The instate rivalry turned out to be an unexpected fairytale riddled with a sudden streak of compassion. We are talking about the historic bad blood flowing between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Arizona Wildcats. Kenny Dillingham, the Sun Devils’ head coach, has unleashed the fiery beast energy in him while posting a remarkable win against the arch-rival last season. The reigning Big 12 coach of the year, however, is toning down his edge to a unique story that a 5’11 freshman DB embodies in his life and career.
The entity to mend the bridges between the two poles is Arian Parish, a 3-star safety who’s yet to make his on-field debut from the Wildcats. Parish tore his ACL three times and couldn’t see the field since his arrival back in 2022. However, instead of cursing his fate, the defensive back is choosing to shine elsewhere in his career. He is honing his marketing skills, running a clothing brand named Buried Alive. Parish possesses a skill set of a strong safety with the frame of a cornerback. His football IQ made him an excellent decision-maker on the field. He could be an asset to the Wildcats’ defense in these past two years. But again, we all have to surrender to destiny at the end of the day.
But the standout defender believes it’s for the good only. He felt dead frustrated when hearing from the doctor that he tore his ACL for the second time just a month before coming to Arizona. It was no less than a nightmare. Then he came to the school, but had to dwell in the rehab sessions and surgery instead of practising. The recovery time was lengthy and boring. The player who graduated early with a lot of dreams in his eyes couldn’t pass the time idly, keeping his brain sane throughout the process.
He had to engage in something productive, and Buried Alive came out to be the answer. The coach of the rival team heard it all and couldn’t hold back his emotions. “Across enemy lines…. But this is an awesome story! Really cool to see people turn tragedy to triumph #SunDevil4LIFE,” Dillingham wrote on his X, acknowledging the struggle and the breakthrough of the Wildcats’ DB.
Across enemy lines…. But this is an awesome story! Really cool to see people turn tragedy to triumph #SunDevil4LIFE https://t.co/NeKuhgPat9
— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) May 3, 2025
Dillingham could connect with the fiery comeback story of the rival chap for a reason. No matter what team he’s been vouching for, the hustlers know the hustlers the best. He has quite a similar story of rags to riches in his two-year head coaching stint with the Sun Devils.
Kenny Dillingham remains firm in his redemption path in Arizona
“This is literally home. So, I say that because this place is special. This state is special. The people in this room are special. I’m going to be fired up to be here, fired up to be a Sun Devil,” Dillingham said in his introductory press conference back in 2023, solidifying his commitment to the Devils. “I am all in. That’s my family right there up front, pretty cool. When you talk about a person and a family that’s rooted here, that’s me, right? This is my dream job.”
The gap between 2023 and 2025 has been hugely transformational. Dillingham’s debut year had been a major flop marred by pending NCAA sanctions and a self-imposed bowl ban from ASU’s recruiting scandal, and a flurry of injuries. ASU couldn’t get rid of the curse of the 3-9 in Dillingham’s second year as well. But the head coach showcased unfathomable resilience, talking about the trust, faith, and the natural unfolding of the process.
Just when fans started to give up on his elite talks without any output, ASU capped off the year 11-3, marking the best since 1996, when Bruce Snyder took it to the Rose Bowl. The Sun Devils cracked the College Football Playoffs for the first time in school history. They toppled the Texas Longhorns in double overtime in the Peach Bowl. Dillingham surely knows how a comeback feels.
Now, Arian Parish and Kenny Dillingham might be divided by the teams, but they’re united by the lemonade they both made out of the lemons life threw at them in the rudest way possible!
The post Kenny Dillingham Left Emotional as Injured CFB Athlete’s Heart-Wrenching Confession Forces ASU HC to Set Arch-Rivalry Aside appeared first on EssentiallySports.