TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State returned to the practice field Friday for the first time since its big win in over Arizona a week earlier. The Sun Devils began prepping for their bowl game, though they won't know their opponent or destination until Sunday night.
All signs point to ASU receiving a bid for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco on Dec. 29, but coach Todd Graham is focused less on location and opponent than he is getting the school its first postseason win since 2005.
"We're excited to get to that eighth win," Graham said Friday. "I've been to a lot of (bowl games), and they ain't worth going to if you don't win. The bowl experience is great, but we want to win."
In six previous seasons as a head coach, Graham has gone 3-1 in bowl games, losing only his first with Rice in 2006 and leaving Pittsburgh last season before its appearance in the BBVA Compass Bowl.
While Graham has to believe his first season in Tempe was a success given the win over UA, the team's first winning record since 2007 and a bowl berth, he couldn't help but wonder what might have been Friday as the Pac-12 Championship game neared kickoff in Palo Alto, Calif.
"The thing I keep thinking about is we had a minute and 31 seconds (to hold a lead against UCLA)," Graham said. "If we'd have gotten that done against UCLA, we'd be playing Stanford this week. We we're awful close, and I'm proud of these guys."
ASU's bowl game will cap what has been, in many respects, a remarkable turnaround for a program that fell far short of expectations last season, ending the year on an ugly five-game losing streak.
Heading into bowl practices on a two-game winning streak, including a win over a hated rival, has created a very different tone for the Sun Devils than last season. Those Sun Devils entered bowl preparation with a lame duck coach and general malaise after veering off an easy road to the Pac-12 title game.
"I feel like everybody's excited and extremely happy, full of energy and ready to go," senior cornerback Deveron Carr said. "I feel like we're focused. Even though this was a light practice, we still had a different focus from last year. There was no fun and games, no playing around. We're trying to get better as we go."
ASU continues bowl practices Saturday and Sunday.
SUTTON SITS OUT
Defensive tackle Will Sutton, who missed time against Arizona, did not practice Friday and wore a walking boot while conditioning on the sidelines. Graham said afterward Sutton had a sprained right toe, but the boot is just a precaution.
"The X-rays ad everything came back clear," Graham said. "He should be fine by next weekend."
Sutton had a big game against Arizona and this week has been just as good for him, as he was named an American Football Coaches Association All-American and the Pac-12 Conference's Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year, ASU's fifth all time and first since 2002.
"I'm really, really proud," Graham said. "I mean, Adam Archuleata, Pat Tillman -- it's the Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year award, so for one of our guys to receive that is a great accomplishment our first year."
ON THE ROAD
It was a big recruiting week for ASU coaches, as most of the staff hit the road for in-home visits with 2013 targets. It helped coming off an exciting win in a rivalry game.
"Winning is the No. 1 thing to recruiting," Graham said. "Winning helps the buy, helps people believe in what you're doing. There's nothing like results."
ASU hosted a handful of recruits at practice Friday and will host more through the rest of bowl practice. Coaches will again hit the road for recruiting next week, as the Sun Devils will not practice Monday-Thursday.
"Guys want to go to bowl games, guys want to play for championships," Graham said. "Obviously we were close, didn't get there, but I think people can see where we're headed."
NOTES
-- Graham said Friday he was surprised junior "spur" linebacker Chris Young was left out of the All-Pac-12 Awards, not even receiving honorable mention.
-- Graham said wide receiver Kyle Middlebrooks, who was on crutches and wearing a brace on his right leg at practice Friday, won't play again this season. Middlebrooks was only used sparingly this season, accumulating one rush, one reception and two kickoff returns.
