FOOTBALL BACK AT CENTENNIAL BANK STADIUM

We’re excited to welcome our fans back to Centennial Bank Stadium this Saturday, when we continue Sun Belt Conference play against Troy at 6:00 p.m.  Our football team is coming off a 44-28 road victory over Southern Miss, giving us our best conference record (2-1) through three games since 2017.  Redshirt junior defensive end Jayden Jones was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week after recording eight tackles, three tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and two forced turnovers in our win over the Golden Eagles.

We have a lot of events and promotions surrounding Saturday’s game, and as always, there will be many great tailgating options, such as Dustin White Realty Tailgate City and Alpha Pack.  Red Wolf Walk will take place at 3:45 p.m.  Game tickets may be purchased by calling the Red Wolves Foundation at 870-972-2401, online by visiting AStateRedWolves.com/Tickets or via the A-State athletics App.

TICKET PROMOTIONS

Our football team began Sun Belt Conference play at home on Oct. 5 with a big win over South Alabama, putting the “We Win, You Win” promotion into action.  Those who purchased a We Win, You Win ticket for the South Alabama game will now receive a ticket to this week’s home game vs. Troy at no charge.  The We Win, You Win promotion remains in place for anyone interested, and details can be found by clicking HERE.

A football ticket for our game versus Troy will also grant entry into our home volleyball matches against Troy tonight and tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., respectively, as well as our men’s basketball exhibition outing versus Trevecca Nazarene Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at First National Bank Arena.

AG DAY & EDUCATION DAY

Our fourth home football game of the season is presented by multiple Ag Day sponsors and will celebrate the important role agriculture plays in the lives of Arkansans.  The contest is also being recognized as Education Day and features a special recognition of the Extra Yard for Teachers grant winners – we had close to 300 applicants.

Our Athletics Department has also partnered with the A-State Staff Senate to offer four tickets to University employees for the game.  Tickets can be picked up by presenting your employee ID at the First National Bank Arena Ticket Office (lower red entrance) during business hours through Friday at 5:00 p.m.

Additional tickets may be purchased at the discounted group rate.  Included with the tickets are special concession vouchers, which can be redeemed at the football game for a hot dog or hamburger, popcorn and a 32-ounce drink in a souvenir cup for $10.  A portion of the Patio at the Pines, located atop the student section at Centennial Bank Stadium, will be roped off and reserved for A-State staff and their families to enjoy the game.

HALL OF HONOR

We’re proud to be inducting four Arkansas State greats into our Hall of Honor during our annual banquet Friday night at 6:00 p.m. at the Woodard McAlister Family Club inside the Johnny Allison Tower of Centennial Bank Stadium.  Congratulations to women’s pole vaulter Stephanie Foreman Adams, baseball’s Jacob Lee, football’s J.D. McKissic and volleyball’s Cyndi Rhone on this well-deserved honor.  The Hall of Honor banquet begins at 6:00 p.m. with a social gathering, followed by dinner and the program at 6:30 p.m.  We will also recognize this outstanding group during halftime of our football game.

The Hall of Honor induction ceremony and banquet is open to the public, and tickets can be purchased by contacting the Red Wolves Foundation at 870-972-2401 or online HERE.  Those interested in purchasing tickets can also contact Brandon Cunningham at 870-972-3005 or by emailing redwolvesfoundation@astate.edu.

PRESS BOX WALL OF HONOR

Eight individuals will be inducted this Saturday into our newly-created Arkansas State University Press Box Wall of Honor, which recognizes university employees, sports media and volunteers who have distinguished themselves through outstanding service to the Athletics Department or work covering A-State Athletics.

The inaugural honorees collectively represent 170 years of service to Arkansas State as an employee or to A-State fans through media coverage.  They include Gina Bowman, Dick Clay, Charles Cromwell, Bill Keedy, Keith Merritt, Collin Pillow, Charles Rasberry and Jerry Schaeffer.

An induction ceremony with the unveiling of a recognition wall in the Centennial Bank Stadium press box will be held Saturday, and a reception for the honorees sponsored by KAIT8 will follow at the Cooper Alumni Center.  The reception at 2:00 p.m. is open to friends, colleagues and students of the honorees.

