Sports

This is not unfamiliar territory for Arizona State's veterans.

The Sun Devils lost three consecutive games in 2005 and '06, recovering both years to qualify for a minor bowl game, although their coach was fired after the second such season.

ASU also survived three-game losing streaks to reach the postseason in 2000 and '02.

But it has never lost four in a row and still played in a bowl, not a comforting thought given that it's trying to bust the current three-game losing streak Saturday at No. 8-ranked Southern California, likely without its starting quarterback.

Still there is a confidence perhaps born of recent adversity among the older players that they can wriggle into a school-record fifth consecutive bowl game no matter what happens against USC.

According to ASU, only four Bowl Subdivision teams have fewer seniors than the Sun Devils' 15, and only four teams have more redshirt or true freshman playing than their 19 (with at least one more to come). So guys around long enough to remember at least two years back are like the financial bailout: an anchor in the storm, but no guarantee of success.

"The bottom line is winning and losing, but I feel like it's much more competitive," than in 2006, junior linebacker Mike Nixon said, referring to a losing streak that included losses to California (49-21) and Oregon (48-13). "We're in games, and now we've just got to find a way to make the plays. We've got to make that big play that swings momentum, which we haven't been able to do this year. We've got to win the turnover battle, which we did a lot last year."

Senior tailback Keegan Herring missed three of the first four games with a hamstring injury, then returned to rush for 37 yards on 14 carries last week against Cal. He and true freshman Ryan Bass, who has only had three carries, are the backs with the best breakaway speed. ASU's season-long run is 20 yards.

"It's only a matter of time," said Herring, the Pac-10 active career rushing leader (2,330 yards). "That's what my name is for, Big Play K. I'm just trying to live up to my rep, trying to make a big play. If it's not a big play, I try to make a small play. To me a big play is getting a first down when we really need it."

Wide receiver Michael Jones is among six fifth-year seniors still remaining from the 2004 recruiting class. Others are quarterback Rudy Carpenter, tight ends Andrew Pettes and Wes Evans, wide receiver Nate Kimbrough and safety Angelo Fobbs Valentino (offensive lineman Paul Fanaika was a walk-on).

ASU receivers wear black T-shirts bearing their nickname, The Respectables. That respect is still deserved, Jones believes, even though the passing game has been less explosive than expected because defenses are successfully taking away some intermediate and deep routes.

"It's really frustrating," Jones said. "I don't think I've ever been 2-3 in my whole career here (ASU was 3-4 in 2005). You want to go out rapid fire, score fast and score a lot of points, but at the same time you can't do it by yourself. Everybody has to click, every single person. We all have to be disciplined enough to get the job done."

Senior safety Troy Nolan is only in his third year at ASU after transferring from junior college and redshirting in 2006. He and Carpenter are season-long captains and bear extra responsibility for holding the team together.

"You talk to them every single play, keep them motivated, tell them we're still in it, we've still got a chance," said Nolan, who had a team-high eight tackles against Cal. "You've got to lead by example basically. You've got to make plays, make big hits and hope everybody follows you."

Carpenter, not expected to play Saturday due to ankle injury, realizes the unfortunate timing of a senior quarterback playing behind a young offensive line. But even last year, ASU quarterbacks took 55 sacks behind a more experienced line.

"Unfortunately it's not I guess the right time in my career, but we can't worry about that," Carpenter said. "We've got to worry about winning games. Most of those guys aren't physically ready to play yet. It's take time to get the right size and the right nature. We knew that was going to be hard for us, but those guys are going to be fine."

The short-term question is whether the young players improve soon enough to send the seniors out somewhere other than in the Territorial Cup at Tucson on Dec. 6.

"When I was a young cat looking up to the veterans, I always wanted to try to do the best thing I can to make sure they go out with a big win," Herring said. "I guarantee they're trying to do the same for us. We've just got to learn how to fight through it and keep pushing because you never know what can happen."