Top stories of the ASU athletic season

Recapping the top stories of the 2007-08 Arizona State athletic season.

Softball

Accomplishment: Won the program's first NCAA Women's College World Series, thumping Texas A&M 11-0.The Suns Devils finished 66-5.

The road: Coach Clint Myers told his team upfront: Playing for him wouldn't be easy. His message: "Greatness is a way of life." The Sun Devils proved it in the postseason, winning 10 in a row.

Quote: "I told them that hard work brings great benefits. Greatness is a way of life. It's how you see yourself as a person. We didn't want to be ordinary. We didn't want to be average. . . . Now, next year we'll have a target on our backs every time we step onto the field, because everyone will want to beat the defending national champions." - Myers

Men's indoor track

Accomplishment: Won the program's first national title, edging favored Florida State 44-41.

The road: Sophomore Ryan Whiting won the men's shot-put national title, breaking an NCAA record that had stood for 31 years. Senior Kyle Alcorn sprinted to victory on the last lap of the 3,000-meter run. Junior Joel Phillip finished second in the 400. The 1,600-relay finished third to secure the title.

Quote: "I think the guys had gone through a couple years of watching the women take victory laps after winning national championships, and they accepted that challenge." - Coach Greg Kraft

Women's indoor track

Accomplishment: Won its second national title in as many years, outdistancing Louisiana State 51-43.

The road: Senior Jacquelyn Johnson became the first three-time winner of the indoor pentathlon and just the ninth woman in NCAA history to win the same event three times in a career. Senior April Kubishta (second, pole vault), junior Sarah Stevens (second, shot put) and senior Jessica Pressley (second, weight throw) also were major contributors.

Quote: "(Johnson's) success allowed us to create a lot of momentum around here. You can never underestimate the impact she had on our program." - Kraft

Football

The Sun Devils won their first eight games under new coach Dennis Erickson. They approached Thanksgiving in the hunt for a national championship. In the end, ASU fell short, but there was still plenty for fans to feel good about: A co-Pac-10 championship and an invitation to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Now about that 52-34 loss to Texas . . .

Men's basketball

After winning eight games his first season in Tempe, Herb Sendek took the Sun Devils to the NIT quarterfinals. ASU finished 21-13, sweeping rival Arizona for the first time since 1995. No doubt ASU fans, and probably even Sendek, are still scratching their heads over that NCAA Tournament snub. What in the world were those people thinking?

Women's basketball

Four consecutive 20-win seasons. Four consecutive NCAA Tournament berths. Yeah, it's safe to assume this program is on solid ground. This season, the Sun Devils overcame injuries and a tough early schedule to finish 22-11, losing to Duke in the NCAA Tournament's second round.

Baseball

The Sun Devils, starting 19-0, were considered one of the country's better teams all season. They won a second consecutive Pac-10 title. Brett Wallace repeated as Pac-10 Player of the Year. Pat Murphy repeated as Pac-10 Coach of the Year. Alas, their season ended against Fresno State in the super regional, one step short of the College World Series. Perhaps, the Sun Devils (49-13) just tangled with the wrong team at the wrong time.

ASU's James Harden celebrates a three point shot against Alabama State in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).