JONESBORO (10/15/08) ? The Arkansas State football team has made a lot of plays on the field that have led to its 4-2 overall record and 2-0 Sun Belt Conference mark thus far in 2008, but the Red Wolves can also say they have enjoyed their best fan support ever this season when they look back at their success through the early part of their season.

The attendance for ASU's four home football games this year has seen a dramatic increase over the past 34 seasons at ASU Stadium, which opened in 1974.  ASU fans took notice of the Red Wolves season-opening victory at Texas A&M and have gotten behind their team in record-setting numbers this year, watching them post a 3-1 home record that brings their all-time record at ASU Stadium under head coach Steve Roberts to an impressive 25-8 mark.

“Our crowds have been great and we have certainly benefitted from the passion that they bring to our program,” said Roberts.  “I have been especially pleased with the students. They have been awesome.”

The home attendance average of 23,670 is a 32 percent increase over the previous best average in school history.  ASU's current average attendance of 23,670 is nearly 6,000 more per game than its school-record average of 17,882 set in 2006.

Not only that, all four crowds this season are top-10 crowds all-time at ASU Stadium.  The Red Wolves drew more than 20,000 fans for more than one game in the same season only once prior to this season (twice in 2003), but ASU has drawn crowds of over 20,000 for all four home games played this season.  ASU's crowd of 25,938 spectators for the Southern Miss game is a season-high that ranks as the fourth largest crowd to ever watch a game at ASU Stadium.

ASU's total attendance of 94,680 is already the fourth most in school history through just four games.  ASU must draw a crowd of 11,631 for its final home game on Nov. 22 against Florida Atlantic to break the school record of 106,310 set in 1986 when it played eight home games, including two NCAA Division I-AA playoff games at ASU Stadium.

Since Roberts took over the reigns as head coach in 2002, the Red Wolves average attendance numbers for home games have been the best in school history.  The average home attendance in six of ASU's seven seasons, including this year, under Roberts rank among the top nine single-season numbers in school history.

Evidence by its 25-8 home record under Roberts, the Red Wolves have been able to put a quality product on the field that clearly has a big impact on attendance, but fans have also enjoyed festivities such as an improved tailgating experience, fireworks, Lil' Red Wolf activities, an expanded “Kids Zone”, receptions, Jazz in Jonesboro and Hall of Honor ceremonies that have surrounded game days at ASU Stadium.

“We are very proud of our attendance this year and we appreciate our fans coming out and supporting the team,” said ASU Director of Athletics Dr. Dean Lee.  “Along with the support shown by our great fan base, this has been accomplished through the performance of our football team and the hard work of our marketing department and development staff.”

The Red Wolves have one home game remaining and ASU fans still have another opportunity to be a part of a historical season that could go down as the best ever to date in terms of attendance and atmosphere at ASU Stadium.  Tickets remain on sale at the ASU Ticket Office for ASU's final home game against Florida Atlantic on Nov. 22 at 2:00 p.m.  The ASU Ticket Office can be reached at 870-972-ASU1 and additional ticket information can be found online at www.astateredwolves.com.