TEMPE, Ariz. — The press release read as though Silicon Valley had parachuted in for a brief appearance into the college football landscape: “New Leadership Model … collaborative approach … multi-layered method … the spirit of innovation.”



But Arizona State athletic director Ray Anderson didn’t care. He wanted everyone to know that Arizona State was intent on doing something different with the Sun Devils’ unconventional hiring of Herm Edwards as their football coach.



Then, at Edwards’ introductory media conference on Dec. 4, the atypical ante was raised as his television agent made a statement, leaving just another reminder that this hiring of a coach — one who hadn’t been in the college game in nearly three decades — wasn’t just the pendulum swinging in the other direction; it was unlike any other hiring in recent history.



Like spectators at a science fair, the general...