(Editor's note: Arizona State running back J.R. Redmond will file a weekly diary with ESPN.com throughout the season. For more on ASU sports, visit the official Sun Devils site).

Sept. 23, 1999

Going into the last game (a 35-7 loss to New Mexico State), I felt good as far as knowing the game plan and knowing what the coaches wanted us to do offensively. But once the game started, it just seemed like it took a while for us to get started.

	J.R. Redmond has been dogged by injuries and ASU has struggled as a result.

I believe that the team will definitely play harder this weekend against Cal. Coach (Bruce) Snyder gave an analogy of when you get into a fight, you may get knocked down, but what do you do? We're pretty much at that point right now, and we are going to get up swinging.

Our goals haven't really changed since the start of the season. My two major goals are still to beat the Arizona and to get to a bowl game. I also want to remain healthy so that I can continue to contribute all season long.

Statistically, I still don't really have any goals, I just want to be able to be THE all-purpose factor in each game as far as playing all around the field. I'm content with that, whether I'm involved in every situation or not.

When you have good players, when you have game breakers, you have to put them on the field, or else they won't be able to make a difference in the game. It's on any given play.

	THE FULL DOSE OF DIARIES
	USC's Travis Claridge: Pancakes and a Pac-10 opener
	Georgia Tech's Joe Hamilton: Never as good as you think
	Oregon State's Ken Simonton: One goal down, two to go
	UCLA's Danny Farmer: Pac-10 parity
	Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops: Playing to your potential
	Ole Miss' Todd Wade: Moving on

The play might not even be designed for him. But it can be pressure, it can be scramble, and the quarterback might see something different and a little 2-yard pass can turn into a 90-yard touchdown.

And a playmaker can do it from anywhere on the field, so it just makes sense to have him on the field. The more playmakers you have on the field, the chances of you being able to score increases on any play, on any side you're throwing to.

A final thought for anyone who plays football, whether it's at the professional, pop warner, or high school level:

A lot of people play it for different reasons, and stay playing it for different reasons. You know, you could find a million reasons to quit or give up, but in anything you do in life, just try every day to find one reason to keep going, no matter what it is you are trying to pursue.

Whether it is football, or something else you love, just be about that.