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Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – Joan Rivers used to almost always ask her audiences, “can we talk?” Tonight I think we, readers and writer ought to do the same.
Once again, the theme is kind of the same. I hate losing and you do too. But I have to admit I love the way the team plays. They played extremely hard and did everything they could but win the game, losing 23-20 on a last second field goal by the Cajuns. The Red Wolves played well in spite of being in Lafayette, Louisiana playing a team we haven’t beaten there since 2013.
The offense wasn’t great versus Louisiana as the Red Wolf’s produced approximately 290 yds of offense as compared to just over 400 yd by the Ragin Cajuns. Yeah ASU was resilient and continued to be in the game until the very final minutes when Louisiana managed a very short field goal to win the game.
Honestly, I and probably you as well thought that the Ragin Cajuns would possibly beat us badly. They just came off a big win against Charlotte at Charlotte where the score was not close. They have a very high winning percentage against teams playing at their home stadium. But yet the Red Wolves were tough and gritty.
You know… The Red Wolves are a very disciplined team who do a good job of not getting penalties and not kicking their own tails. Coach Butch Jones and his coordinators and assistants do a great job of making this part of the Red Wolf culture. This football team does not beat itself. I continue to be impressed with the offense and especially Trey Owens. While the offense and Trey are not particularly flashy and so far have not gotten 500 yds in a game, it doesn’t seem to be predictable. We are able to move the ball and score when we need to and I think he and the group as a whole will get better and better.
Defensively, ASU gave up just over 400 yards to a Ragin Cajun group that has been highly effective in their previous games. Once again, they made stops and kept ASU in the game. I thought this was a great test of where we are this year in the Sunbelt. I feel a lot better that we will be in the game all the way till the end against all opposition within our conference.
Thursday night we have another big test against South Alabama. I know Thursday nights are not great nights for a huge crowd, but we really need everybody there to support this fighting group of Wolves.
Coach Butch and his group of assistants deserves some praise for putting together a team with 60 newcomers that doesn’t get penalized and seems to be well organized and ready to compete. We will need that throughout the rest of the year and order win games and compete for a Sunbelt title. I expect this team to win the vast majority of the rest of their games. Anything less than that will be a major disappointment.
I really think, based on what I saw tonight, that the Cajuns will be the team to beat in the Sunbelt’s Western Division. They seem to have all the elements both defensively and offensively to win games.
But so do the Red Wolves. With continued good performances, winning six more games is not out of the question. And it all starts next Thursday at home against South Alabama. This team deserves our attention and support, and I implore each of you to come let your presence be known.
I know that many of you question whether Coach Butch, after 6 years, is the right man for the job at ASU and are upset with the changes of college football (as I am) but don’t let that keep you from coming out for a great football game on what may be a very nice night for football.
Once again, we will be on national TV, and we need to show the nation and future recruits what ASU football is all about.
About the Author: Bob Troutt is a lifelong Jonesboro resident, Arkansas State University journalism graduate and longtime member of one of Northeast Arkansas’ most prominent newspaper families. A veteran of The Jonesboro Sun and a lifelong A-State fan, Troutt has spent decades watching—and caring deeply about—Arkansas State football.
