MOBILE, Ala. - Tony Gil bert placed the phone call on the morning of Feb. 4, 2009.

A key piece of Arkansas State’s recruiting class that was being finalized that day had fallen off, and the Red Wolves had a hole to fill.

So Gilbert, ASU’s recruit ing coordinator at the time called the parents of a stocky defensive tackle from Nash ville, Tenn. The defensive tackle hadn’t even visited Jonesboro, but Gilbert had told him that ASU wanted him badly.

“I said, ‘We’ve got some guys on the bubble. If things change, would you be interested?’ ” said Gilbert, recalling his conversation with Ryan Carrethers.

Carrethers was still interested when Gilbert called with an offer that morning. Soinstead of signing with FCS member Tennessee-Martin, he signed with ASU sight unseen, officially marking the start of a career that eventually led to Carrethers becoming a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference player.

Tonight, a month shy of the five-year anniversary of that snap decision, Carrethers and 10 of his teammates left from the class of 2009 will play their final game as Red Wolves when ASU (7-5) takes on Ball State (10-2) at 8 p.m.

in the GoDaddy Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

“The seniors want to leavea mark,” Carrethers said.

If one tried to judge the 2009 class - the second-to-last signed by former coach Steve Roberts - solely by onthe-field accomplishments, it would certainly rank as one of the most successful in ASU history.

Tonight marks the fourth time ASU has played in a bowl game since moving to the FBS in 1992, and the third consecutive season. The class has helped the Red Wolves win at least a share of the Sun Belt title each of the past three seasons, and a victory tonight would give ASU 32 over a four-year period, the most since Larry Lacewell led ASU to 34 victories in 1985-1988.

“They’re winners,” said John Thompson, who is serving as interim coach tonight. “No matter what happens after today, they’re winners and they’ve set a legacy here at Arkansas State.”

The victories and the annual trips to Mobile don’t tell the whole story.

Placing responsibility for ASU’s best run of success in almost three decades is difficult considering the program has undergone more transition during that time than maybe any other college football team in almost seven decades.

Blake Anderson will take over as the Red Wolves’ fifth head coach in five seasons following tonight’s game. He replaces Bryan Harsin, who left last month to become the head coach at Boise State. Harsin had replaced Gus Malzahn, who led ASU to the Sun Belt title in 2012 in his one season in Jonesboro before leaving for Auburn.

Malzahn had replaced Hugh Freeze, who won a conference title in 2011 in his lone season as the Red Wolves’ coach before leaving for Ole Miss. Freeze had replaced Roberts, whose resignation after going 4-8 in 2010 opened the revolving door at ASU.

That stretch is believed to be the first time a school has had five head football coaches in five seasons since Kansas State did it in 1944-48.

On top of that, ASU has had two different athletic directors, system presidents and chancellors. Over the past four seasons, 28 assistant coaches have called the ASU Football Facility home, and Carrethers has played for five different defensive line coaches.

The only constant has been a senior class that came together toward the end of Roberts’ tenure.

That hasn’t been lost on defensive line coach Steve Caldwell, who was an ASU defensive end when ASU went 30-13 in the mid-1970s.

“I told the whole football team, as a letterman, as an alumni, thanks for what they’ve done and the way they’ve held it together,” Caldwell said. “You’ve got to take your hat off to them.”

Not that it’s been easy for a group that came together a bit by accident.

Carrethers wasn’t offered until signing day. Offensive lineman Cliff Mitchell didn’t hear from ASU until he let offers from Vanderbilt and Baylor go by without committing. Wide receiver Julian Jones was overlooked because he played receiver in a Wishbone offense, and defensive tackle Amos Draper didn’t get to Jonesboro until after he had spent a summer at Alabama-Birmingham and realized it wasn’t the place for him.

Roberts, now the athletic director at Cabot High School, said he always had a goodfeeling about the group that will include five starters in tonight’s game.

