They were strained and they were trained for three days and three nights, but under the pine tree lined Mogollon Rim, a football team was reborn and a long-standing tradition resumed its rightful place in Sun Devil lore. 

The final practice at Camp T ended much like the first one started back on Wednesday morning – high-octane, team-orientated and full of #SunDevil spirit.

As the last whistle blew around 11:40 a.m., players and staff members gathered around the team’s three kickers – Alex Garoutte, Dillon Jackson and Jon Mora – in an attempt to simulate the same atmosphere one would expect to face when lining up for a game-winning kick in an opposing team’s stadium.

Everyone collaborated – players danced, sang and yelled, the equipment staff blew air horns, coaches worked the group into a frenzy – and although it was in a team effort to make their own kickers miss, it was the perfect illustration of what coming back to #CampT was all about: More than 100 young men all working together to reach a collective goal.

Other tidbits:

• Quarterback Michael Eubank and running back D.J. Foster took the field with the first team during team drills
• Eubank connected with wide receiver Rashad Ross for an 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play during team drills
• The very next play, quarterback Taylor Kelly hit wide receiver J.J. Holiday for an 80-yard touchdown pass on essentially the same play
• Quarterback Mike Bercovici also tossed an 80-yard touchdown pass, this time to wide receiver Alonzo Agwuenu, during team drills
• Wide receiver Kyle Middlebrooks caught a 75-yard touchdown pass from Bercovici
• Ross also made a great catch over the middle
• Cornerback Jarrid Bryant, who switched from wide receiver in the spring, continued to see extended time with the second team cornerbacks
• Safety Chris Young also continued to work in with the first team, joining fellow defensive backs Alden Darby, Keelan Johnson, Osahon Irabor and Deveron Carr
• The team showed off a goal-line package that featured defensive lineman Davon Coleman at fullback
• The defense also showed a defensive goal-line package that had defensive tackles Mike Pennel and Jaxon Hood playing in the middle together   
• Pennel was back at starting defensive tackle after Hood worked with the first team the past two practices
• Kevin Anderson moved from wide receiver to defensive back midway though the practice, switching out his maroon jersey for a white one. Afterward Anderson said he was surprised by the move, but excited about the opportunity to show off his talents on the other side of the ball. With a lot of depth at the slot receiver position, the change should give him a better shot at more playing time. He added that the coaches told him he played well, but just needed to work on the little things
• Running back R.J. Robinson put on pads for the first time this fall, but wore a green “no contact” jersey and spent the majority of practice at “muscle beach”

#SunDevilPride:

• Coach Frank Kush once again took his rightful place on the sidelines of Camp T, taking in the final practice in a lawn chair
• Former Sun Devil quarterback great, and current Sun Devil Sports Network color commentator Jeff Van Raaphorst was in attendance
• Gene Felker, an assistant football coach for Kush, was at Camp T
• Ed Yeager, an assistant baseball coach for Jim Brock, was also at Camp today
• Former Sun Devil pitcher Jake Borup, the son of long-time football administrative associate Lora Borup, took in practice
• Senior Associate AD for External Relations Rocky Harris attended practice with his wife Liz and daughter Hope
• Sun Devil Club Major Gift Officer T.J. Issacs watched practice