Grice remains on sideline
As expected, Arizona State played without Marion Grice in Saturday night’s Territorial Cup against Arizona. The senior running back watched the game on crutches from the sideline.
Grice suffered a lower-leg injury in the second half of the Nov. 23 victory over UCLA. In the week leading up to the contest, ASU coach Todd Graham simply labeled Grice as “day to day.” And with practice closed to the public and media, Grice’s availability was somewhat of a mystery as kickoff approached.
This likely will continue this week as ASU prepares to play Stanford in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Graham has not disclosed the nature of Grice’s injury and likely will not this week. Reason: As long as there is a possibility Grice will play Saturday, Stanford will have to prepare for him.
Grice has been a steady force throughout the season, both on the ground and through the air. Through 11 games, he rushed for 996 yards (90.5 average) and caught 50 passes for 438 yards. Entering Saturday’s contest, Grice averaged 10.9 points, which ranked fifth nationally.
His 20 touchdowns are tied with Terry Battle for the second-most in a season in ASU history. Wilford “Whizzer” White holds the record with 22 set in 1950.
Sophomore D.J. Foster started in Grice’s place.
Before the game, ASU honored 25 seniors who were playing their final regular-season contest at Sun Devil Stadium, including defensive tackle Will Sutton, tackle Evan Finkenberg and linebacker Chris Young.
Others honored: receiver Alonzo Agwuenu, linebacker
Senior recognition
Dwain Bradshaw, defensive tackle Davon Coleman, defensive end Gannon Conway, tight end Chris Coyle, safety Alden Darby, Grice, cornerback Osahon Irabor, linebacker Anthony Jones, center Kody Koebensky, linebacker Kipeli Koniseti, linebacker Steffon Martin, safety Shane McCullen, cornerback Robert Nelson, receiver Kevin Ozier, cornerback Marlon Pollard, running back R.J. Robinson, tight end Darwin Rogers, defensive tackle Jake Sheffield, staff member Max Smith, linebacker Grandville Taylor and receiver Alante Wright.
Receiver Joe Morris also is listed as a senior, but he was not honored Saturday night. Morris signed with ASU last February as a junior-college transfer out of Pierce College in Southern California. Morris this sea- son got off to a late start because of a foot injury and ASU coaches planned to redshirt him with hopes he had two years of eligibility.
The school, however, recently found out that the NCAA considered Morris a senior because the receiver had enrolled at a junior college before he attended Pierce. ASU is appealing the ruling.
Special visitors
Before the game, Graham visited with relatives of Pat Tillman — the former ASU linebacker who died as an Army Ranger in the mountains of Afghanistan — outside the Tillman Tunnel.
Kevin Tillman, Pat’s brother, attended the game with his family. Pat Tillman Sr. also was on hand.