Mawae returns from Hall induction

PAYSON – The Sun Devils had their first practice at Camp Tontozona under sightly overcast skies for about two hours. They have four more here before heading back to Tempe.

Practices are open to the public.

Leading off

Coach Herm Edwards acknowledges that things do change when relocating to Camp Tontozona for the week because ASU doesn’t have the same facilities at its disposal, but Edwards likes that it teaches his team to adapt because that’s part of the game.

The benefit of the week away is the chance for team bonding with fewer distractions.

“My statement to the team is it’s inconvenient,” he said. “This is not convenient. It’s just not. Coming to practice, living conditions, how we meet as a team in the cafeteria and there are plates and dishes. But that’s OK because that’s football. Whatever happens, you’ve got to be good enough and mentally strong enough to deal with it. That’s what happens in a game. I’m a guy that always creates that kind of stuff. This is great for me because I don’t have to create stuff. It’s happening. Whether it rains, I don’t know what’s going to happen. We’re going to keep our poise and get through it.”

Briefly

The highlight of the day was the arrival of offensive analyst Kevin Mawae, fresh from his induction into the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, over the weekend.

Players were running through early stretching drills when Mawae, whose NFL career spanned three teams in 16 years, marched onto the field, fist in the air. Over a gold Sun Devils T-shirt was his gold Hall of Fame blazer presented to those honored as part of the festivities.

Players applauded as did the spectators gathered at the quaint artificial turf field surrounded by trees. One by one players came up and hugged Mawae, who then gathered them at midfield for a brief talk.

“Sorry to hijack your practice, Coach,” he shouted over to Edwards who was standing nearby.

“I expected it,” Edwards shouted back.

Mawae’s message to the team was about teamwork and playing for “the guy next to you.”

After the team broke the huddle, Mawae strolled over and embraced Edwards, who was his coach during his time with the New York Jets.

Edwards attended the festivities but returned on Sunday in time for practice that night.

“I told Kevin if you don’t wear your gold jacket to practice I’m going to be disappointed,” Edwards said. “I respect the heck out of that guy to accomplish what he has accomplished and he had some good words for the guys.”

❚ In full pads for the first time, there were some good, physical hits, the most notable being a lick junior defensive back Evan Fields laid on wide receiver Jordan Kerley after a reception on a pass from Jayden Daniels.

❚ Running back Eno Benjamin did not practice but did stop by as the team was finishing up drills. He was out with food poisoning from something he ate the previous night.

Senior safety Tyler Whiley was also absent with a high fever, so much so that he was kept separate from the rest of the team to prevent others from getting sick.

Sophomore defensive lineman Jermayne Lole also sat out with what Edwards termed “minor soreness.”

Wide receivers Geordon Porter and John Humphrey remain out with pulled hamstrings. Porter’s is the more serious. He just got a PRP injection on Monday.

Up next

Wednesday: 10 a.m. to noon (at

Camp Tontozona).

Thursday: 10 a.m. to noon (at Camp Tontozona).

Friday: 10 a.m. to noon (at Camp Tontozona).

Saturday: 10 a.m. to noon (at Camp Tontozona)