JONESBORO, Ark. (8/19/11) – Arkansas State Athletic Director Dr. Dean Lee, representatives of the athletic department and several members from the Red Wolves coaching staffs presented adidas shirts to the Arkansas State Marching Band Friday afternoon as a show of the athletic department's appreciation for the their outstanding support to the program.

The presentation took place at the track located across from the Convocation Center on Stadium Boulevard. The “Sound of the Natural State” band has been a mainstay at Arkansas State athletic events and other functions for over 90 years and utilizes a corps style performance to produce a high energy, precision show.

“It is just nice to know that they care about us and take the time to show their appreciation by giving us these wonderful shirts,” ASU band director Dr. Kenneth Carroll said. “I've taught at four or five NCAA Division I schools and this is very unusual for an athletic department to show up at a band rehearsal and make this kind of gesture and we appreciate it very much.”

This year's marching band has over 200 members and will perform at every home Arkansas State football game. A pep band will also perform at most home men's and women's basketball games as well as participate in other functions throughout the year.

“We certainly have an outstanding marching band here at ASU they are a big part of our game-day activities, so this is a way for us to show our appreciation and support for the tremendous product they put on the field,” Dr. Lee said.  “They are committed to excellence and that can be seen through the many long hours of work and preparation they put in for our football games.  We take a great amount of pride in our band, along with our University and community, and I think they set a high standard so many other seek to achieve.”

The band will also be present at Saturday's License To Howl event and Fan Appreciation Day to show their support of the Red Wolves football team during its scrimmage which is set to begin at approximately 10:40 a.m. Free hot dogs and drinks will be provided to the first 1,000 fans with an autograph session to follow on the concourse at the conclusion of practice.

The License to Howl event will get underway at 9 a.m. Saturday. Fans wishing to have a license plate attached to their vehicles need to enter the ASU Stadium parking lot from Olympic Drive and Alumni Boulevard. Fans attending the scrimmage may choose to have a license plate attached to their vehicles while they watch practice. However, fans who do not attend the scrimmage can still come by the stadium until 1 p.m. to get a license plate.