Good news for Kenny Dillingham and Arizona State football! ASU boasts a deep lineup of sports and countless opportunities. But there’s no denying that some programs demand a heightened focus. Building them into commercially successful programs is a necessity. After all, supporting 26 sports requires significant resources. The challenge is clear — now it’s time to execute. 

On a YouTube episode of D1Baseball, Mike Rooney sat down with ASU athletic director Graham Rossini to talk about the future of Sun Devils athletes. The conversation centered around the seven programs that give ASU the best shot at long-term success. “Football, men’s/women’s basketball, hockey, volleyball, baseball, and softball in our opinion are the seven that give us the best chance of commercial success, driving revenue, and creating resources that we can reinvest throughout the department,” Rossini stated. And if the past season was any indication, ASU is making serious strides, especially in football.

Kenny Dillingham and his football team set out to bring the Sun Devils back to national prominence, and they delivered. After winning the Big 12 Championship game against Iowa State, they secured a first-round bye before falling to Texas in the CFP quarterfinals. But for a program with no prior playoff experience, this was a monumental step. 

Rossini sees nothing but opportunity ahead. “My opinion is there’s never been a better time to be a power four athletic department at a research one University and a major Metropolitan market,” Rossini said. Why? “Because we have access to scale, we have access to population, we have access to decision-makers and corporations and people that are looking for something to connect to.” And among the connections that are trying to invest in ASU sports is a Sun Devils legend who knows a thing or two about giving and winning.

Dustin Pedroia steps up for ASU football

Few embody Sun Devils pride like Dustin Pedroia. A former ASU alum, his loyalty to his alma mater never wavered. Back in his college days, he gave up 78% of his scholarship for the upliftment of the baseball program, an act that won him the title “modern-day legend” by the then HC Pat Murphy. “Williams Bloomquist was the first to give up his scholarship in 1999,” Murphy recounted. “Dustin saw that and said, ‘Hey, I’ll do that. My parents do well. They’re successful. I’ll give back my scholarship for the program.’ He said it one day, quickly. It didn’t matter. He just wanted to do what was best for the program.” And now, he’s channeling the same type of energy and passion for ASU football. 

Mike Rooney gave out the news, saying, “No offense to punters or football but I’m thinking to myself. The backup punter on our football team, which is not is not as good as our baseball team at the time, he’s on full scholarship and Dustin Pedroia, one of the best, if not the best player in program history is paying full freight.” But while scholarships remain a critical thing for college athletes, Rossini made it clear that their mission goes beyond financial aid. “A scholarship is still intended to give a young person a chance to propel themselves in life after sport,” he said. “And we’re not willing to compromise the fact that we’re still trying to educate young people.”

With football gaining momentum, a championship culture taking hold, and Pedroia backing the program, Kenny Dillingham’s future looks optimistic. The foundation is set, the vision is clear, and the Sun Devils are just getting started.