Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

News and notes from Arkansas State’s Monday football media availability …

I. New Challenge
Arkansas State’s first three games were a challenge. Scheduled were a pair of Top 25 opponents, plus the Red Wolves’ biggest non-conference rival.

This week comes a test of a different kind for ASU (1-2).

Alcorn State (1-2) is a struggling Football Championship Subdivision opponent. The Braves have been outscored 66-9 in the previous two games after opening the season with a 22-21 victory against Grambling.

Will the Red Wolves be able to focus on this game, particularly with Western Kentucky coming to town a week later? That game is the Sun Belt Conference opener for ASU, the defending league champ.

Coach Gus Malzahn said he expects ASU to be plenty focused this week. He wants the players looking inward more than anything else as they fix some issues — improving the vertical passing game and defensive breakdowns among them — this week.

“Well, I would say that we need to worry about us,” Malzahn said. “We need to play well and improve. I really don’t’ see us looking ahead for anything from a coach's standpoint or a player standpoint. We need to play well at home. We need to get a victory. And that’s our concentration, nothing else.”

Kickoff against Alcorn State is set for 6 p.m.

II. Too Early To Tell
Western Kentucky and Louisiana-Monroe have victories against SEC teams. WKU knocked off Kentucky on Saturday and ULM beat then-No. 8 Arkansas in Week 2.

Those victories were attention getters for the Sun Belt, but Malzahn said it’s too early to declare either team the favorite in the league. In fact, he said he’s not sure enough football has been played to name frontrunners at this point.

“I think it’s way too early to see how the race is shaking out other than the fact there’s been some conference teams play very well against good, you know, out of conference opponents,” Malzahn said. “So that’s been the positive standpoint from the conference as it’s concerned. But as far as how it’s stacking up, there’s still a lot to be said. I think until you really get into your conference it’s hard to predict.”

III. Missed Opportunities
Nebraska had a more physical, faster football team than Arkansas State in last week’s 42-13 victory. That showed in the score and the way the Red Wolves were tackling late in the game.