It has been nearly a year, but the image is still fresh in his mind.

He's on his back, helpless. UA defensive tackle Chuck Osborne is on top of him. The ball is free. Like pouring salt in a wound, he watches as UA's Joe Salave'a sweeps it up in perfect stride on his way into the end zone. Tie game. Minutes later an Arizona field goal puts the Wildcats ahead for good.

It wasn't supposed to be that way. He's Jake Plummer - or, if you prefer, "Jake the Snake," the nickname he picked up from his ability to slither away from hungry defenders. To make the memory worse, Arizona State had won two straight, was one win shy of a bowl game and the game was against the hated Wildcats. The 60,000 raging Sun Devils fans were expecting a Plummer miracle. Instead, they had to witness a UA victory dance in their house.

"It left a bitter taste in all of our mouths," Plummer said. "It is something that motivated us to where we don't want anything like that to happen again. We had a chance for a bowl and that loss ended any hopes."

ASU was forced to swallow another mediocre season and another defeat to Arizona. For Plummer, it was his third loss in three tries. It was a memory he doesn't like to talk about it.

"I felt pretty low," the senior said. "I don't like losing, especially to UA. Not to say I am a choke or nothing, but I haven't showed up to the games prior to this."

In last season's game he completed only 15 passes for 163 yards and no touchdowns - not exactly how a player wants to end his year. For Plummer, it was possibly the catalyst that has propelled him into stardom.

Since last year's nightmare, he has been on a tear, passing for 2,374 yards and 20 touchdowns, and more importantly, 10 wins. The team became this year's Northwestern when it stunned Nebraska, 19-0.

Opposing coaches have been left in awe.

"He's a passer with mobility, a Joe Montana-style quarterback," Southern Cal coach John Robinson said after he watched Plummer pick apart his team in double overtime Oct. 19. "He'll beat you by passing the ball, but he will run around and cause problems a nd come up with the big play. He makes them function. He makes them believe."

This season against Oregon, Plummer had four touchdowns. Against UCLA, he threw for three touchdowns, ran for another and caught a score in the Devils' 42-34 victory. They called it the "snake pass," after Plummer's nickname. His statistics have grown abo ut as fast as the national debt.

However, one of his smallest numbers has meant the most to the team: his streak of 38 consecutive starts, which started in the sixth game of his first season, as a true freshman.

Coming out of Capital High School in Boise, Idaho, Plummer knew that early playing time was a possible option. Rated an All-America by Superprep magazine, Sun Devil Stadium opened his eyes while escaping bitter Idaho winters.

"I was impressed by what Snyder had to say about the program, his goals and what he had pictured in the future for me," Plummer said. "I figured I'd give it a shot. It was a nice weather place, great facilities and a good coaching staff."

Snyder and Plummer have grown on each other. If you tried to count the number of complements they give each other, you would have a tie.

"There is not a single player in college football that means more to his football team than Jake Plummer," Snyder said. "We all should be enjoying this guy, not just at Arizona State, but everybody in college football. He is a heck of a player. His team l oves him. He loves his team. He's what it is all about."

Yet he still has not beaten Arizona, the only Pac-10 team that has escaped his venom. It's the one piece of the puzzle missing, considering the team is already on its way to the Rose Bowl.

"It's made such a big deal by everybody down here, but to me it's just an important game," Plummer said.

He is not about to talk trash, which is understandable after past performances, but you can almost hear his blood pressure rise with the mention of Arizona.

"I like playing these games (against Arizona). They are a challenging team. They bring it all and like to come after you," he said.

The Wildcats agreed.

"He's a good-ass quarterback, but he has been living a little too comfortable in the pocket," UA senior defensive end Van Tuinei said. "Our intentions are to put as much pressure on him as we can, to make his life miserable."

UA inside linebacker Chester Burnett seconded the motion.

"We are going to have to get pressure and create some turnovers," he said.

UA coach Dick Tomey was reluctant to single out Plummer, instead choosing to praise ASU's offensive line. He's safe that way. Plummer already has enough bad blood from the past to motivate him.

Snyder, on the other hand, can't wait.

"I can't recall one time this year in which our backs have been against the wall and we say to Jake, 'We called this play for you. We have got to make it,' and he has not come through," Snyder said.

"Sometimes it doesn't unfold like we draw it up, but he finds a way."

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