson, I don’t like all the reported conflict between Anderson and Bobby Hurley, hiring his best friend Herm didn’t work, Tracy Smith killed the baseball program took almost a decade to fix
— Goldschmidt Happened (@GoldyHappens) October 28, 2021
More: Four years on the job, Herm Edwards is falling way short of achieving boss’s goals
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State Athletic Director Ray Anderson should be fired, fans say