Second thoughts

— Malzahn wants none of fan feud

The roar went up when Arkansas State fans spotted four Red Wolves trotting toward the 50-yard-line with a banner flapping in the wind.

It posed a question: “How long will the Hogs run?”

Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, though, wasn’t amused.

He broke into a run to cover 20 yards of the Liberty Bank Stadium turf, and wasn’t shy in telling the players in question to drop it, both the sign and the topic after the Red Wolves’ 45-23 victory over Louisiana-Monroe on Thursday in Jonesboro.

The question loomed around the game for five days: If ASU beat a Warhawks team that toppled then-No. 8 Arkansas, what would that portend in a potential matchup between the state’s lone FBS programs?

Earlier in the week, Malzahn said he understood the scenario stirred fan interest, but held littleimportance ahead of game critical to ASU’s chances to move closer toward a second consecutive Sun Belt Conference title.

On Thursday, Malzahn’s answer deftly showed he wanted no part of the discussion.

“I’m not one of those [coaches] that gets into all that and compares stuff like that,” Malzahn said. “All I know is we beat a pretty good football team on our home field, and I’m so excited for our players, our fans and our coaches.”

But there’s one big problem with comparing Arkansas’ loss to Louisiana-Monroe with ArkansasState’s victory over the Warhawks.

Louisiana-Monroe entered Thursday’s game missing seven defensive starters - including their top defensive lineman, linebacker, and secondary defender - and having to prepare backups five days after a 40-24 loss to Louisiana-Lafayette.

Offensively, the Warhawks lost their top two running backs in Centarius Donald and Jyruss Edwards. A week ago, quarterback Kolton Browning, who averages a Sun Belt-leading 301.6 yards per game of total offense, left the game against theRagin’ Cajuns with a left foot injury. Browning was the hero for the Warhawks against the Hogs, scoring the winning touchdown in overtime.

ASU quarterback Ryan Aplin also addressed the issue.

“There’s things we can control, and there’s things we can’t control.

Scheduling is one of them,” Aplin said. “The teams that are on our schedule, we’re going to come out and fight. If the opportunity presents itself, we’d love to do that.” He has a point

There’s lots of logic to question in this story about Salem (Va.) High School’s mascot and the teen who plays Sunny.

But sophomore Myron Simon does have the act of flattery down pat after spending his afternoons as the lone male practicing with the 20-member cheerleading squad.

“Dudes in school, I tell them they should come out cause it is a group of very beautiful and intelligent young women and why wouldn’t you want to be around that for hours every day?” Myron told WTKR-TV in Norfolk, Va.

Must have been a slow news day.

Quote of the day

“It’s a pretty awesome feeling to sit here and be

undefeated. It’s pretty special.” Henderson State Coach Scott Maxfield, after the Reddies’ 42-7 victory over Ouachita Baptist on Saturday

Sports, Pages 24 on 11/11/2012

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