The "incident"...or Coker-gate

One of the big stories coming out of the win last Saturday was how ASU walked through the Beavers pre-game field goal practice which led to a confrontation with the big man, Curtis Coker. Coker said that Carpenter had popped off to him, which prompted a response and got him and other teammates fired up for the game. Here's the quote:

“Why would I let them do that in my house?” Coker said. “So I was going to show them how it is, and Rudy Carpenter goes, ‘Oh, No. 98, you’re a bad (dude), aren’t you?’ I said, ‘Oh, yeah? You remember No. 98, because I’m going to tattoo it on your backside!’ ”

In classic Dirk Koetter form, he denies it happening because "he was there".

ASU's Carpenter falsely accused | EastValleyTribune.com

At Reser Stadium, both teams head to and from their locker rooms through the same tunnel. At the same time the Sun Devils headed off, Oregon StateÂ’s band was on the sideline, preventing ASU from leaving the field via that route.

Sun Devils coach Dirk Koetter said his assistant coaches formed a chain, allowing his team to pass between the OSU players and band without making contact.

“There was no altercation,” Koetter said. “The closest person to their team was me. We asked (Oregon State) to look into it, and it was just one of their players popping off about something. . . .

“It didn’t happen. I was there.”

Strangely, we don't hear a word from Rudy Carpenter in that article, or in another incidentbout the incidient out of Arizona. However, coach Riley is denying the incident as well.

Torain, Herring sit out but will play on Saturday | The Arizona Republic

Both teams go onto the field at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Ore., through the same entrance. ASU players were blocked from going around the Beavers by the Oregon State band, so ASU coaches and staff funneled the Sun Devils onto the field between them and the band.

"In no way did Arizona State disrespect the Oregon State football program," Riley said. "I applaud ASU head coach Dirk Koetter for his courtesy in allowing our team, band and cheerleaders to enter and exit the field."

Of Coker, Riley said: "Our players have no business talking disrespectfully to an opponent before the game."

I agree that OSU has no reason to talk before the game. Isn't that what got us in trouble against BSU? We were trash talking before the game and it got them all pumped up.

Obviously this story isn't that big of a deal, but I think it's funny how much press it's received.