Luke Lendler

Massamba Diop's improbable basketball journey has been guided by a self-determination rooted in a higher purpose: to serve as a beacon of hope for his family and others in Senegal.

On Diop's special opportunity for @SunDevilSource:
247sports.com/college/arizon…

TEMPE— A flash mob broke out on Frank Kush Field.

In the north end zone, senior safety Boogie Wilson twirled his left arm in the air and smacked his butt with his right hand. Sophomore safety Kyan McDonald did too. Atop the Mountain America Stadium Logo, cornerbacks DaQuwan Dunn and Ashton Stamps stood back-to-back. Arms crossed. Finger guns in each direction. Owen Long and Prayer Young-Blackgoat soared above the chewed-up midfield grass. Their joint pirouettes met with a high five.

A golden mosaic of joy. Dotted with once-maligned subjects basking in sweet vindication.

In its conference opener, Arizona State saw every inch of its home field. Baylor walked into Mountain America Stadium and dished out an unsolicited tour. Fifty-five points. Five hundred and sixty-four yards. Every cobweb, rusty hinge and outdated plan exposed.

It agonized the Sun Devils. How good might it feel to take back what was theirs one day?

So, when they did, they danced. The man called Boogie led the way. Fitting.

Neon Deion Sanders, once famous for his own two-steps, scowled on the opposite sideline, arms crossed. Apt.

On Wednesday, head coach Kenny Dillingham asserted his squad's "phases were not yet phases in sync," and "all we wanted to see was a game with all three phases at the optimal level.' On Saturday, the Sun Devils never trailed Colorado in a commanding 20-10 win. ASU dulled Neon Deion's Buffaloes, giving up its fewest points of the season against an FBS opponent. It never turned the ball over. It pinned Colorado inside the 20-yard line four times.

Ask, and you shall receive.
247sports.com/college/arizon…

Fette is the first Sun Devil since Jamal Miles vs. Missouri in 2011 to throw and catch a touchdown in the same game.

@SunDevilSource

Jake Fette. Dime. He's got a receiving and throwing TD in the same game.

Cardae Mack, who played QB in high school, has been begging Kenny Dillingham to let him throw the ball all year.

He got his chance and made the most of it.