“The character of that group was outstanding, tremendous individuals, very competitive,” Roberts said. “We always said, we needed 90 percent of great character and 10 percent that are learning that they are great kids.”

That character was tested after the players’ second season in 2010, one that ended with a 4-8 record for a second consecutive season. Roberts resigned two days after a season-ending loss to Florida International, and three days after that Freeze, who served as Roberts’ offensive coordinator, was named his successor.

“We became each other’s backbone,” Jones said. “We made each other strong.”

Freeze helped create a family atmosphere around ASU, Jones said, and the Red Wolves took off during Ryan Aplin’s second season as the starting quarterback. ASU won nine consecutive games to earn an outright Sun Belt title for the first time before Freeze left in December for Ole Miss.

Then Malzahn arrived, using a similar offense to lead ASU to seven consecutive victories and another conference title before he bolted to Auburn, where previously he had served as an offensive coordinator. Thompson took over as interim coach and led ASU to a 17-13 victory over Kent State in the GoDaddy Bowl.

“We just kind of stick together,” Mitchell said. “Whatever we’ve got to do, we go do. It hasn’t been easy, but we’re a close team. We’ll make it.”

That bond had grown so strong by last summer that it was obvious to newcomers the team belonged to the seniors.

When quarterback Adam Kennedy arrived on campus in May after transferring from Utah State, he learned quickly that he had to win over that group first. He knew the starting quarterback job would bedecided by the coaches, but he realized early that the heart of the team was inside that circle of seniors.

“They were playing for themselves,” Kennedy said. “They were playing for each other.”

Considering how they helped build ASU’s success, and have maintained it through so much change, most agree on how they will be remembered.

“As winners,” Roberts said. “They overcame a ton of adversity, and they’ve come out on top.”Class of 2009

Eleven players who made up Arkansas State’s recruiting class in 2009 used all five seasons of eligibility. During their careers they helped ASU go from consecutive 4-8 seasons in 2009 and 2010 to three consecutive Sun Belt Conference titles and GoDaddy Bowl appearances. ASU is 31-19 during their playing careers.

PLAYER POS. HOMETOWN COMMENTLaAngelo Albright LB Prattville, Ala. Used mainly on special teamsPhillip Butterfield QB Lake Hamilton Slowed by 2 knee injuriesJake Campbell OL Belleville, Ill. Started two games in 2011Ryan Carrethers DL Nasvhille, Tenn. Two-time first-team All-Sun BeltAmos Draper DL Tanner, Ala. Started 10 games past two seasonsDarius Dunaway DL Monroe, La. Reserve, 15 tackles, 2 sacks in 2013Julian Jones WR Germantown, Tenn. Moved from DB to WR in 2011Carlos McCants WR Mobile, Ala. 31 career catches for 199 yardsCliff Mitchell OL Jasper, Texas 3-year fixture on lineAllen Muse WR Leesville, La. Finished with 91 catchesDexter Samuel TE Hampton Career reserveBowl historyARKANSAS STATE (1-2)DATE BOWL RESULTJan. 6, 2013 GoDaddy.com Bowl Arkansas State 17, Kent State 13Jan. 8, 2012 GoDaddy.Com Bowl N. Illinois 38, Arkansas State 20Dec. 20, 2005 New Orleans Bowl Southern Miss. 31, Arkansas State 19BALL STATE (0-6)DATE BOWL RESULTDec. 21, 2012 Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl UCF 38, Ball State 17Jan. 6, 2009 GMAC Bowl Tulsa 45, Ball State 13Jan. 5, 2008 International Bowl Rutgers 52, Ball State 30Dec. 19, 1996 Las Vegas Bowl Nevada 18, Ball State 15Dec. 17, 1993 Las Vegas Bowl Utah St. 42, Ball State 33Dec. 9, 1989 California Bowl Fresno St. 27, Ball State 6

Sports, Pages 21 on 01/05/2014