GAME 3
Arkansas State (1-1) at Tennessee (1-2)
September 22, 2007 - Neyland Stadium (102,038)
Knoxville, Tennessee - 6:00 p.m. (CT)
Radio: Arkansas State Radio Network (KWHF 95.9 FM, flagship)
Television: VideoSeat (PPV-Tennessee), ESPN GamePlan
-Click here for PDF version of ASU game notes vs. Tennessee-
ON TAP: Coming off a 45-28 home victory over SMU, Arkansas State is back on the road this week for a Saturday game against Tennessee at 102,038-seat Neyland Stadium. Every Arkansas State game can be heard live on 95.9 FM in the Jonesboro area and the live radio broadcast can be accessed through the Arkansas State athletic web site (ASUIndians.com). The game is being televised on a pay-per-view basis in the state of Tennessee through VideoSeat, but will also be available to ESPN GamePlan subscribers.
THE PRINCIPALS: Arkansas State evened its record to 1-1 with a 45-28 victory over SMU last week in its home opener and is now set for its second road game of the season after falling to then-ranked No. 4 Texas in Austin on Sept. 1 in its season opener. ASU was originally scheduled to have already played three games, but its outing at Indian Stadium against Memphis on Sept. 8 was postponed until Sept. 27 due to lightning around Inidian Stadium. Tennessee dropped out of the top-25 national rankings this week after falling 59-20 at No. 3 Florida last Saturday, bringing its record to 1-2 on the season.
HEAD COACH STEVE ROBERTS: Arkansas State head coach Steve Roberts is in his sixth year at Arkansas State after leading the Indians to the 2005 Sun Belt Conference Championship and its most single-season wins over Division I-A opponents in 2006. During his first five seasons as the Indians' head coach, he guided ASU to 26 wins for its most over a five-year span at the school since winning 33 from 1986-1990. Roberts was named the 2005 Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year. Under Roberts, the Indians have had 44 All-Sun Belt Conference selections, a Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and a SBC Offensive Player of the Year.
ROBERTS CLIMBING VICTORIES LADDER: In his first six seasons as the Indians head coach, Steve Roberts already has the fifth most victories among ASU's 26 all-time head coaches with 27 wins. Larry Lacewell (1979-89) holds the record for victories with 69 and is followed by Bennie Ellender (1963-70) with 52 wins, Bill Davidson (1971-78) with 51 and Forrest England (1946-53) with 49.
MEMPHIS GAME RESCHEDULED FOR SEPT. 27: ASU's game against Memphis, originally scheduled for Sept. 8, was postponed due to continuos lightning around Indian Stadium. The game will now be played on Thursday, Sept. 27, at 6:00 p.m. at Indian Stadium. The week of Sept. 27 was originally an open week for ASU, which will be coming off a game against Tennessee five days earlier.
SCOUTING THE VOLUNTEERS: Tennessee enters Saturday's game with a 1-2 record after falling 59-20 at No. 4 Florida last Saturday. The Volunteers also fell to nationally-ranked California, 45-31, on the road in their season opener. Their victory came 39-19 at home over Southern Miss, which the Indians will face later this season on Nov. 24. Senior quarterback Eric Ainge, who holds an 18-8 record as a starter, leads the Tennessee offense with 796 yards passing to rank 28th in the nation (265.3 ypg). Three different Tennessee players have caught a team-high 17 passes on the season. Sophomore linebacker Rico McCoy leads the team defensively with 21 tackles and an interception. Phillip Fulmer is in his 16th year as the Volunteers head coach, ranking ninth on the SEC all-time wins list with 138 to his credit. Tennessee posted a 9-4 record last year, including a 20-10 setback against Penn State in the 2007 Outback Bowl.
THE ARKANSAS STATE - TENNESSEE SERIES: Saturday's game will be the first ever meeting between Arkansas State and Tennessee, but the second straight season the Indians have played an SEC opponent. ASU dropped a 27-0 decision at Auburn last season.
ASU vs. SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE: Arkansas State holds a 1-44-3 record all-time against current members of the Southeastern Conference. ASU's lone victory over current SEC members came 10-0 in 1915 over Ole Miss and it also tied the Rebels twice. ASU has played Ole Miss 23 times, more than any other current SEC member. ASU has also played Alabama (0-1), Auburn (0-1), Florida (0-2), Georgia (0-2), LSU (0-3) and Mississippi State (0-15-1). The Indians are playing an SEC opponent for the second straight year and the sixth time under head coach Steve Roberts.
