Or how much their fortune was about to turn on consecutive weekends.
During the Steve Roberts’ tenure in Jonesboro, the Indians/Red Wolves at times almost seemed like a snake-bit program. Stuck at 6-6 and not quit ever breaking through with that big season.
That changed a little more than 3 years ago.
It started at Western Kentucky, which turned into a series where quirky became the norm. It was a game in which A-State outgained the Hilltoppers 444 to 311, had two less turnovers and barely escaped with a victory. Only rushing for 25 yards did not help matters for the Red Wolves.
The Red Wolves started 2-2 and had high-scoring victories over Memphis and UCA. But on that day in Kentucky, the Red Wolves needed a 1-yard run by Derek Lawson with less than a minute to play for a 22-16 victory.
The Red Wolves (3-2, 1-0) turned Western Kentucky over on downs with 3 minutes left in the fourth quarter and put together a nine-play, 67-yard drive to cap the win. But it happened when Western Kentucky was stopped to set up the winning drive.
With a third-and-10 at the A-State 41, WKU’s quarterback scrambled for 10 yards and the ball was spotted at the 31 and a first-down signaled. But video replay officials determined he runner was down at the 32, the ball re-set. On fourth-and-1, the Toppers lost another yard and A-State took over.
A week later, the Red Wolves did it again at Louisiana-Monroe, winning 24-19 on a night when they played poorly. A-State rushed for only 85 yards, had four turnovers, including a fumble into the end zone that took potential points off the board. Ryan Aplin threw three interceptions, including two in the fourth quarter when a score would have put the game away.
In recent seasons starting the Sun Belt schedule with consecutive road games would have sunk the season before it started. One road victory a year was about all that could be expected from the Red Wolves.
But those two road victories changed an entire program. Since that time, Arkansas State has gone 30-11 with three straight conference titles.
And the quest for a fourth starts Saturday. But this time it is at home.