Beyond the Field: How A-State Fuels Jonesboro’s Growth with Davy Carter and Ted Herget

An 80-yard touchdown should never land in front of an empty end zone, and that moment becomes our jumping-off point for a bigger conversation about Arkansas State, Jonesboro, and what it really takes to build momentum. We sit down with Ted Herget, founder of Gearhead Outfitters and proud A-State alum, and Davy Carter, former Arkansas Speaker of the House and regional president at Centennial Bank, to talk about how fandom grows up with you and why “our school” hits harder the older you get.

We dig into what’s changed around Arkansas State University, from the look and feel of Centennial Bank Stadium to the broader growth of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Then we get honest about what drives winning: expectations, leadership, and a community that buys in even when it’s easier to stay home and stream. Ted and Davy share what they’ve learned from supporting the Red Wolves through their businesses, why the scarlet and black brand travels, and how a loud crowd can change the way a team plays.

Tailgating and the Alpha Pack concept take center stage as we break down how to turn a game into an event, lower the barrier for first-timers, and create the kind of FOMO that fills seats. We also touch on the NIL and revenue-sharing era, why culture still matters, and how stability under Coach Butch Jones is reshaping Arkansas State football.

If you care about Red Wolves football, Sun Belt Conference pride, or the future of college sports in a true college town, this one’s for you.Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge to show up, and leave a review so more people find Saturdays in Jonesboro. @Arkansasstatemedianetwork

0:00 - Welcome To Saturdays In Jonesboro

3:04 - Where Their Red Wolves Passion Started

4:14 - Campus Growth Fuels City Growth

12:55 - Business Support And Brand Pride

16:21 - Coaching Leadership And Program Standards

17:03 - Why Being There Beats Streaming

22:48 - Alpha Pack And Tailgate FOMO

28:06 - Turning Games Into Must-Go Events

35:11 - NIL Changes And Sun Belt Identity

37:23 - A North End Zone Game Day

44:17 - Meet The Team Events To Attend

49:13 - Culture Turnaround Under Butch Jones

52:03 - Subscribe And Closing Thanks

Transcript

Welcome To Saturdays In Jonesboro

SPEAKER_00 0:10

And we welcome you to Saturdays in Jonesboro. A look at Arkansas State athletics both on and off the field. That's what we wanted to do with this particular podcast. And just looking at every single aspect of game day. I'm Matt Stoltz. I'm in my 21st season as the play-by-play voice at Arkansas State. And over the years, been able to see some really cool things on and off the field. And, you know, one thing we want to do is take a look at things that are going on on the field with the players and the coaches, but we want to see what's happening off the field as well, in Jonesboro, in the community, and talk about how things have grown over the years at Arkansas State. And I wanted to bring in a couple of guests today that have a really cool perspective of just that.

Meet Two Lifelong A-State Supporters

SPEAKER_00 1:05

Got Ted Hergett here today. Ted is the founder of Gearhead Outfitters. He's an A-state alum and started Gearhead in Jonesboro, has now turned it into a business with over 20 locations in seven different states. So he's a guy that's scarlet and black all the way through. And then Davy Carter, former Speaker of the House in the state of Arkansas. He's a lawyer, regional president of Centennial Bank as well. And you guys uh love Arkansas State as much as anybody that I've come across in my time here at A-State. And and I wanted to have you guys in today. Number one, thanks for coming in. And you know, it's been a long time since um since you guys were students. I know it probably doesn't seem that long, does it? I mean, yeah, it's just in the class.

SPEAKER_01 1:59

I sat in the class this week. It was pretty humbling.

SPEAKER_00 2:02

It wasn't? Okay, so take me back to that time. Now, you guys were students at about the same time, right? Did you know each other as students?

SPEAKER_02 2:11

I don't remember crossing paths. I'm sure we did. Um, you know, but um maybe maybe a class or two in a business.

SPEAKER_01 2:18

I mean, I was a for I mean I flunked out the first couple of years. So I mean I was in and out of I mean, dropped in, dropped out of college. I mean, so I really didn't crank it off till he was a junior, and I thought I was a four-year freshman. So he was probably a little more traditional. I was not a traditional student. I just kind of man, I did it my way, wasn't pretty, but I got it done.

SPEAKER_00 2:39

So where does the passion come from, though? I mean, obviously you were both students, and and obviously it it evolves over the years, and you become more and more of a fan. You you get more involved with the school through your time in business dealing with people in Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas, but but where does that passion come from?

SPEAKER_01 3:04

You know, I think it just comes from, I mean, to me, it's like it's a legacy for me. My grandfather is Ted Rand or was Ted Rand, started KASU, which was neat. So I've always had that connection. And then my mom was here when it went from Arkansas and went AM to you when he got the university status. And so my mom is at my claim. You know, she was the first in this Arkansas State University, so it's kind of a cool but I grew up. I mean, she timed track meets. She, I mean, we were just here. I mean, at the old field house, and you know, we went to all the basketball games when when Jackie joined a curse and and Flojo and everybody's training for the 84 Olympics, they all frontiers had my teeth on campus. I mean, I was always here. Chase just grew up on the track, grew up. It's a town. I mean, I just grew up, you know, an Indian, but accepted the Red Wolf, and graciously. I mean, I love to love the rebrand.

Where Their Red Wolves Passion Started

SPEAKER_01 3:54

I know it's been 20 years, I think, since we've done it, but it's just it's just in my DNA. I mean, it was all we talked about growing up, and man, I'm proud to be a grad and proud to get to kind of leaning back into it. Man, I took a 15-year hiatus and now I'm full gas, you know, Benjamin Button. I'm going back with and it's great, having a good time.