LAST TIME OUT: After building a 21-0 first quarter lead, the Indians thwarted a Southern Methodist comeback attempt with 17 fourth-quarter points, pulling away in the final period for a 45-28 victory over the Mustangs last Saturday night at Indian Stadium. The Indians' early 21-point lead was cut to a touchdown at 28-21 in the third quarter, but career nights from sophomore quarterback Corey Leonard and sophomore tailback Reggie Arnold helped the Tribe slam the door on the Mustangs' hopes for a comeback. Leonard finished the night with a career-high 266 passing yards and two touchdowns. He also added a career-high three rushing touchdowns, and his pair of scores through the air tied his personal best, while Arnold's 156 rushing yards tied his career best as well.
TENNESSEE TIES: Thirteen ASU players will be making a return trip to their home state this weekend when the Indians face Tennessee. Included among those players are seven high school all-state selections, including T.C. Jennings, Daylan Walker, Brian Flagg, Cedric Wilkerson, Greg Hardy, Jaquan Kilcrease and Khari Mays. ASU Players from the state of Tennessee:
T.C. Jennings Brentwood
Daylan Walker Milan
Marlon Douglas Memphis
Cedric Wilkerson Clarksville
Preston Brown Smyrna
Greg Hardy Memphis
Jaquan Kilcrease Nashville
Brian Flagg Ripley
Javon McKinnon Memphis
Terry Bowman Germantown
Chris Pruitt Memphis
Jonathan White Franklin
Khari Mays Memphis
closing in: Preseason Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year Tyrell Johnson has continued his assault on the Sun Belt Conference career tackles record this season, notching 18 stops in the Indians' first two games. Johnson now has 287 career tackles to rank second all-time in the Sun Belt Conference. He is just 14 tackles short of breaking the all-time Sun Belt record held by ASU's Steven Tookes, who played for the Indians from 2001-04.
Dejohnette HITS CENTURY MARK: Levi Dejohnette caught six passes against SMU, giving him 103 for his career and making him the fourth player in ASU history to record 100 receptions in a career. Dejohnette passed NFL-great Fred Barnett this season to move into fourth place at ASU in career receptions.
MOVING THE CHAINS: ASU racked up 29 first downs against SMU last game, a total good enough to rank as the fourth most in school history for a single game. ASU's 29 first downs were its most since posting 28 against Northern Illinois in 1996.
FINISHING IN THE RED ZONE: ASU reversed its fortune in the red zone last week in a big way. After posting just two scores in six red zone trips against Texas, the Indians scored on all seven of its trips inside SMU's 20 yard line last Saturday.
HOME OPENERS: ASU improved to 5-1 in home openers played at Indian Stadium under sixth-year head coach Steve Roberts with its victory over SMU on Sept. 15. The Indians are now 23-11 all-time in home openers at Indian Stadium, which opened in 1974.
ROBERTS AND INDIAN STADIUM: Arkansas State head coach Steve Roberts has led the Indians to an 18-6 record at Indian Stadium over the last five years for a .750 winning percentage. Not only that, the Indians are 9-1 at Indian Stadium over the last three seasons.
ROBERTS IN CLOSE GAMES: Sixth-year skipper Steve Roberts has seen numerous close games during his tenure with the Indians, holding a 15-7 record in games decided by eight points or less (36 percent of all his games). Roberts' teams have been especially successful recently in games decided by just one score, holding an 13-4 record in its last 17 games that ended under those circumstances. Following is his record in close games:
Margin Roberts record
1 point 1-0
2 points 1-0
3 points 4-3
4 points 3-1
5 points 0-1
6 points 2-0
7 points 3-1
8 points 1-1
APPROACHING 400: With two more victories, ASU will become the fifth Sun Belt Conference school with 400 all-time wins. ASU is in its 93rd season of football and holds an all-time record of 398-423-37 since its inaugural 1911 season. The Indians have played in seven bowl games, including the 2005 New Orleans Bowl.
LEONARD, JOHNSON NAMED SBC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Arkansas State quarterback Corey Leonard and safety Tyrell Johnson were named Sun Belt Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week on Sept. 3 for their performances in the Indians' season opener against the University of Texas.
TONEY CONTINUES CLIMB: With three kickoff returns for 61 yards against Texas, senior Darren Toney moved into sole possession of second place at ASU for the most kickoff returns in a career (66). While Toney didn't have any returns against SMU, he still needs just eight more returns for first place. Toney now has 1,321 career kickoff return yards as well, leaving him 183 shy of the second most return yards in ASU history.
PILING UP THE PICKS: ASU, which ranked ninth in the nation in 2006 in passes intercepted, already has four interceptions through its first two games this season to rank tied for 21st in the nation. Senior corner Montis Harrison is ranked tied for third in the nation in the stat, averaging one interception per game.
CONTROLLING THE CLOCK: ASU has won the time of possession battle in each of its first two games this season and, dating back to last season, 13 of its last 14 games. The Indians are currently ranked tied for seventh in the nation in time of possession, holding the ball for an average of 33:11 through its first two games.
