After the Kenny Dillingham-led Arizona State Sun Devils secured their second straight seven-win season with a 25-23 victory over West Virginia Mountaineers, Dillingham addressed swirling rumors regarding his future — and was exceedingly clear: he is not leaving Tempe.
“I was never leaving,” Dillingham asserted, noting a meeting with university leadership, including President Michael Crowe, in which he sensed “a lot of confidence” in the program’s direction. “They’re pushing the chips to the middle of the table on winning in football here,” he said after the win.
He continued: “I just want to be able to push this place to its limit… Sometimes, if I can do some things people don’t like… I want to activate the Valley, I want to win games, I want to get this program better. I know our university is behind us and behind this program.”
Asked specifically if the school’s investment signaled that he was staying for the long haul, Dillingham quipped, “Contrary to the betrayal article, I was never leaving. I never said I was leaving. This is home.” He emphasized his commitment: “My number one goal always is to do whatever I can to push the envelope for Arizona State football.”
And while Arizona State is on their back-up quarterback in Jeff Sims, they’re still in the hunt to defend their Big 12 title. Sims threw for over 200 yards on Saturday and rushed for 81 in the win over WVU. The Sun Devils close the season against Colorado and Arizona, needing to win out to have a chance to make it to Arlington.