SPEAKER_02 4:14

What about you, Davy? Um, you know, I it's just, I think as you mature and get a little older, you start rec you're realizing like how important this university is to, you know, to you and it as a graduate, but and just the community and the state. Um, you know, BB would say, uh, he uh he said this a a hundred times, I've heard him say, I I wouldn't be anything without my my degree from Arkansas State and the things that it taught me. The friends and relationship, and just it just the importance of um the university being here. You just realize that as you get older, really more so, I'll be honest than when I went within college. I was in college, it's going to clife, having fun, you know, my fraternity brothers going out, doing things, but you know, you realize you're like, you know, this is well, it's Mahadri used to say, he had this slogan for a while. He was like, it's it's it's it's our school, man, or your school, you know, it's our school. Yeah. And um, you know, you it's a pretty powerful little statement because you you look around all over the world, and especially with all the distractions now, and you know, it's like it's right here, and it's our school. And, you know, we're proud of it and want to see us continue to win and grow and do. I mean, it makes me so proudful. Uh, I was so proud of the the the women's basketball team and destiny and all the coaches and all me, just goosebumps, like watching what they do. Like we can compete athletically and academically with anybody, and it's right here. And I think as we get older, you know, it's just sort of our job, not our job, but collectively, like to preach that and to um you know to to you know to you know just support, be a great supporter of the school and the town. So that's how I feel about it. I'm just really proud and gotten more proud or proud that the older I've

Campus Growth Fuels City Growth

SPEAKER_02 5:57

got.

SPEAKER_00 5:57

You know, and you look at how much Arkansas State's grown, but it kind of parallels the growth in Jonesboro as well over the years. And it's amazing. And I've been here 21 years. You guys have been around a whole lot longer than me. And I always think about just driving around campus and seeing the things that that we see around the community now. And it kind of starts, you know, from the campus and then stretching out. You look at Centennial Bank Stadium and the improvements there. That's as nice of a stadium as there is anywhere in the group of five and the Centennial Bank Operations Center, and how nice that that north end zone facility is. It is big time. And then you you kind of stretch out from there. And it wasn't that long ago where there was an old track sitting where the embassy suites is, which is as nice of a convention center and hotel as you're gonna find anywhere in Northeast Arkansas. Or you know, I go all around the Sunbelt Conference. There's not a facility like that anywhere in our league. But I think that's kind of uh an illustration, if you will, of just how much things have changed around here.

SPEAKER_02 7:14

No, no doubt. I mean, I heard uh wise saying a few years ago that, you know, you on a day-to-day basis, sometimes you think nothing's changed, and then one day you look back and everything's changed. I mean, there have been so many uh positive uh improvements, you know, some of which you mentioned, and many, many, many more. Like, I'm a big believer in um, you know, the the colleges and towns and communities and states, you know, they have moments, right? I mean, like the some other schools around us have had moments, uh, some other towns have had moments. Um, I think Jonesboro's having in Arkansas State's having the moment right now. I mean, like all the momentum that we have, with all of those things with you know, you're saying with the community involvement and all the great things Dr. Shield and his staff and all the coaching staff, everything we have, like we are in the middle of a big moment uh moving forward Arkansas State. I believe that with all my heart. I can feel it.

SPEAKER_01 8:09

Yeah, I mean, I'd like to ask you that question, Matt. It's like I've as I mean, I've been at it for a while, but I feel like right now the synergy just is at at an all-time high. I feel like the energy and just the attitude, everybody, it's just it really is. It's just a like to the point of the moment. But what you're I want to ask you that question.

SPEAKER_00 8:28

I mean, well, I think just being around the athletics programs, you feel it. And I think it's as healthy as it's ever been, you know, with Arkansas State athletics. And so much of it has to do with just how bought in the community is and how bought in the fan base is. I I think we've always had as good of a core fan base as there is. And I think about things like, you know, our radio show that we do during football and basketball season. We just started doing a baseball show out at Lost Pizza in Jonesboro. And um, we had standing room only in there. And I talked to other people around the league that that do my job, and they're they're hoping for maybe two or three tables worth of people. And we pack it out every single week during the season, win or lose. And it kind of shows you just that that core fan base that's always been there, but it's continuing to grow. And I think of people and Davy, I I know you you know this guy and and Ted you as well. But when I got to Jonesboro 21 years ago, I had a guy named Ed Way that that uh came and was one of the first people to welcome me to town. And I saw his passion for Arkansas State. And, you know, he he was somebody that that that passion was contagious. And I think there's a lot of people, and you two are the same way. That passion is contagious to to other people.

SPEAKER_02 10:09

Yeah, I agree. Ed was great too. God bless him. What a great man. Um, no, I 100% everything you said, I agree with. Like, I don't know how you guys feel, but like there's been times in the past where it felt like um there was a little bit of apathy, you know, particularly around the athletics. And so, you know, what when I think about this momentum and things that you know we're trying to describe, like I think the fan base and the coaches and administration and all of us, like we realize that we can win. And like that's the expectation is to be a winner and to compete. And like, I think that's you know, you got to start with the you know what you think's possible. And like I that's what's going on now. When you think you can do it, and then you get the right people in place, then you do it. I mean, like, I think our expectation is to win. And um, that's what we want to see, and we've been winning. I mean, the football team, I think we're the you know, the the one of 15 that's won back-to-back bull bowl games, you know, in 132 um FBS schools. Yeah, but we're doing some great all the programs are uh and academically, I mean, there's more kids running around on campus, the the the numbers are going up. I mean, there's just so many things, but it just starts with that attitude like we're gonna be the best and we're gonna win. And this is how we're gonna do it. And that's what I feel, that's what makes it so exciting. Everybody wants to be around winners, right? I mean, it's easier. Uh you know, it becomes easier, it starts to snowball on itself. So I don't know. I feel like we're in a great place, and I think it starts with the attitude and with their with our leaders. I mean, that's that's that that's where it all begins.