50TH ANNIVERSARY TAILGATE

Among the events and game promotions in place, we’re hosting a tailgate party for all current and former female student-athletes as part of our yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of women’s sports at A-State.  More details about the tailgate party and other events scheduled for this weekend are available by clicking HERE.

EARLY RENEWAL GIFT

Thank you to those who renewed their football season tickets before the early renewal deadline (March 15).  The year’s early renewal incentive is a 2024 A-State football media guide.  Fans can continue to pick up their media guides on game day on the west concourse from gates open to the end of the first quarter.  Fans who renewed their tickets early can also pick up their media guides from the Athletics Department Monday through Friday in the south end zone facility located at Centennial Bank Stadium.  If you have any questions regarding the 2024 early renewal incentive, please contact a member of the Red Wolves Foundation at 870-972-2401.

VOLLEYBALL AMONG SUN BELT LEADERS HEADING INTO HOME MATCHES THIS WEEK

We’re looking forward to hosting a pair of volleyball matches tonight and tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., respectively, against Troy.  Dating back to last season, we’ll carry a nine-match home winning streak into today’s match, and our 16 victories are the most in the Sun Belt Conference.  Our 6-2 start to conference play is the best since 2016.  We hope you can join us at First National Bank Arena to cheer on our Red Wolves.  You can purchase tickets by clicking HERE, or a football ticket to Saturday’s game will also grant entry into both of our home matches this week.

MEN'S BASKETBALL HOSTING EXHIBITION CONTEST SATURDAY

Our men’s basketball team, the Preseason Sun Belt Conference favorite, is set to host Trevecca Nazarene in an exhibition bout at First National Bank Arena this Saturday.  Our fans will be able to enjoy a men’s basketball-football doubleheader as the exhibition contest is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. ahead of our football team’s 6:00 p.m. home game against Troy.

Tickets are available by clicking HERE, and the game is also included in season ticket packages. Additionally, a ticket to the football game can be used to gain admission to the basketball exhibition, and vice versa.  After watching our Red Wolves on the hardwood, fans are encouraged to head to Dustin White Realty Tailgate City to pick up a 2024-25 commemorative men’s basketball schedule poster and participate in an autograph session with the team from 3-5 p.m.

In addition to being tabbed the Sun Belt preseason favorite for the first time in program history, we placed three student-athletes on preseason all-conference team.  Kobe Julien earned Preseason Player of the Year Honors, while Taryn Todd was named second team all-conference and Izaiyah Nelson received third-team honors.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON-OPENER APPROACHING

While our women’s basketball team’s first home game is still three weeks away, we’ll play our season opener on Monday, Nov. 4, at Western Michigan.  The Sun Belt Conference announced preseason honors on Oct. 14, and forward Anna Griffin earned a place on the all-conference squad as a third-team selection after averaging 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game a year ago.

LIVE WITH THE RED WOLVES RADIO SHOW

Our “Live with the Red Wolves” basketball radio show, presented by Greenway Equipment and featuring both head men’s basketball coach Bryan Hodgson and head women’s basketball coach Destinee Rogers, will make its 2024-25 debut on Monday, Oct. 28.  The show can be heard live from 6-7 p.m. on 107.9 KFIN FM and select EAB Red Wolves Sports Network affiliates, as well as our A-State Athletics app.

The program will be conducted at Lost Pizza Co., located at 906 Southwest Drive in Jonesboro.  We encourage our fans to take advantage of the opportunity to hear from Coach Hodgson and Coach Rogers, along with players from each team, while enjoying the great food and atmosphere provided at Lost Pizza Co. The full schedule of show dates can be viewed by clicking HERE.

WOMEN'S SOCCER SENIOR DAY

Our women’s soccer team is set to host Old Dominion in its 2024 home finale this Sunday, Oct. 27, at 1:00 p.m. at the A-State Soccer Park.  The outing will also serve as Senior Day, when we’ll honor 10 student-athletes at approximately 11:45 a.m. ahead of the contest.  We want to thank Jourdan Badely, Emma Riley, Nicoline Hansen, Sarah Strong, Phoebe Harpole, Tara Lea, Emma Riales, Mckenzie Robinson, Aliyah Williamson and Holly Stalls for their hard work and contributions to not only our women’s soccer program, but also Arkansas State University.  We hope you’ll be able to come out and show your support for these outstanding student-athletes.

