Arkansas State Red Wolves
Encyclopedia
The Arkansas State University Red Wolves (known as the Indians until Fall 2008) is the name given to Arkansas State University
's athletic teams. The university is affiliated with the Sun Belt Conference
in sports and maintains NCAA
Division I status.
in 2001.
that inhabited the area until the 1800s. The name “Indians” officially became the school’s athletic nickname in 1931 following “Aggies” in 1911 (sometimes called “Farmers”), “Gorillas” in 1925, and then “Warriors” in 1930.
Arkansas State officially retired the Indian mascot on February 28, 2008 during the last home basketball game of the season. The school retained the Indians nickname for the remainder of the 2007-08 school year.
(NJCAA) to the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA), where they competed at the small college level. In 1975, they were promoted to NCAA Division I, and Arkansas State briefly played at the I-A level, from 1978 to 1981. From 1982 to 1991, the Indians competed at the Division I-AA level, before again being promoted to I-A, which is now known as Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
In 1970, as a member of the Southland Conference
, Arkansas State was crowned the NCAA small college football
national champion after they defeated Central Missouri State University to complete an 11-0 season. It was the Indians third consecutive bowl appearance. In 1975, the team's first year at the Division I level, Arkansas State recorded an 11-0 season, as one of only two undefeated teams. As a member of the Southland Conference
, Arkansas State did not receive an automatic bowl game
bid, and was not selected for post-season play. The Independence Bowl
in Shreveport
, Louisiana
was created as a direct result of the snub. In the 1980s, Arkansas State made four appearances in the Division I-AA (now Division I FCS), including a loss in the 1986 championship final.
During the 2005 football season, Arkansas State finished the regular season as Sun Belt Conference
champions with a 6–5 record and played in the New Orleans Bowl
. The Indians lost to Southern Mississippi
.
In 1987, Arkansas State University received a bid to play in the National Invitation Tournament
. The first game was against the University of Arkansas and was played in Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas. While the Indians led for the majority of the game, the Razorbacks eventually won in overtime. The game is the only meeting between the two universities in Men's Basketball.
In 1999, ASU went to the NCAA Tournament
for the first time, losing to Utah
in the first round.
In the 2006-2007 season, ASU won the Sun Belt Conference West Division Championship, finishing just ahead of the University of Louisiana at Monroe
. The Indians went on to lose to the North Texas Mean Green
in the finals of the Conference Tournament. After an 18 win, 15 loss season and a finals appearance in the Sunbelt Conference Tournament that year, ASU managed only a 10 win, 20 loss record the next season. One of the worst performances in school history, this record was a huge contributing factor in head basketball coach Dickie Nutt's resignation.
On March 19, 2008, Arkansas State named John Brady
as the university's 15th head basketball coach. Brady had previously coached at Louisiana State University
, taking the Tigers to the Final Four
of the NCAA Tournament in 2006. Brady is be the only head basketball coach in the Sun Belt Conference
with Final Four
experience.
, University of Kentucky
, and Michigan State University
. Arkansas State University director of athletics Dr. Dean Lee announced on July 1, 2008 that Tommy Raffo had been named head coach of the Red Wolves baseball team. Raffo was hired from Mississippi State
after the controversial retirement of Ron Polk at MSU.
Brave team you're second to none
Let's make this game history
along with the others we've won
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
with all your might
so that the world may see that
RED W-O-L-V-E-S means Victory!
Go stAte!
Originally written and composed by George L."Pop" Hodge, of Marked Tree in 1960 but rewritten in 2007 when the Indians became the Red Wolves. The original song still doubles as the Fight Song for the Marked Tree Indians.
- Performs during football events.
The Wolf Pack (formerly Warparty) - Performs during Basketball and various collegiate events.
Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University is a public university and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System, the state's second largest college system and third largest university by enrollment. It is located atop on Crowley's Ridge at Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA...
's athletic teams. The university is affiliated with the Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
in sports and maintains NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I status.
History
Arkansas State University (ASU) was a member of the Southland Conference from 1964-1986. ASU then became independent until joining the Big West Conference in 1993, remaining until 1995. The school rejoined the Big West Conference for two years (1999–2000) before joining the Sun Belt ConferenceSun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
in 2001.
Indians (1931–2008)
The school's sports teams were nicknamed "Indians" in honor of the Osage NationOsage Nation
The Osage Nation is a Native American Siouan-language tribe in the United States that originated in the Ohio River valley in present-day Kentucky. After years of war with invading Iroquois, the Osage migrated west of the Mississippi River to their historic lands in present-day Arkansas, Missouri,...
that inhabited the area until the 1800s. The name “Indians” officially became the school’s athletic nickname in 1931 following “Aggies” in 1911 (sometimes called “Farmers”), “Gorillas” in 1925, and then “Warriors” in 1930.
Arkansas State officially retired the Indian mascot on February 28, 2008 during the last home basketball game of the season. The school retained the Indians nickname for the remainder of the 2007-08 school year.
Red Wolves
Caving to political correctness, on January 31, 2008, Arkansas State University’s Mascot Selection Steering Committee decided to use the "Wolves" as a mascot. The Red Wolves was officially approved by the NCAA on March 7, 2008. The unveiling ceremony for the new Red Wolves logo was held on March 13, 2008. The University planned on doing a slow phase out of the Indian imagery on the Arkansas State University campus. According to the Athletic Director, Dr. Dean Lee, the Indian imagery will be phased out by importance, meaning the most visible sports will have the Red Wolves imagery first. Also, as part of the phaseout of the "Indians" nickname, the school immediately changed the name of its football stadium from Indian Stadium to ASU Stadium.Football
Arkansas State first fielded a football team in 1911. Since then, the team has compiled six conference championships, and one small college (now Division II) football championship. The team was briefly discontinued during the First and Second World Wars. In 1953, the Indians moved from the National Junior College Athletic AssociationNational Junior College Athletic Association
The National Junior College Athletic Association , founded in 1938, is an association of community college and junior college athletic departments throughout the United States. It is held as Divisions and Regions. The current NJCAA holds 24 separate regions.-History:The idea for the NJCAA was...