Momentum And A Winning Expectation

SPEAKER_00 11:48

One way that you guys support, obviously, you do it individually, but you do it through your businesses as well. And Davy, through Centennial Bank, and we talked about Centennial Bank Stadium and the Operations Center, you know, on our radio broadcast. You guys forever have been the pregame sponsor, the Centennial Bank pregame show, and that means a lot. And I I think it's cool driving down Red Wolf Boulevard and always seeing the wolf eyes uh there at the Centennial Bank location. And it's it's part of the brand and kind of synonymous, if you will, with Arkansas State. And then same thing with you, Ted. I mean, it's it's really cool walking into Gearhead and and seeing all the A-State gear that you have. And and you're not going to put it on the shelves if if you can't sell it, but but there is an enthusiasm about the Red Wolf brand. And you guys, you know, with your businesses, uh, I guess you see that, don't you?

SPEAKER_01 12:55

Yeah, I mean, I think it's one of the strongest when you just look at the just the image. I mean, just the logo, the colors. I mean, red, those colors are represent strong. I mean, it's a strong red and black are like the I mean, that's what they represent. And I just I look at all these other colleges and their logos, I'm like, oh man, I I would hate to have orange or green, light blue, or well, I mean, like, who can get behind that? I can get behind black and red. I just I just I love the I just love the logo, and I love the I mean I just love how the school's taken it and owned it. And you get the thing that they I mean, kind of and you get to see it a lot, and I think this is what's been really cool is get really getting to know like the student athlete. Not not not to pivot on you real quick, but I think as you get more engaged you get to and with the sports and and athletics are such a big piece of uh higher education these days. I getting to know these student athletes is has been such a privilege. And getting to see their attitude and just and and them rolling around town with you can see them. I mean you can see those football players from a mile away when there's but it's cool seeing all these just the influx of of of these kids from all over the country, I mean kind of all over the world that that are here in Jonesboro rolling around with that Red Wolf. I just think it's been so strong, so neat. And like I said, it just kind of continues that when you say looking back older, you know, it just you don't you you take it for granted when you're in school. And I think a lot of people have kind of kicked that that legacy or kind of how they got to where they are today, but but for ASU, you know, kind of to what Meeby said, like I it's really incredible the talent, the talent that's come out of this university over the last ever. I mean, since it's been inception, but anyway, proud red wolf, proud issue guy. But it's anyway, a little rabbit hole, but no, that's good. We support what we can. I mean, it's not I mean I mean Johnny Allison stepped up. I mean, that's neat. I mean, those guys taking ownership

Business Support And Brand Pride

SPEAKER_01 14:48

and helping that vision that that those guys put up put together back at that stadium and Hajj are dream big. You know, and the board of trustees passed it and Johnny helped fund it. I mean, that's a really cool, cool partnership and seeing all that stars aligned. And I mean the coaches, I mean, every coach that's I got to meet the old the new OC guy, and he's just the deck when he was doing his first day. Yeah, I mean, and he had one of the quarterbacks from from Vandy and his bit of dad, and they're like these facilities are incredible. But in the front, you know, and it's like that's sell I mean that's and then you get out there and you hear Butch like I'm gonna go to practice this afternoon, he just I hear him over the speaker. Like you're driving down Johnson, man, you can hear him on man, I'm going to watch Butch. I mean, watching him run that practice is biblical. Like it's I don't know how often you get out there, but I oh yeah, and I just like leaders. I like watching leaders and tracking leaders and studying them, and it's just man, that guy owns that field and how he the best thing that ever happened to an Arkansas State football practice was giving Coach Jones a microphone.

SPEAKER_00 15:54

Got to it is the most entertaining thing that you could ever watch because there's there's coaching going on and he never stops ever trying to help his guys. And yeah, he coaches hard, but you can tell there's a passion for those players and a want to improve every single minute that they're out there. And there's not a wasted minute during one of those practices.

SPEAKER_01 16:21

I mean, just I mean, I want to jump off the I mean, I want to get my one year of eligibility left, get out there and play. I mean, he he gets you so fired up. I just love that type

Coaching Leadership And Program Standards

SPEAKER_01 16:30

of energy, you know. And it's anyway, I just represent I mean, I just respect the hell out of him. And and I and again, those kids and those coaches, they pour their hearts out there. I mean, Butch works 24-7. It's you know, we've kind of seen how the sausage is made sometimes, get, you know, the privilege to get to hang with the coaches and treat them for dinner, and it's like, man, their phones are going 9, 10, 11 o'clock, recruiting these kids. It it's people it like it's non-stop. I mean, that job is relentless. I wouldn't take it for love and money, you know, but I'm just grateful to have him and and such a but back to he's a strong manager, he's strong leadership.

SPEAKER_02 17:03

100% and the kids are recognizing that. I mean, they're staying here, they they they know what they're they're learning you know how to play football in in in in an organized, professional fashion. And you know, he supports them, wants to get them to the NFL. Um, I just believe in the system. I mean, he talked about about the system, and you know, I don't know that everybody fully appreciates the the um you know the the volatility in in this market, yeah, college sports over the last four or five years. I mean, it has been absolute chaos with everything changing week to week. Uh there's been frustrations at times, I understand, um, because it's it's evolved so fast. And you know, I feel like we're in, you know, we've we're in such a we've we've come through the trough and we are in such a great spot uh with everything that they're doing out there. Um so I I echo echo all of that. I mean, he um and do and really all the other coaches as well. You know, I look at all the effort they put in. I was looking at the schedule this morning before he came on. I mean, Ted and I talk about this a lot. We have six games, I think, right? Six games. Six days uh for the for everybody to come out uh in in a calendar year and support these guys who are out here working 24 hours a day and these college, these student athletes who are, you know, this is their life. I mean, I that's just the truth. I mean, that's their life. And uh six days, you know, it is not that many times to ask uh, you know, people to come out and support. Like it, and it we just gotta do it. And it's gotten better and better and better. And again, I think about having moments and momentum, it just sorts it grows upon itself. Yeah, you know, when somebody's friends hear uh the stories about, you know, they maybe they didn't get to go to the game last week and you know, and they hear you talking about it, or or somebody in the audience talking about it, and like, well, maybe I should go next week. I mean, it's like that's what it that's what it starts to snowball, and that's what it starts feeling like right now.

