Arizona football players damaged ASU Sun Devil Stadium field before Territorial Cup game
It wouldn't be a rivalry without some pregame shenanigans, right?
The Arizona vs. Arizona State Territorial Cup game on Saturday featured some before kickoff.
Arizona football players reportedly damaged ASU's Sparky logo at midfield and the South end zone "Sun Devils" grass with their cleats before Saturday's game, a game the Sun Devils went on to win, 38-15.
The ASU field art was done by ASU groundskeeper Brian Johnson, who is retiring soon after 37 years in the role at Sun Devil Stadium.
The ASU grounds crew had to hurry and attempt to fix the damage to the field from divots in the grass before kickoff.
Here's how some of the damage went down to the field Saturday, according to writers and photographers at the scene.
The South end zone damage reportedly included a scuffle between a member of the ASU grounds crew and Arizona players, captured below in photos.
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Arizona players tore up the sparky logo with their cleats, ground crew trying to fix the divots
— Michelle Gardner (@MGardnerSports) November 27, 2021
Hello from Sun Devil Stadium!!!
Here’s the logo before some *minor damages* were made to it.#JustTerritorialCupThings pic.twitter.com/srWSs1Akik— Jenna Ortiz (@jennarortiz) November 27, 2021
Arizona players were scuffing up the south end zone and Sparky at midfield with their cleats at the end of their warm up on Brian Johnson’s final game artwork. https://t.co/4YY6JkodE2
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) November 27, 2021
Some divots in Sparky’s teeth https://t.co/wsDO1NjbEO pic.twitter.com/HMCV1Q3ipE
— Alec White (@AlecWhite_UA) November 27, 2021
Things getting HEATED in Tempe.
Don’t disrespect @bermuda419s work. #UArizona player shoves an #ASU staff member after UA players stomp out the end zone grass. pic.twitter.com/ByxfbOfWoA— J.J. Digos (@JDigosPhoto) November 27, 2021
A couple more from this pregame incident that occurred as UA team gathered in end zone for warm ups.
ASU grounds staff member pops back up after being shoved to ground by UA player, several UA staff step in…
Could’ve been a really ugly incident.@DevilsDigest @justin4asu pic.twitter.com/wfeoBmWmPL— J.J. Digos (@JDigosPhoto) November 28, 2021
I didn’t see this as it happened. I do recall seeing John Burton (No. 34) having a heated exchange with a UA coach. Bottom line: Desecrating the field and/or getting involved in altercations with the grounds crew or anyone before/during/after the game should not be tolerated. https://t.co/8XataIDHEq
— Michael Lev (@MichaelJLev) November 28, 2021
Wow. so they actually knocked down a member of grounds crew. Makes the antic worse than just defacing the field https://t.co/11iEezLlfZ
— Michelle Gardner (@MGardnerSports) November 28, 2021
The game, per custom, featured several unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on players from both teams and got chippy several times.
There was also skirmish at the end of the first half as the Arizona Wildcats and Arizona State Sun Devils headed to the locker room with ASU clinging to a 14-9 lead.
Arizona was assessed a 15-year penalty for the incident on the kickoff for the second half.
Refs and Arizona coaches intervening a potential scuffle as both teams head to the locker room.
Arizona was flagged for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties that’ll be enforced on the second half kickoff. pic.twitter.com/XndNo7wguQ— Alec White (@AlecWhite_UA) November 27, 2021
ASU won the game to finish the regular season 8-4. It still has a bowl game remaining.
Arizona ended its season 1-11.
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 football players damaged ASU field before Territorial Cup game
