Jeff Reed: Good Off-Season for Red Wolves; Bryan Harsin Show Set for KTHV, KAIT

Red Wolves Carry Off-Season Momentum into Fall Camp With Announcement of The Bryan Harsin Show

It has been a good off-season for the Arkansas State Red Wolves.

In fact, some website called Saturdays-in-the-fall.com had the Red Wolves in their preseason Top 25, which was even better than the season-ending No. 34 ranking by CBSSports.com. “Saturdays” is not a site we have heard that much about, but it was well received by the growing A-State faithful. And it is a long way from where the program was three seasons ago, coming off consecutive 4-8 seasons.

But 20 victories in two seasons, the first Sun Belt team to achieve that status, changes perception. And reality.

This year, despite a third head coach in three seasons, the outlook has been upbeat .

Here is a recap of most of what we have seen this off-season:

USA Today:

• The Gannett nationwide daily started a couple of months ago with a countdown of all of the Division I (FBS) teams. As the weeks and months went by, the A-State Nation keep waiting for its team to appear. Finally, at No. 55, ASU was ranked. That turned out to be the second-best ranking of a Sun Belt teams and better than five teams from the Southeastern Conference, six from the Big 10, five from the Atlantic Coast Conference and four from the Big 12.

Who is watching?

By the time the Sun Belt Conference media day rolled around in New Orleans, four Red Wolves were on the Watch Lists for several national awards. They are:

• Senior David Oku on the Doak Walker, which honors the top running back in the nation
• Senior Brian Davis for the Lou Groza Award, the award for the top kickers
• Sophomore Bryce Giddens on the Remington Award list for the top center
• Senior defensive tackle Ryan Carrethers on the Outland and Bednarik Award lists.

Media Day:

• Speaking of the Sun Belt Conference, seven Red Wolves were named to the pre-season All-Conference team. On that group were Oku, Giddens, Carrethers, Davis, linebacker Qushaun Lee, safety Sterling Young and receiver J.D. McKissic.
• As a team, the Red Wolves were picked third behind Louisiana rivals – UL-Lafayette and UL-Monroe. ASU did have two first-place votes.

There are other preseason picks out there. Some say the Red Wolves will get  its three-peat as Sun Belt Conference champions. Most have the Red Wolves second, third or fourth in the eight-team league.

If that holds true, it should be enough for a third straight bowl game.

In less than a month, we will find out what reality has to say.

It was also announced the “Bryan Harsin Show,” a weekly television program featuring Arkansas State University’s football head coach, will make its 2013 season debut Sunday, Sept. 1.

The weekly 30-minute show will feature 12 episodes during the regular season and will air Sunday evenings at 10:30 p.m. (CT) on Jonesboro’s KAIT8 (ABC affiliate) and Little Rock’s THV 11 (CBS affiliate) covering Central Arkansas following each scheduled 2013 Red Wolves’ football game.

The “Bryan Harsin Show,” which will be hosted for the second consecutive year by Mickey Ryan, will provide Arkansas State fans with an in-depth view of the 2013 Red Wolves’ football team.  The show will feature game highlights and an interview with Coach Harsin along with weekly features on A-State football student-athletes, coaches, and staff.

“I know A-State fans will enjoy hearing Coach Harsin’s insight and excitement each week,” said Ryan.  “We’ve got some great segments planned, as well as digging deep into the highlights of each game.  I’m thrilled to have a chance to host the show.”

Arkansas State, the two-time (2011 and 2012) defending Sun Belt Conference (SBC) Champions, opens its 2013 campaign Saturday, Aug. 31 versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Liberty Bank Stadium in Jonesboro.  Kickoff for the in-state non-conference contest is set for 6 p.m. (CT) and will be aired live on ESPN3.  The Red Wolves host Troy in their conference opener Thursday, Sept. 12 at Liberty Bank Stadium, starting at 6:30 p.m. (CT) and to be televised on ESPNU.

 “The Bryan Harsin Show” 2013 Schedule (All Times 10:30 p.m. Central)

Show #1: Sept. 1

Show #2: Sept. 8

Show #3: Sept. 15

Show #4: Sept. 22

Show #5: Sept. 29

Show #6: Oct. 13

Show #7: Oct. 27

Show #8: Nov. 3

Show #9: Nov. 10

Show #10: Nov. 17

Show #11: Nov. 24

Show #12: Dec. 1

***

Jeff Reed is editor of Astatenation.com