Why Being There Beats Streaming

SPEAKER_00 19:04

And you guys have seen it when it's really, really good. And we think about that run from 2011 to 2019 and the nine straight winning seasons and nine straight bowl games and five conference championships. And I think we all remember that day back in 2012 against Middle Tennessee where there's a sold-out stadium, and the Red Wolves are able to win a conference championship and beat Middle Tennessee 45 to nothing at home. But we're starting to kind of get back to that again. And I know it's it's different than it was 10, 15 years ago. TV is more accessible, and you know, every single game is streamed, and there's so many more options out there, but there's nothing like being there and being there at one of those six home games and and experiencing that kind of atmosphere. And when it's what's when it's good here at Arkansas State, it's as good as anywhere you can go.

SPEAKER_01 20:06

I have too much fun. Um but yeah, it's like we we talk about or we, you know, a lot of this like it's like taking getting an online degree. I mean, okay, I mean you can check it off. I mean, sitting at home watching a game's easy. But I mean, sometimes it's difficult to make that work, but it back to your point, six days. That's so easy. Get you gotta show up, as Davey says. But I mean, there's nothing beats that game day experience when you're there and you're outside, whether it's in freezing cold. I mean, I'm running around with no shirt on. I mean, I like I'm just trying to be the class clown. But it's like you can have you can't have that experience sitting in some restaurant and watching it from behind a bar table. I mean, I'm like, I I know you're supporting them, but the support to me is it's it's you know, it's like the Butch talking about getting the kids fired up in the north end zone, you know, you go out on this field and he's like, we gotta get people, you know, and that's kind of how we rolled into that alpha pack kind of concept. It's just, I mean, how do we get people in that lower bowl? And and I mean, we're there to support these kids. You know, the day it's like that this university supports this town and and and hold I mean, uh carries this town. I mean, this town doesn't exist without Arkansas State. It's just and just coming out here today. I mean, the energy in this union, I'm like, I didn't know Yeah, no, it was pretty cool. I mean, kids ever, all these restaurants, I'm like, I don't know, like, what is this? Like, but amazing. I mean, Shield's done a great job with enrollment. I mean, we've just we've got some really good like back to the leadership, it's uh uncanny, man. We're we're we're rolling. But it's just being on the field, being outside, yelling and screaming for those kids, it makes a difference. I mean, it's like they hear it, but you know, it's different than you know, basketball, same thing. I mean, those kids, great guys. Pannone's a rock star, like, and it's you can get a little more you can get closer with to those kids and they hear you more. But the football guys can still hear you. And it's a little you know, everybody with their hats on, you know, but it's I mean, but They work harder when the crowd's louder. I just, man, we just I just don't know how people don't come to the game.

SPEAKER_02 22:07

I'm like, this is I mean, could you imagine how deflating that would be to run out of that tunnel after getting a a Butch Jones pep speech and watching coming out and then looking around and like you know, there's you know, an empty stadium. And um, yeah, I mean it matters like to the performance of the game. I mean, other than just like the inherent do right rule to go out and support them, it matters in the vibe. I mean, I you know, and and I I'm not complaining. I mean, I want everybody watching, like, thank you for coming out. And if you haven't been out to the game, y'all come out and watch. Um, you know, because it's it's it's it's exciting, and there we have a great support. And like I said, it's only getting better and better every year.

SPEAKER_00 22:48

Yeah. And whether you be a hardcore fan that just bleeds scarlet and black, or you're a casual fan, it doesn't matter. We want you there. There's something for everybody when you come out to a game. And Ted, you mentioned the Alpha Pack concept.

Alpha Pack And Tailgate FOMO

SPEAKER_00 23:07

I want to get into that because a couple of years ago, you guys, uh I know uh kind of came up with this idea to enhance the tailgate area at Centennial Bank Stadium. So kind of explain where that idea came from and what Alpha Pack is.

SPEAKER_01 23:26

I mean, I think the inspiration for me came from Arrowhead Stadium going to a Kansas City Chiefs game. I mean, it is the place is madhouse. So we went with Mahoger. We took the boys up there, and and Mahoger's like, and he's a big dude, his big, big Kansas City family, and they don't even have ticket season tickets anymore. They're like, man, it's so rowdy in there, we don't and I'm like, You're Mahajager. Like, you can handle the crowd. We got in that crowd, and our kids had on the Tom Brady. Tom Brady. I mean, the the crowd was relentless, and I'm sitting there thinking, man, we're Arkansas, we're kind of rednecks. I'm like, Kansas City is the most rednecked town on the planet. Those, but those fans are, you know, we kind of term that super fan, but but it's all about tailgating, and it's just this ritual. And it's like, I promise these guys, I mean, the they don't have an excuse on it. What do they have? Eight home games, I guess, probably. I mean, those guys, I mean, that is, I mean, they're getting married around that, they're scheduling their kids' birth around those, the they're going to those, those fans show up to those games, but it's all about the fellowship. It's the tailgate and the game, just that game day experience that you cannot you can't get it sitting at a restaurant. You know, I'm not saying that's I mean, you pre-game or whatever and eat, but the idea was like, man, let's just create a a great tailgate. Because this was at the time when when they had that rev group in here and kind of like splintered the the the tailgate whatever, and everybody was yapping about it, you know, and fans were running in up to the hills, and I mean we just kind of figured it out and we solved the widget, and just really the the goal was just to replicate. It's like I want to be caught known as like Arrowhead South. It's just I mean, it's around fellowship, and I mean it's a cold beer platform. I mean, cold beer, live music, man, great food. Like, and it's you know, those right the right field rowdy guys have taken that on, man, which is super cool. And those guys got a ton of games. I mean, hats off to them. I mean, those dudes are out there like to us, it's we got to go back to we cook all six days. Yeah, yeah. Those boys at baseball are killing it. Like, but it's kind of the same concept. I mean, it's a it's but it's just activating and it's entertaining, it's just adding value, and you know, instead of sitting at home. I mean, I want I don't want to miss out. You want to create a you want to create a party or an experience to where back to Davies earlier, it's like, man, I hate that I missed that. Yeah, I'm not gonna miss it next week.

