In a postgame television interview, Todd Graham stood at midfield and praised his defense for forcing turnovers and his offense for controlling the ball.

“Great day to be a Sun Devil,” Graham said, looking into the camera and flashing the school’s pitchfork with his left hand. As his team celebrated, Graham walked to the corner of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium to an enthusiastic section of maroon-and-gold fans.

ASU uses six footballs during a game. After each win, Graham tosses one into the stands, his way of thanking fans for their support. (He also gives one to the band director.) This ball flew to a gentleman in the fourth row. Wearing a black coat and a maroon cap, the man held the ball high, whistled and flashed the pitchfork.

A month ago, before the defense turned into something no one expected, a portion of ASU's fan base had turned on Graham, who appeared headed for his third consecutive losing season. The hashtag "FireToddGraham" gained steam on social media.

After a narrow opening win: “Let’s start the movement. #FireToddGraham.”

After a home loss to San Diego State: “Todd ‘Timeout’ Graham is officially a dead man walking. #FireToddGraham.”

After a loss at Texas Tech: “ASU’s defense is just horrible. This is going to be a long season. #FireTodd Graham.”

Five weeks later, much has changed. The Sun Devils (4-3, 3-1 in the Pac-12) have reversed course, entering Saturday’s home contest against No. 21 USC in a place few expected – with a chance to take first place in the South division.

A school spokesman said Monday that ASU likely will sell out Sun Devil Stadium for the 7:45 p.m. kickoff. In his weekly news conference, Graham did his part to build support.

“I encourage people to get their tickets as quickly as possible,” the coach said. “I hope we do everything we can to have as many people without violating the fire code.”

This is a difficult time for coach-fan relations. Football coaches often are the highest-paid employees at their schools. As a result, fans expect results. No one is patient. Last week, Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher clashed with a fan who reportedly chanted, “New Coaches! New Coaches!” as Fisher walked off the field after the Seminoles’ loss.

“Walk your ass down here and say that,” Fisher reportedly said.

Graham on Monday twice was asked if this recent surge – which produced the program’s first win over a Top 5 team in 21 years and its first conference road win in more than two – provided some sort of vindication. Or at least some validation that his methods work. That the program was stable even while the swelling masses wondered otherwise.

Instead of taking an “I-told-you-so” path, Graham took the high road. He said when he first got here, Tim Cassidy, a football administrator, cautioned him about driving up expectations too high. Graham couldn’t help himself. Even today – after he has been burned for openly talking about championships – he proudly discloses that he keeps a photo of the 1987 Rose Bowl in the coaches’ locker room for motivation.

“I look at that every day,” Graham said.

Over the past two months, his only request has been to judge him after the season, when all the results are in. This is probably smart. Even with the recent surge, ASU still needs two wins just to reach bowl eligibility. (Last year’s team started 5-1 and never won again.) Nothing is guaranteed. An embarrassing loss, a two-game skid, a Territorial Cup letdown – any of it could revive #FireToddGraham.

And even if ASU finishes strong, Vice President of Athletics Ray Anderson still could decide a change is needed. That’s the business.

Graham understands.

“I have a confidence and belief in what we’re doing,” he said. “I know we’re doing things the right way. Sometimes in our society, we want things sometimes to come easy, and sometimes they do. But sometimes they don’t. You get knocked on your can, you get back up. ...

“I don’t blame (fans). Nobody’s more disappointed than I was. And, too, I think I wasn’t doing a very good job. You’re going to get criticism when that happens. What you do is you roll your sleeves up and go to work. But if you're doing things the right way, you reap what you sow. You keep plugging.”

Note

– Graham said he expects senior linebacker Alani Latu – who missed the Utah game with a leg injury – to return this week. He also expects senior receiver Jalen Harvey, sophomore receiver Kyle Williams and sophomore right guard Steven Miller to play. All were banged up last Saturday.

Arizona, ASU sweep weekly honors

ASU freshman kicker Brandon Ruiz was named the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season. Ruiz made all three of his field goals (47, 40, 30 yards) and all three of his PATs in ASU's 30-10 win over Utah.

Meanwhile, Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Week for the third week in a row. USC's Rodney Peete in 1988 was the last to do so. Tate totaled 303 yards of offense and scored three touchdowns in Arizona's 45-44 double-overtime win at California. Tate's teammate, linebacker Colin Schooler, was named the Pac-12's Defensive Player of the Week after breaking up Cal's potential game-winning pass in the end zone to preserve UA's win. Schooler posted 15 tackles and a forced fumble in the win.

Contact Doug Haller at 602-444-4949 or at doug.haller@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/DougHaller. Subscribe to the ASU Pick Six podcast. Download the ASU XTRA app for more ASU coverage.