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST: Arkansas State posted 516 yards of total offense against SMU last game, its most since recording 507 yards against Memphis in 2004. Not only that, ASU almost had 400 yards (397) of total offense against Texas and is ranked 26th in the nation with 456.5 yards per game. In comparison, ASU posted at least 397 yards of offense in three games, including a best of 466, all of last season. ASU finished last season ranked 89th in the nation in total offense, averaging 312 yards per game.
QUICK START: ASU has established its offense early this year, scoring on its first drive of both games played. The Indians drove 47 yards for a field goal on its first possession of the Texas game and went 67 yards for a touchdown to start the SMU game.
STRINGING IT TOGETHER: ASU has had two scoring drives that went at least 93 yards, including a 97-yard drive against SMU, and three that covered at least three quarters of the football field.
multiple weapons: ASU completed at least one pass to eight different players in the Sept. 1 season opener at Texas, matching its most players to record a reception in a game for all of last year. ASU came back to complete at least one pass to seven different players against SMU.
ARNOLD MATCHES CAREER HIGH: Reggie Arnold matched his career rushing high last game with 156 yards on 19 carries. Arnold rushed for 156 yards in last year's season finale against Louisiana-Lafayette as well.
DUAL THREAT: Sophomore quarterback Corey Leonard has posted more total yards of offense in each of ASU's first two games than he had in a game for all of last season. Leonard combined to throw and rush for a career-high 318 yards against SMU, one game after he posted 296 yards against the No. 4 ranked Texas Longhorns. Leonard is currently ranked 20th in the nation in total offense, averaging 307 yards per game.
LEADING THE PACK: Arkansas State leads the Sun Belt Conference in both total offense and total defense. The Indians are also ranked among the top 50 teams in the nation in both categories as well (offense 26th, defense 49th).
FIVE-YEAR IMPROVEMENT: During sixth-year head coach Steve Roberts' first five seasons at Arkansas State the football program saw its win total increase by almost 100 percent over the previous five years. ASU posted 26 wins over Roberts' first five years, 11 more than it recorded the five years prior to Roberts. In fact, ASU's 26 wins over those five years are the most for a five-year span since it collected 33 victories from 1986-90.
TEAM CAPTAINS: ASU's senior class will alternate throughout the year as team captains. The team will vote on permanent captains at the end of the year.
SBC Preseason awards: The 2007 preseason accolades continued to pile up for Arkansas State football players Tyrell Johnson (Sr., S), Matt Mandich (Jr., OL) and Koby McKinnon (Sr., LB) as all three were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team and Johnson was tabbed the league's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, announced at the conference's annual media days.
ASU Predicted to Finish Third in 2007 SBC Race: The Arkansas State football team was picked to finish third in the 2007 Sun Belt Conference race according to the league's preseason poll of its eight head coaches, announced by the conference office.
ASU received one first-place vote and 43 points, finishing just one point behind second-place Middle Tennessee in the voting. Defending New Orleans Bowl champion Troy received five of the eight first place votes and 59 points to finish first in the poll.
TV TIME: ASU's six regular-season televised games for 2007 are the most in school history, just ahead of the 2005 season when the Indians were on television four times during the regular season.
17 AND UNDER: Arkansas State holds a 14-2 record under head coach Steve Roberts when holding its opponents to 17 points or less. However, ASU is 11-30 over the last five seasons when allowing 17 or more points. The Indians have won their last 11 consecutive games when holding their opponent to 17 or fewer points and has won 26 straight games when holding their opponents to 10 or fewer points.
ASU ADDS DEEP SNAPPER ADAM GASTON: Included among the 105 players reporting for ASU's fall camp was one additional scholarship player in deep snapper Adam Gaston. The 5-9, 215-pound Gaston was a three-year varsity letterman for the Oak Grove High School (Hattiesburg, Miss.) football team, where he earned first team all-district honors as a senior. He helped lead Oak Grove to a 34-7 record in three years.
He was ranked among the top 10 high school long snappers in the nation according to several websites, including prokicker.com's No. 1 spot for its Ray Guy/ProKicker.com National Camp rankings. He was also ranked among the top 12 underclassmen deep snappers in the nation at the 4th annual National Kicking Competition hosted by Chris Sailer Kicking in Las Vegas in January of 2006. Gaston was a member of the Oak Grove High School swimming team.
ASU Football Radio Broadcasts to be Carried by KABF 88.3 FM in Little Rock: Arkansas State football fans in and around Central Arkansas will have no problems following the Tribe this season, as ASU Athletics and East Arkansas Broadcasters have announced that all ASU Football games this year will be carried on KABF 88.3 FM in Little Rock.