SPEAKER_02 25:41

And you know, that and it's easy too. I mean, what I mean i tailgating can be a little intimidating, right? If you don't if you don't um have have the spot and you don't have the grill, and you know, and this is easy. I mean, it was like, how do we get you know a a couple uh to come out and and do they can just they can purchase a ticket and just join, you know, everybody else in in you know that wants to do that too. And it and it's easy. And you know, we had so much support from uh a lot of the um businesses in town bond and you know, just giving these tickets out to uh to their staff members that work there. I mean, Hydrol was a huge supporter, and you know, they they have people lined up, you know, what we were told like we're gonna get tickets this week. And it became like, and that's a great example on this like FOMO stuff. It was like they were like, Well, I heard about you know the alpha pack in the game last week. I want to go. And it, you know, they ended up having the demand that ran outran the supply.

SPEAKER_01 26:38

They finally capped it. They're like, we're just gonna buy X. But it's cool because I mean, Christy, this is like the MO is kind of like a it's really trying to get, I mean, the NFL is a blue-collar sport. I mean, it's a blue-collar deal. I mean, again, you go to the Chiefs game. I mean, it's where we were sitting, we're not up there with whatever that Kelsey's, you know, Taylor Swift and all that. We were in this, I mean, we were in the like fifth, I mean, 50-yard line, eighth row, and man, it is the craziest thing you've ever experienced. But it it's um, I mean, she just talks about it's like hydrol, man. They're howling. The factory's howling this week. And I'm like, man, that that that fires me up because it's kind of like this employee, man. Give them this to come out. I mean, you get VIP access. We take care of everything. And it's just they're such a great, they're such a great company, man. And they I mean, I love Peacock, love all those guys. And new people.

SPEAKER_02 27:28

I think a lot, the a large part, man, is uh of people that came to the game uh through AlphaPike had never been to an ASU game before. I mean, if we And that's what you want 100%. We gotta expand. I tell my kids all the time, like you've got to expand your network. Yeah, you know, if you want something different to change, you gotta you gotta expand your network, you know, and and that's how we continue to grow and get the stadium back full again. It's gotta have, you know, there you look around, you know, over the few years and you just kind of you you're gonna be there, I'm gonna be there, Ted's gonna be there, right? I mean, we're gonna be there every time, and others. There's plenty of others. But um, you know, we've got to expand, we expand that territory.

SPEAKER_00 28:06

And Coach Jones is doing everything he can to improve the product on the field, and he has. I mean, three straight bowl games, back-to-back, bowl victories. The football program's headed in the right direction.

Turning Games Into Must-Go Events

SPEAKER_00 28:20

There's a lot of good things happening there, but people don't just want to go to a game. They want to go to an event, they want an experience, and that's kind of what you guys wanted to do with this.

SPEAKER_01 28:31

100%. I mean, it's just adding value. I mean, it's like I get sometimes the things pop up, but again, we just I mean, we're we just want to throw that party that everybody wants to come to. And then we let Butch, you know, take it from there. You know, and I think that's I just want to continue, you know, to our fan base, incredible. I mean, you led with that, talking about how good the the Red Well fan base is 100%. But we've got to get a little uncomfortable as a fan base and get out there and kind of do that ammo pit. You get 10 friends, and they get 10 friends, and man, the next thing you know, you're whatever it is. But it's like you you've got to just keep asking and asking and asking. And again, and to me, that's where we found it is just asking new people. You know, we we were we get comfortable with the same, you know, it's like going to the coaching show. It's it is the same, it's a lot of it's the same folks and great people, great support. I can you imagine only three people being in there? That's tough, you know. And I hate that I don't make all of those, but man, I'm ready to move roll that towards a bigger spot and just keep building the fan base. We got the people that the stadium's only 30,000 people. It's like, how can we not feel that? You know?

SPEAKER_00 29:36

Yeah, and I think the biggest thing that not it's not an Arkansas State thing, it's anywhere. I think people that have been around for a while, they kind of put limits on what this can become. And we're starting to see it now with baseball because record crowds are turning out at Tomlinson Stadium now. People that had never been to an Arkansas State baseball game are going now. And yeah, Coach Silva's putting together a really good product on the field, but the experience is so much better from what they're doing with the video board, the in-game promotions, everything. It's so fun that it looks so much better with the new turf and and everything that's being put into that program. And I think people see that there's an effort there from the athletic side, the university side. Obviously, the product has improved, but just overall, the whole experience is so much better now. And you know, with Alpha Pack and with other things around football, I mean, that's I think there's uh a lot of similarities there.

