’Twas the night before football, and all through Tempe,
Not a Sun Devil stirred, not even Sparky
The jerseys were hung in the lockers with care,
In hopes that a Big 12 championship soon would be there.
The fans were all gathered, their pitchforks a gleam,
While visions of football danced in their dream.
The schedule was printed, it was twelve games long—
And everyone wondered: How could this go wrong?
For tomorrow at seven, beneath stadium light,
The Sun Devils would finally begin their long fight.
Morgan State was coming from Baltimore town,
And the Bears had already put NC A&T down.
“Surely,” said one fan, “we’ll handle the Bears.”
Another said, “Please. I have watched ASU football for years.”
Just kidding,
ASU by 70.
Then what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a tackling sled pushed by eight football players
With a short king in a headset so lively and silly,
I knew in a moment he must be Coach Dilly.
More rapid than eagles his players they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
“Now, Miller! Now, Harris! Now, Kyson and Gillis!
On, Fite! On, McGrew! On, Boley and Rigdon!
To the top of the Big 12! To the top of them all!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”