Jim's Notebook: The 'Other' Arkansas-Alabama Match Huge for Red Wolves

'OTHER ARKANSAS-ALABAMA MATCH HUGE FOR RED WOLVES: One hour after Arkansas and Alabama kick off from Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, another showdown between programs of the two states will begin in Jonesboro when Arkansas State welcomes three-time defending Sun Belt champ Troy.

Both games get TV coverage. We know where most of the state's attention will be. CBS picked up the Razorbacks and Crimson Tide for a 2:30 p.m. start, but after an hour of that one, Arkies may want to switch over to how the state's other Division I (Bowl Subdivision) fares. The Sun Belt Network is carrying ASU and Troy (Comcast Sports South, Channel 23, in Little Rock).

Yes, Arkansas State is allowed to compete for a bowl appearance, though the Red Wolves were passed over with the required six wins last year. A Sun Belt Conference championship puts them in the New Orleans Bowl before Christmas. A loss to Troy will not derail those title and/or bowl hopes, but it won't help.

A win over Troy won't guarantee the league title either, as ASU learned in 2006 after winning the Sun Belt the year before and playing in the New Orleans Bowl. Not to make light of any of the problems Hurricane Katrina caused the Crescent City in 2005, but it seemed just ASU's luck that the New Orleans Bowl that year would be played in Lafayette, La. Hey, we love Lafayette, but it's not New Orleans. 

PERSONNEL LOSSES: Bad weather kept ASU coach Steve Roberts from being able to fly to Little Rock for his usual Thursday-before-a-home-game noontime press conference. He gave us some one-on-one phone time from Jonesboro instead.

Roberts says the key players are healthy and ready to go. Playing Troy last year the first weekend in December meant the Red Wolves were probably a lot more nicked up than they'd be facing their third foe. Plus, ASU got a week off between the 38-9 loss at Nebraska and Saturday's game with Troy to rest up and get a jump on defending the Trojans' wide-open offensive scheme.

Still, ASU will be without three players who started the year. Defensively, senior safety Evan Van Dolah and middle linebacker Darius Glover are done for the year. Van Dolah broke his leg in the opener against Mississippi Valley State and his absence was felt against Nebraska's passing attack, Roberts said. Glover, who missed the Nebraska trip, underwent surgery last week for a broken wrist, and doctors had to take bone from his hip to repair the wrist, Roberts said.

Offensive lineman Dominic Padarta is also done for the year.

Reflecting on the manpower lost, Roberts said, "We've probably have have more people lost of the season in just our two games than we did in the 10 or 11 games leading into last year's Troy game."