SPEAKER_02 30:52

Oh, no doubt. I mean, like Ted said, the the baseball guys, what the right field rowdies that would go by. I mean, those guys are killing it, you know, and a lot of stuff going on there. And you know, the baseball team, you know, they're they're a big time team. I mean, you know, you're right. The experience, you know, people are always looking for a good experience. So that's a given. If you don't have that, you're you're you're behind the eight-ball to begin with. But you know, to come out and to beat Arkansas on the road and to have the Southern Mist games and make it, it is a big time um baseball team, a program. And when people feel that energy, they want to be a part of it. I mean, similarly, I mean, I go back to the women, I'm just uh the women's basketball program, the energy uh and that was that last run in that in that stadium, it felt like we were in, you know, the national national championship. It was big time basketball. And, you know, when you when you have that feeling, it's hard to describe, but you know it when you when you feel it, right? And um, that's what was going on, you know, with with the the women's basketball team. That's what's going on with the baseball team. Um, you know, I think we'll roll in that momentum into the football program. And you know, once you get it and keep going back, it just snowballs um and just feel that energy that it's important. I mean, I think it's important we continue to play the the the big power schools. We can win here and we can do big things here. I mean, we've seen some belt teams make it before in the division one. I mean, we will too. I mean, back to the expectations, like what's possible. We're going to do it. I mean, it may not be this year, it may not be next year, but it's going to happen. And, you know, we all just got to understand that that's the mission and that's what we're going to do. And so, you know, I just like when you get that feeling, um, it's just special. And I guess the long-winded point here, people will come out for all those things. When you have the experience and they're going to have fun, and and and they're going to watch a uh a team that knows what they're doing and that are very competitive. You know, it's going to happen. People are going to be there. It's self-fulfilling.

SPEAKER_01 33:04

I mean, is what it is. Those guys, they they create that experience. People show up, the crowds get loud, the team wins. I feel that comes, the money's coming through. Like it's 10, whatever, 20 bucks a ticket to you in that game. That game goes back to athletics. You know, in this in this world, again, where we're paying these, what you know, and to like but people don't realize Butch has got a third of the the the money that his peers in the in our conference. And the fact that you can compete in our conference with half the money, just just half, just as an easy. He's running half the numbers that these other schools have to go pay those players. I mean, and this is what I mean. We're playing money ball, but what Silva's been able to do, and I but I think it what the more people like us going out there and supporting those kids, that's more money that goes into the athletics, and the money goes to back to those kids. And it just the more we show up, uh Davies always said that. I mean, you gotta show up. It's just like it's snowballs. And it's like the more we show up, the more money we get, the more we can pay these kids, and the better the better result on the field is. I mean, it's it it it's so easy for me to see it. I just don't people want to wait for the results. I'm like, no, you are the result. Back when you're saying this is our school, it's like this is our school, it's our team. Like you look at that stadium because we're not competing against anybody. I mean, it's like we have a what it's like one of 50 FPS stadiums, and that stadium is wicked cool. I just want to go hang out there. I mean, and with the waterfalls and the and the it's just like what a cool place.

SPEAKER_00 34:36

Yeah, and again, I I've I've seen every one of the stadiums in our league. There's not a better stadium, not a better environment in our conference. And and I think that when you look at the good that's happening right now around the football program, around the athletic programs, I know there's a lot of things in college athletics right now that maybe people aren't too fired up about, but there's so much good. And if you embrace it, then I think we're starting to see the benefits of just how good it can be.

SPEAKER_02 35:11

Yeah,

NIL Changes And Sun Belt Identity

SPEAKER_02 35:12

me too. I mean, this NIL pro uh revenue sharing, all the stuff that's going on has been, you know, like we touched on it briefly earlier. It's just been very fluid, let's just put it that way. I'm I I was convinced early on, and even more convinced now, that we are going to come out of that of this better than the big power schools. I mean, it's all more of a professional uh football feeling, but not so much kind of at at where we are. I mean, it you know, you it we still there's just something feels different about about where we are and our conference and you know the our guys and the players that we have. It just feels a little bit different than you know the University of Alabama's and the Michigans or whatever. I mean, it's just that that really does feel like NFL and it still feels like college football here and and and and it is college football. So I feel great about about where we're at, you know. And I on the Sunbelt Conference, this I don't I don't want this to sound arrogant at all. I know we've had a little bit of a lull here. Um just you like you talked about that great run we had you know a decade ago. This is our conference. I mean, I I 1,000% believe that. I mean, like Arkansas State is the is the gold standard of the Sunbelt Conference, and we will get back to that. I mean, I just feel like we own this conference, and I know it sounds arrogant, and there's not there's there's not a lot of great competitors out there, but the history of of of our involvement, our history of our success, that doesn't that never goes away. And and and it's our conference, so ready to take it back. And you guys get it fired up now. No, it's I mean, I've really do believe that. Um, and you know what the the the interest in our programs, I mean, the viewership on TV and just the number of times we're on. I mean, people are interested in in what we're doing. And um, you just wait till we start, you know, winning 10, 11 games a season. I mean, it's gonna it's gonna explode.

SPEAKER_00 37:23

Yeah, I I think the atmosphere will continue to get better as we go along.

A North End Zone Game Day

SPEAKER_00 37:30

I'm I'm looking forward to 2026 and seeing what the football program can do this year. Ted, I do want to ask you, I mean, you're not afraid to get down there with the students, and you get down there in that north end zone, and I mean, you know, what tell take me through your typical game day.

