TUCSON – For most of Friday night’s second half, after every Arizona scoring drive, each one seemingly coming quicker than the last, Arizona State’s coaching staff huddled with the defense on the sideline. Line coach Joe Seumalo stood on one end, secondary T.J. Rushing on the other.
In the middle knelt coach Todd Graham and defensive coordinator Keith Patterson, lifelong buddies and career coaching partners. At times during these sessions, while the players sat on folding chairs in front of them, Graham and Patterson talked only to each other, searching for answers.
They never came up with any.