There are very few college towns that have the amenities as this Pac-12 school. Good weather (during the school year), endless activities and a relaxed atmosphere make Tempe, Arizona, 21st on our Top 100 College Football Towns of America countdown.
To celebrate 100 days until the start of the college football season, HERO Sports is counting down the Top 100 FBS College Football Towns in America. Each day, through Aug. 24, a new city will be revealed. We will analyze the city, the program, the good and bad of the city as well as the bottom line. If you got a problem, @me on Twitter.
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21. Tempe, Arizona — Arizona State
[credit]Expectations are not high on Arizona State, but it should be entertaining. (Photo: Associated Press)[/credit]
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The Program
It's been over 30 years since Arizona State reached the apex of its program, entering the 1997 Rose Bowl with a chance for a shared national title. Since then, the Sun Devils have climbed into the Top Ten twice. In its history, ASU has had some pretty well-known coaches. Before Todd Graham names like Dennis Erickson, Dirk Koetter Bruce Snyder, John Cooper and Frank Kush patrolled the sidelines. Now, they are more known as a constant fixture, entertaining late-night viewers, in ESPN's aptly named Pac-12 After Dark.
The ASU show took on another dimension in 2017, with the firing of Graham, and the hiring of Herm Edwards. Most foresee a rocky road ahead. One thing is certain, Edwards should describe his first year in Tempe, colorfully.
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The City
Most attach Arizona State with Tempe, Arizona, but the fact is the university has several satellite campuses with Tempe being the main hub. Tempe in itself is situated nearby several other cities that can, and do, provide a litany of extracurricular activities for everyone who visits or calls the Greater Phoenix area home. It is one of only eight cities with four major professional franchises. In March, MLB spring training and immaculate weather make this a popular destination with throngs of people swarming the desert like locusts during the Plagues of Egypt. Golf, however, is a year-round sport in Arizona.
Head two hours north, and revel in the mysticism and natural wonder of Sedona. Three hours south is the Mexican border town of Nogales. You want to gamble, a handful of casinos are nearby and readily available to take your money. That's not to mention, the restaurants, retailers and endless nightlife opportunities that seem to make Tempe and the surrounding areas a one-stop entertainment spot.
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The Good
American Hero, Pat Tillman played college football here from 1994-1997. His presence and legacy live on in the desert and the high standards to which he lived, permeate throughout.
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The Bad
"It's a dry heat." Bull****. From May through September, Tempe feels like you somehow managed your way into the Hansel and Gretel story or been tricked into God's oven. It's so hot, you have to constantly drink water to avoid evaporating. It's so hot, ASU plays at night, not because of TV programming, but for fear of melting. It's so hot…I'll let Johnny Carson fire off these jokes:
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Bottom Line
If we're ranking travel destinations and opportunities for enjoyment in the lower 48 states, there may be no better place than Tempe. You can play all day and hope Edwards and the Devils give you reason to celebrate at night.
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NEXT: Top 100 College Football Towns in America: #22 Morgantown, West Virginia
NEXT: The Ultimate College Football Road Trip