SPEAKER_01 37:52

Oh yeah. Um I prefer to be an earlier game. You know, those six-clock games that say you got me in. Because one thing's undefeated is Davy Carter about 10 o'clock in the morning going, well, I mean, we're gonna show up out there at you know, nine or ten regardless. And so it generally it's that three o'clock game is kind of the sweet spot. But we we had you know, we were inside for so long, and then man, we got to the north end zone, and I just there was a play, it was I'll never forget it. It's just this is probably three years ago, it's the last game of the year, and we're sitting up above the waterfall, and this kid runs an 80-yard touchdown in the northeast end zone, and all the chairs there wasn't one person. I'm like, this is might be the biggest run of this kid's life. And man, he comes up, throws the football, spikes it, and then like not one fan is in that. So I you know, I grabbed a couple of my beers, and man, I walked down and just and I just stood there like going, man, run it again. I'm here for you, man. I wanna and you know the funny thing is we have not had one touchdown in the Northeast end zone since that plague. But I just but my heart went out to that kid going, man, that's like that might be the the one and only touchdowns kid ever had. And I think of the picture, like if somebody's taking the picture shooting north, and like, and there's not one person, that it just like that's a bad image, like in retail, man, in merchandise and all this kind of stuff. I mean, every it's just the experience is so important. And I just like I walk down there going, I'm ready for you. Let's go run that play again, you know. And I just just to high five him. I mean, I would, you know, I'd have been the one kid down there, and I so I just kind of challenged people and we slowly been slowly and steady, just to back to that experience thing. It's like, man, that's a hard corner because the sun's on you, so it's hot as hell in the summer, you know, and it gets cold in the winter. But again, you go to those Chiefs games, it was zero freaking degrees. People, I mean, standing on cardboard on these concrete, it's I like Tina Mitchell when we kind of back to the Alpha Pack and like being like this blue collar and being super fans. She talked, she's a Cleveland Brown fan. We were talking about when we were pitching the Alpha Pack to her, she goes, I'm a Cleveland Brown fan. She goes, We're oh and we we haven't won a game in whatever, or haven't had a winning season in 20 years, but but they sell out and it's around the tailgate, and it's around the experience and around your mirrors. I mean, you you might show up, yeah, we're gonna get our ass beat, but we're gonna have a good time and we're showing up for the athletes and we're showing up for each other. Like, I'd look forward to I I those six days are marked on my calendar. You book it, you know where I'm gonna be. I get so excited back to your point. Like, I get so excited. Win, lose, or draw, I'm gonna be there, and I'm not gonna be able to speak the next day. I'm gonna yell and scream and because man, they can hear it and they can feel it. And and again, when those kids take those helmets off in the back or whatever, man. I mean, hell they're 18. They look like little babies, and these six foot eight bodies are going, oh man, they just put and those load seats are great, aren't they?

SPEAKER_00 40:47

It's awesome. And I I love what they did in the north end zone, and and they've got the bar set up now in the end zone. You can you can hang out, just great spot to kind of hang out there in the game.

SPEAKER_01 41:00

Like, oh, it's just I couldn't imagine sitting in bar. I mean, it's just a great, it's just a great experience. And I I mean raining, I mean, it hadn't snowed on yet, but it's like I'm not scared of it. You know, it's like I want to be there, I want to be that super fan. It's not to keep pounding on that Chiefs. You mean you watch these NFL games and they're I mean the weather is I mean, look at the Chicago Bears games and they're out there and it's January what and it's negative 10 and it's sold out. Just put a bigger jacket on. If it's raining, put a freaking rain jacket on. Who cares? Don't give me your damn excuses. Show up, show out. Like it's just because it matters.

SPEAKER_00 41:36

And the sweets are so nice. Uh I know they're incredible. They're just and as nice as there is anywhere. And we've got that amazing club area, but there's still something to sit in in the stands and being hurt up there.

SPEAKER_02 41:52

I've tried to balance both, and I get all these text messages from Ted and Barrett and all these gallons buddies. And you know, I'm up, I'm upstairs. Of course, I've got you know work to take care of too, you know. It's still entertaining and do the thing. So, you know, but I'm I'm constantly looking down, like, what are they what are they what are they doing? So about halftime, I just inevitably I'm getting the the FOMO just hits me. And like, all right, I'm gonna I'm I'm I'm gonna sneak down there for a little bit. Now, I didn't in the pouring day rain that day, and I never heard the end of that. So I I chose to stay dry in the in the suite, but uh no, there's really no if if you really want to watch the game, you know, and feel it and hear it, the hits and the chatter, and like really you being down close to the field, particularly in that north end zone, there's just nothing like it. I mean, you can't get the it's just two completely different experiences. Not that's one that's better than the other, it's just kind of what you're looking for that day. I love being down there in the action and and and and hearing what's going on, and you just feel like you're you're kind of more part of it when you're closer to it. It's pretty cool. Pretty cool.

SPEAKER_01 42:57

Yeah, we have a no-sit policy, whether it's a basketball or football, you cannot sit down. Like it's you watch a Duke basketball game, no one's sitting. No, you know, I'm like to the basketball game, I was like, you can't sit. My daughter sat one time and I'm like, You're out. She goes, No, you're out. You're banned. She got seen less and had to go sit, you know. Then but it but the point is like leading people to have a good time. And it's like, man, if it's if I've got to be the class clown, I I can play it and I can bounce back and do it again. Man, I'm not embarrassed of any of it. I think I got caught. It was like moonwalking after that game, the one of no shirt on on the on the field. And it's like I don't know that was great. It was a great week. It was great. I just I just don't want to miss out on that. I mean, it's just the most exciting. And we and again, it's like the people that we're building, we're building these fans that are hanging out with us. Man, they they're setting it, we're setting expectations and man, it's just like we're doing our part to try to build our and it's and everybody looks for a different experience. It's like sitting in the cold and stacking beers up, whatever. I mean, that's not it's not for everybody, but it This for me and that and like in this crowd, you know, and these are we're creating folks that that haven't been to football game that are coming now, like you got some tickets, you got some tickets. So we're just like buying as many of those things as I can afford and man them, handing them out and just giving them the what we're merchandising who we have down there with us.

Meet The Team Events To Attend

SPEAKER_00 44:17

And kind of going back to Coach Jones, and I know you guys have become close with him as well, but you see the attention to detail with him, and he's so hands-on. He cares about the fan experience. He wants it to be great too. And he's got an event coming up at the end of April where he's gonna give fans an inside look at kind of the program, and it doesn't cost anything to come out, but that's that's just something that that he's doing. The spring game's coming up later on this month. So there's ways to get to know these players. And I know there's turnover, but there's a great culture already in place. And and that's one thing that Coach Jones has done. He's built this thing his way, and just some great people around this program that that you want to root for.