(NJCAA) to the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA), where they competed at the small college level. In 1975, they were promoted to NCAA Division I, and Arkansas State briefly played at the I-A level, from 1978 to 1981. From 1982 to 1991, the Indians competed at the Division I-AA level, before again being promoted to I-A, which is now known as Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
, Arkansas State was crowned the NCAA small college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
national champion after they defeated Central Missouri State University to complete an 11-0 season. It was the Indians third consecutive bowl appearance. In 1975, the team's first year at the Division I level, Arkansas State recorded an 11-0 season, as one of only two undefeated teams. As a member of the Southland Conference
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
, Arkansas State did not receive an automatic bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
bid, and was not selected for post-season play. The Independence Bowl
Independence Bowl
The Independence Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game that is played annually at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, so named because it was inaugurated in the United States bicentennial year, 1976....
in Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
was created as a direct result of the snub. In the 1980s, Arkansas State made four appearances in the Division I-AA (now Division I FCS), including a loss in the 1986 championship final.
During the 2005 football season, Arkansas State finished the regular season as Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
champions with a 6–5 record and played in the New Orleans Bowl
New Orleans Bowl
The New Orleans Bowl is a post-season college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played annually at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana since 2001. The game was sponsored by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts from 2002 to 2004 and was officially called the Wyndham New...
. The Indians lost to Southern Mississippi
Southern Miss Golden Eagles football
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles football program represents the University of Southern Mississippi in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The Eagles are members of Conference USA and player their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Mississippi...
.
Basketball
Arkansas State shares an in-state rivalry with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Trojans (UALR). In recent years, the basketball series has gone in favor of Arkansas State with ASU winning five of the past six games (updated 2007-2008 season). This series has become one of the more intense rivalries in the Sun Belt Conference. The schools play each other twice per year, with one game each in Little Rock and Jonesboro.In 1987, Arkansas State University received a bid to play in the National Invitation Tournament
1987 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Nebraska 76, Arkansas-Little Rock 67...
. The first game was against the University of Arkansas and was played in Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas. While the Indians led for the majority of the game, the Razorbacks eventually won in overtime. The game is the only meeting between the two universities in Men's Basketball.
In 1999, ASU went to the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
for the first time, losing to Utah
Utah Utes
The Utah Utes are the athletics teams of the University of Utah. They are named after the Ute tribe of Native Americans. The men's basketball team is known as the "Runnin' Utes"; the women's basketball team, formerly known as the "Lady Utes," now prefers to be referred to as the "Utes"; and the...
in the first round.
In the 2006-2007 season, ASU won the Sun Belt Conference West Division Championship, finishing just ahead of the University of Louisiana at Monroe
University of Louisiana at Monroe
The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:...
. The Indians went on to lose to the North Texas Mean Green
North Texas Mean Green
North Texas Mean Green is the team name used for both men's and women's intercollegiate athletic teams that play for the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas....
in the finals of the Conference Tournament. After an 18 win, 15 loss season and a finals appearance in the Sunbelt Conference Tournament that year, ASU managed only a 10 win, 20 loss record the next season. One of the worst performances in school history, this record was a huge contributing factor in head basketball coach Dickie Nutt's resignation.
On March 19, 2008, Arkansas State named John Brady
John Brady (basketball coach)
John Brady is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach for the Arkansas State University Red Wolves....
as the university's 15th head basketball coach. Brady had previously coached at Louisiana State University
LSU Tigers basketball
The Louisiana State Tigers basketball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. The team is currently coached by Trent Johnson and has enjoyed recent success, including a Final Four run in the 2005–2006 season. Past coaches include John Brady, Press...
, taking the Tigers to the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
of the NCAA Tournament in 2006. Brady is be the only head basketball coach in the Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
with Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
experience.
Baseball
Under head coach Keith Kessinger, ASU's baseball team usually finished in the middle of the pack in the SBC. ASU has claimed several victories over major teams in the last few years, including wins over the University of MississippiUniversity of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
, University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
, and Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. Arkansas State University director of athletics Dr. Dean Lee announced on July 1, 2008 that Tommy Raffo had been named head coach of the Red Wolves baseball team. Raffo was hired from Mississippi State
Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are the athletic teams of Mississippi State University. They participate in NCAA's Division I in the competitive 12-member Southeastern Conference under the mascot Bulldogs and the school colors of maroon and white...
after the controversial retirement of Ron Polk at MSU.
Fight song
On, On, On to victoryBrave team you're second to none
Let's make this game history
along with the others we've won
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
with all your might
so that the world may see that
RED W-O-L-V-E-S means Victory!
Go stAte!
Originally written and composed by George L."Pop" Hodge, of Marked Tree in 1960 but rewritten in 2007 when the Indians became the Red Wolves. The original song still doubles as the Fight Song for the Marked Tree Indians.
Athletic Bands
Sound of the Natural StateSound of the Natural State
The Sound of the Natural State is the marching band of Arkansas State University.Directed by Dr. Kenneth Carroll the 'Sound of the Natural State' is the marching band of Arkansas State University located in Jonesboro, Arkansas...
- Performs during football events.
The Wolf Pack (formerly Warparty) - Performs during Basketball and various collegiate events.
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