SUN BELT CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS SET FOR NOV. 1

Our men’s and women’s cross country teams participated in one final event the Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station, Texas, on Oct. 18, ahead of the Sun Belt Conference Championships (Nov. 1).  We had 13 runners record career-best marks at the event, and Jacob Pyeatt was named the Sun Belt Conference Men’s Runner of the Week for the third time of his career.

MEN'S GOLF LEADS SUN BELT IN FIRST SCOREBOARD NATIONAL RANKINGS

Not only does our men’s golf team continue to receive votes in the Bushnell/Golfweek Division I Coaches Poll, we ranked a Sun Belt Conference-best 57th nationally in the first release of rankings this season by Scoreboard.  It’s the highest ranking for our men’s program since the 2020-21 season. We have one fall tournament remaining, the Kapolei Invitational in Oahu, Hawaii, that is scheduled for Oct. 29-31.

ALBATROSS

Closing out the fall portion of the 2024-25 schedule, our women’s golf team finished seventh among 18 teams at the Diamante Intercollegiate earlier this week.  We shot a 2-under par 286 on the final day, giving us six par or better rounds for the year to tie the program record set in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.  The tournament was also highlighted by Ashley Kim’s albatross during the second round.  Sinking her second shot on the par-5, 531-yard 11th hole, she earned the first known albatross in program history.  Our Red Wolves return to action Feb. 9-11 at the UNCG Collegiate in Palm City, Fla.

WOMEN'S TENNIS RETURNS TO ACTION NOV. 1-2

Following competition in three previous events, our women’s tennis team will close out the fall portion of the schedule Nov. 1-2 at the Liberty Invite in Lynchburg, Va.  We most recently competed at the ITA Central Regional Championships, compiling 17 total victories – 13 in singles and four in doubles.  Six of those victories came over Power Conference opponents, including five in singles play.

WOMEN'S BOWLING TAKES THIRD AT DESTINATION TOURNAMENT

For the second consecutive tournament, our nationally-ranked women’s bowling team finished inside the top four after claiming third place at the Destination Tournament in Orlando, Fla.  Through two tournaments played, we have picked up 10 wins over Top-25 opponents. Our Red Wolves return to action Nov. 1-3 at the TRACK Kat Klash in Houston, Texas.

NEW & IMPROVED RED WOLVES FOUNDATION WEBSITE

We were excited to launch our revamped Red Wolves Foundation website this week.  Recognizing the importance of this initiative, we have transitioned to an enhanced Sidearm platform that provides more functionality, capabilities and user options.  Our staff took a diligent approach to develop an improved product that provides comprehensive information about our Red Wolves Foundation and gives members easy access to their account information and benefits.

CAMPUS SPOTLIGHT

Insight Into Diversity magazine has recognized Arkansas State University as a winner of the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award.  Nationwide, 114 higher education institutions, including A-State, are recipients of the HEED Award.  The HEED Award is the only national honor highlighting U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to creating a divers and inclusive campus environment.  It marks the seventh consecutive year A-State took home the award.

GET YOUR WOLVES UP!

This week’s #WolvesUp photos feature new ASU System President, Dr. Brendan Kelly, and his wife, Dr. Tressa Kelly, and Howl at our home football game against South Alabama, as well as Emily Gairhan and Lindsey Woodard, with their Wolves Up at our recent Boots and Ballers event.

Remember to use the hashtag #WolvesUp in your social posts and tweet your photos to me @JeffPurinton if you have any pictures with your Wolves Up! or promoting A-State.  We will select photos to feature in each edition of State of the Pack.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

View the list of scheduled events, broadcast information, start time and stat links on our composite calendar.  (Note:  All times are listed in Central Time.)  Access live stats from your desktop or mobile device by visiting AStateStats.com.