QB Mike Bercovici: 2015 Sun Devils to be ‘unlike’ any other ASU team
Jan 28, 2015, 9:49 PM | Updated: 9:49 pm
2015 will be the year of Mike Bercovici at Arizona State University.
At least, that’s the plan as the fifth-year senior is set to take the reins from Taylor Kelly as the team’s first-string quarterback.
Bercovici appeared in eight games last season — including three starts — and threw for 1,445 yards with 12 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.
There is plenty of excitement to see what he can do as the man, and he cannot wait to get started.
“Obviously being a guy who has never led the team out of the tunnel from the first game, I was ready to go the second we beat Duke,” he told Bickley and Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Wednesday. “But I’m just excited for this team because, like I’ve said, we’re going to be unique, we’re going to be unlike any team that’s ever worn a Sun Devil uniform.”
Last season, the Sun Devils won 10 games — their second consecutive season of doing so — and came within a win over Arizona in the Territorial Cup of claiming their second straight Pac-12 South title.
With a young defense that gained valuable experience and an offense that features explosive playmakers, there is certainly reason for optimism.
But how will the 2015 Devils be different than any other version that came before them?
“Leadership,” he said. “You can never really predict how a season is going to go or predict beating Utah in an overtime game. It’s so hard to prepare for those types of situations and adversity that strikes, like losing a quarterback in the middle of the season.”
Bercovici added that he will be living with two other senior football players this year, and will be around many other returning starters.
“It’s our team,” he said. “The coaches are on the sideline for a reason, and they are stressing to us, ‘Take over the team, take over the team; you guys are the ones that make plays, we just call them.’ So we’re becoming a group, we’re working on the weekends, we’re working on our off days.
“Because at the end of the day, this is our team and the fans are our fans, so we just want to make it the most enjoyable season ASU has ever seen.”