KABF is operated by the Arkansas Broadcasting Foundation and has a 100,000-watt signal. The station's signal reaches more than 70 miles on any side of the Capitol City, reaching Brinkley to the east, Fordyce to the south, Clarksville to the west and the Twin Lakes area to the north.
ARNOLD ON DOAK WALKER AWARD WATCH LIST: Reggie Arnold has been listed among the 51 candidates for the 2007 Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation's top college running back. Arnold was named All-Sun Belt Conference, Sporting News Third Team Freshman All-America and Football Writers Association of America Scripps Freshman All-America after rushing for 1,076 yards and four touchdowns in 2006. The 2006 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year was twice named the league's Offensive Player of the Week and finished last year ranked third in the nation among all freshmen for rushing yards. Arnold has also been named Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference by 2007 football publications such as Athlon's, Phil Steele's and Lindy's.
McKINNON ON BUTKUS AWARD WATCH LIST: Koby McKinnon (Junction City, Ark.) has been named to the 2007 Butkus Award Watch List, announced Tuesday morning by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, Inc. (DACO). McKinnon, a 2007 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference selection, is one of 66 candidates for this year's award that also includes three players from the Sun Belt Conference. McKinnon has been named Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference by several football publications, including Athlon's, Sporting News, Phil Steele's, Lindy's and Street & Smith's magazines.
LEONARD ON DAVEY O'BRIEN WATCH LIST: Arkansas State sophomore quarterback Corey Leonard has been named to the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Watch List as announced by the Davey O'Brien Foundation. The award is given by the Davey O'Brien Foundation to honor the nation's top quarterback based on performance on the field, in the classroom, and as a team player who displays leadership, character, and sportsmanship. Leonard started eight games, including the Tribe's final seven as a redshirt freshman in 2006, passing for 1,321 yards with eight touchdowns. He added 331 rushing yards on the season with a pair of touchdowns.
JOHNSON ON BRONKO NAGURSKI WATCH LIST: Safety Tyrell Johnson (Sr. Rison, Ark.) is one of just 49 players from across the nation to appear on the watch list for the 2007 Bronko Nagurski Trophy. The award is given annually to the best defensive player in college football by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Johnson was the only Sun Belt Conference player to appear on the watch list, which is compiled by the FWAA All-America committee, with input from schools and conferences from across the country.
O'NEAL DRAFTED & MAKES ROSTER: Former Arkansas State standout fullback Oren O'Neal (Stuttgart, Ark.) was selected by the Oakland Raiders with the first pick in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft on April 29, and has made the Raiders roster for the 2007 season. The Raiders made O'Neal the 175th overall pick and the third fullback taken in the draft. O'Neal became the 40th ASU player to ever be selected in the NFL draft and the first since Corey Williams was taken in the sixth round of the 2004 draft by the Green Bay Packers. Over 90 all-time Arkansas State players have signed pro contracts with a NFL franchise.
TEAM ACADEMIC AWARD: The Arkansas State football team has won the Sun Belt Conference Team Academic Award three of the past four years, including 2006-07.
AFCA AWARD: Prior to the start of the 2007 season, the American Football Coaches Association announced that the Arkansas State University football team was one of just 34 Division I-A football programs that graduated 70 percent or more of its student-athletes from their freshman classes of 2001-02.
THE WOLF NEW FLAGSHIP FOR ASU RADIO: The Arkansas State University Athletic Department, along with East Arkansas Broadcasters, announced July 6, 2007, that radio station KWHF 95.9 FM “The Wolf” will become the flagship station for ASU football for the 2007 season.
ROBERTS PARTICIPATES IN YOUTH FOOTBALL CLINIC: Arkansas State Head Football Coach Steve Roberts joined the head football coaches from all the Sun Belt Conference schools on July 22 in hosting a free youth football clinic as part of a recent $750,000 contribution by NCAA Football to Youth Football Initiatives in the city of New Orleans. The Sun Belt and Conference USA are working with NCAA Football and the New Orleans Recreation Department to provide two clinics. Roberts and fellow Sun Belt coaches participated July 22 at the Wilson Athletic Center at Tulane University, while Conference USA coaches will host July 30.
TURNING IT AROUND ON THE ROAD: Arkansas State won three road games in the same season, 2006, for the first time since 1989. The last time ASU posted a winning road record was 1987 (3-2-1) and the last time ASU won four or more road games was 1986. With back-to-back road victories over Florida International and Memphis, ASU won two consecutive road games in the same season for the first time since 1988.
A TIME TO BOND: When Head Coach Steve Roberts came to ASU, he brought a tradition with him which caught on in a hurry with the players. The night before each game, team members and coaches get together for milk and cookies. During this time, each player sity by and visits with at least three other players he has not visited with throughout the week in order to learn more about his teammates.