SPEAKER_02 45:07

Oh, absolutely. Yeah, I would encourage everybody to to that's interested to to try to attend that on the I think it's April the 30th. It is free. It's a BIP uh type event. And I talked to Butch a little bit this morning. I mean, he wants everybody to get to know the staff and to get to know the players. You know, a lot of it's hard to get to know the football players like you do the basketball, but you just don't see them unless they're a high profile, you know, that's the quarterback or, you know, a star receiver or something. You just don't get that, you know, you just don't know, you don't feel like you know them as well because you never see their face. You know, you right? Sure. Uh you know, and and it's and it's much um, it creates such more of a um, you know, a reason to go out and support and feel like you're a part of the team when you when you when you know the players and the coaches, feel like you're more a part of it. So I think he's on point there. He's a great leader. Uh he's trying to do all of these things to get um you know to move the program to the next level. And um I'm looking forward to that that event. And he, you know, he's very um, you're right, his attention to detail is really something, um, really something else. I mean, he knows everything that's going on in that stadium and outside that stadium on game day and and and the days leading up to to game day. And uh he is fully engaged and um he likes things a certain way. And you know, he back to the expectations of us winning and doing, he he he wants things a certain way, and and he's right in having those expectations. And you know, that's and that and that starts with the Tell Gates and all the stuff going around town and all the fanfare. I mean, he really, really pays attention to that and trying to all kind of student wise.

SPEAKER_01 46:56

I mean, everything he does or the and I'd like to clarify real quick, I mean, no one wants to win more in that stadium than Butch Jones. Yeah, I mean, that dude is a competitor, and he does not like to lose. I mean, that dude is out there, he is giving it all he's got. But I tell you there, no one in that no one in there wants to win more than that guy. No one's trying harder. I mean, it's just and the consistency, you know, like to your point of turnover, that's every business, every successful business. You know, you man, you're gonna have turnover. That's just the nature of the beast. You know, it's like my business, I had turnover, you know, you but you're trying to create people to be better off, like it's wherever their career takes them. And coach is such a great mentor to these kids. And I think that's the part of back to us, meaning it's our school, it's our brand, this is our football team. That's our coach. You know, that's our it's our our job at the end of the day, is like we want these kids to be better. And then, man, if it means they move on or the coaches move on, good. Bring it to that, like good. But Bush is such a strong CEO, like good, he's just I mean, and it it you look at the most successful coaches in time, it they their culture. I mean, I like the idea of the 20, 30 year plan. It's like, man, you you're you're not gonna ever find a better brain, coaching brain. And it's like, but switching out your OCDs, man, that's gonna that's just nature of the beast, the players, especially now with with NIL, things like that. But it's like, I mean, you've got to have a very core vision and like mission statement, I like in a in a business slash locker room. I mean, he's done that. He's cast that vision, he's cast a winning vision, and and uh with all the uncertainty, man, it's like nothing. I mean, it's still it's still man, his expect expectation is to win. And with turnover, that's fine, man. That's good. People moving on, good. You know, to that's a good point.

SPEAKER_02 48:40

It would with all this uncertainty out there with rosters every year and year to year. I mean, it is refreshing to have the stability of uh of Coach Jones and his staff. I mean, who you know, the the the the people are gonna come and go. It's the nature of NCAA right now. But man, that feels good knowing that that system is there and that culture is there. And he's done a really good job of keeping a lot of these guys. I mean, it's just tough. But um, man, he's stable, he wants to win. I'm behind him a thousand percent.

SPEAKER_00 49:13

Yeah.

Culture Turnaround Under Butch Jones

SPEAKER_00 49:14

And the number one thing I can say about that is the first year that he was at Arkansas State, that culture was wasn't in place yet. I didn't really enjoy walking through that football facility that season, but the next year, it completely changed. And you walk through the halls now, and there's just good people that you want to be around, the coaching staff, the people around the program, the support staff, the players. They're people that you want to get behind.

SPEAKER_02 49:48

Matt, you know better than anybody um how what sort of condition the program was in when Butch came the first year or two. I mean, I it we we we weren't in a good spot. Um and I I don't know that that got talked about as as much as it probably should have back then. Um, but it it was not good. Um and you know, I think he was probably a little surprised too how how where we were in in that. Um and I'm I'm grateful that the fan base, you know, as he went through that transition period, you know, you know, you always got some outliers that are, you know, you know that are always gonna complain um that we that we that we went through those bad times. Because you know, we you could see the end was he was gonna bring us out of that, but we were not in a good spot. We um the culture was bad, you know, there's a lot of there's a lot of things that you know we don't have to talk about it here today, but it we just weren't in a good spot. And I think we've recovered. I mean, those things like you know, this you you don't turn that kind of ship around quickly at all. I mean, it um it took it that naturally took some time to do that, and you know, he got it done, and um, I think we're heading the right direction.

SPEAKER_00 51:05

Well, guys, this has been fun. Love talking A State. You guys are two of the biggest supporters there are, and I know you're like me. You can't wait till we get out there in September, start playing games again.

SPEAKER_02 51:20

Matt, um, I'm I'm gonna toot your horn for a minute. Like the effort you put in to Arkansas State Athletic, you are everywhere. Um, I can't imagine listening to a game or being at a game when you weren't there and leading the charge. I mean, I your role in all of this, I'm not I mean it sincerely, like it is it's just so important. And I can't imagine any of this happening without all the stuff that you do and and and and your organization. So thank you. I appreciate being here. I appreciate it. I feel like we're saying that. This is going uh man, we could talk for hours. Oh, I mean we could. Where's the second hour?

SPEAKER_00 52:03

We could do it, we'll keep going. Well, again, thank you guys for coming in today.

Subscribe And Closing Thanks

SPEAKER_00 52:08

Been a blast. Uh, we want to invite everybody to subscribe to this podcast. You can do that wherever you get your podcast. Check out the website as well at Arkansas State Media Network.com. And we'll talk to you next time on Saturdays in Jonesboro.