Arizona State football self imposes one-year bowl ban

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State administration has self-imposed a one-year bowl ban for the 2023 football season. The ban is for recruiting violations that took place when Herm Edwards was the head coach for the Sun Devils.

Arizona State self imposes one-year bowl ban for 2023

Arizona State allegedly violated recruiting rules, specifically ignoring the NCAA’s mandate on a recruiting dead period during the COVID-19 pandemic. Antonio Pierce, former ASU defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator, allegedly created a culture of rule-breaking and hosted recruits on visits during the mandatory dead period.

Since these violations, five full-time staff members, including Antonio Pierce and Herm Edwards have left/fired/mutually agreed to part ways with the program.

“Arizona State University has informed the NCAA and Pac-12 conference that it will self-impose a one-year postseason ban on its football program for the upcoming season,” athletic director Ray Anderson said in a statement. “In light of the ongoing investigation and our membership obligation to maintain the confidentiality of the matter, we will not be commenting further at this time.”

The team was notified of the bowl ban Sunday morning.

My take on the ban

There is a lot of reason to be upset for Arizona State fans, players, and coaching staff. It’s hard to understand why the administration didn’t decide to self-impose a ban last year. Herm Edwards was still the head coach going into the season, and the outlook of the season was a lot more negative.

Now you have an energetic and passionate new coach, who also happens to be an alum, as well as 40+ incoming players via the transfer portal. To serve the ban when there is finally excitement and optimism surrounding the program just seems ill-advised.

Despite the administration’s questionable judgment, the biggest blame to share is with the NCAA. Despite starting an investigation over two years ago in June of 2021, the NCAA has yet to serve Arizona State a notice of allegations. With potential sanctions hanging over a program’s head, it has impacted recruiting and presumably impacted the head coaching search after Edwards’ departure. It’s understandable why the administration felt the need to self-impose a ban, to perhaps dodge a stricter punishment.

Either way, this situation is yet another where players and coaches that had nothing to do with violations, are being the ones punished. I hope the NCAA takes a look at the 20+ seniors who won’t be playing in a bowl game. Players that had nothing to do with a scandal. Yet another instance where the organization that is in place to serve the student-athlete’s best interests, does more harm than good.

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