Sorry for the delay been under the weather for several weeks now.
So here goes. Left for Ark State Friday evening around 7 pm after work google time from Indy says 7 hours so I plan on 8 + with the young'n in tow and the polar vortex in full blow.
My previous weeks cold is now morphed into a sinus infection and bronchitis, Thoughts about calling it all off came to mind more than once. I promised myself I would go to one Sun-Belt away game this season and the Apps could use the support at this one. So I thought what the hey it's an hour shorter drive than a home game in Boone anyway.
The drive was easy, all interstate and flat except for the last few miles into Jonesboro. The Arkansas state campus and stadium are a breeze to find. After the night in the hotel we pulled into town about three hours before kickoff. Parking was simple stAte has huge fields to park next to the stadium (think how GS used to have parking) and only $10 bucks
had us not 150 yards from the gate.
My first impression was where is everyone?
(As a self proclaimed judge of a schools tailgating apptitude I was not impressed) But in fairness, I thought these are the pay as you come lots not the reserved alum lots and I did not venture to explore further. The under side of Centennial Bank stadium is a metal jungle much like under the KBS new deck. Plenty of concessions available good kettle corn funnel cakes even cotton candy. One thing that deserves kudos is the HOT! chocolate, not luke warm chocolate, not slightly warm, or was warm chocolate but HOT!!! I went at three different times even late and it was still HOT!, thanks stAte.
Went into the stands about 20 mins till gametime and could not have been 5,000 in the stands. I understand it may have somthing to do with deer around here, really. I thought maybe the crowd with the ease of entry would show closer to gametime at 5 till kickoff the stream of folks coming in was almost done. My best guess would be between 10 and 12,000 at best.
What Disapionted me most was that at best, IMO there were only 70 or so App Fans there, it was cool yet sunny with no wind Mountaineer weather if I ever saw it WTH!
I expected at least 150-200 maybe I'm deluded
.
Game time promotions were good with crowd participation games throughout down time breaks in the action. The local channel weatherman giving a live game forecast on the jumbotron just before kickoff was a nice touch.
The stands of stAte reminded me very much of Wake's Groves stadium. Although both side are decked they do not have overhangs so visually they are low impact. All entrance up or down is gained at midlevel of the stands and the structure is curved facing the field agian like Groves. IMHO not a bad seat in the House.
Groves.
Centennial Bank
All the fans I met where friendly pregame and out of thier way gracious in defeat, definately not GS.
The one ting that impressed me most was Injury time. When a player was down the PA went dead! no announcements, no New River P&L commecials, no band, no _____ is sponsored by so and so, and the crowd was hushed. You could almost make out the words the trainers were saying on the field. That was done in a most outstanding way stAte, from this App fan I'll say thank you and great job. That and the W made the sniffy, sneezy, coughy, hoarse, fevery, snowy, polar vortex highway arrive at home 3:30 am drive with your 6 year old worth it.
I wish more of you would have been there.
GAS
Shout out to # 45's parents it was very nice to make your aquaintance, "The Defense Has Come Alive!!!" Sir.
It's gone, re-write tomorrow .