As the youngest head coach in Division I college football, Kenny Dillingham is as active on social media as one might expect. On Tuesday, he delivered a humorous response on X (formerly Twitter) by quote-tweeting Arizona Wildcats wide receivers coach Bobby Wade, who works for Arizona State’s in-state rival.
Wade had originally posted a recruiting graphic showcasing his presence in Dallas, Texas, with the caption “Texas 2 Tucson.” The phrase appears to play off a slogan popularized by Dillingham and the Arizona State staff: “Texas 2 Tempe.” This slogan, heavily used in their recruiting efforts in Texas, particularly the Dallas area, has become a rallying cry for Texas recruits choosing the Sun Devils. Arizona State’s roster in 2024 featured 20 players from Texas, along with six high school recruits and three transfer players from the state.
The Sun Devils’ success in Texas recruiting is largely credited to cornerbacks coach Bryan Carrington, a Houston native who joined the staff from TCU and previously worked at the University of Texas and the University of Houston. Ra’Shaad Samples, a Dallas native and former Arizona State staffer, also contributed to their recruiting efforts before leaving for Oregon.
Notably, Wade has ties to Arizona State, having served on the Sun Devils’ staff before joining Arizona. A former Wildcats player, Wade joined Arizona State in 2019 under Herm Edwards, initially as a graduate assistant and later as an offensive analyst. Following an NCAA recruiting scandal, Wade was promoted to wide receivers coach for two years before being reassigned to an analyst role during Dillingham’s first season.
In his tweet, Dillingham playfully mocked Wade’s imitation of the slogan but emphasized the lighthearted nature of his comment. While this exchange won’t be a defining moment in the Arizona-Arizona State rivalry, it does showcase Dillingham’s sense of humor and ability to keep things fun.
