Arkansas State and Louisiana Tech will rekindle their long-dormant rivalry at 8 p.m. Saturday at the New Orleans Bowl.
Could there be future meetings after this season?
Neither school's athletic director was at Thursday's news conference at the Superdome to discuss the possibility, but both coaches said they would back such a series.
"I think it'd be great," ASU Coach Blake Anderson said. "The conversations come up, just not the opportunity, just because everybody's schedules seem somewhat filled. But I think it would be a great rivalry. Geographically, it fits everybody. We've got the same recruiting footprint."
Saturday will be the 38th meeting between the teams -- Louisiana Tech holds a 25-12 edge in the series -- and it's the fifth-most played series for each school. Yet the former Southland Conference and Big West rivals haven't met since 1998 -- a 69-21 Louisiana Tech victory in Jonesboro -- breaking a series that had been played 29 consecutive seasons.
Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz said he supports the idea because it's a nonconference game to which both fan bases could travel, similar to his team's series with Louisiana-Lafayette the past two seasons. Louisiana Tech will open next season at Arkansas and has a home-and-home series set up with Sun Belt member South Alabama starting in 2017.
ASU's schedule is full through its next two seasons.
"I see a benefit to it," Holtz said. "We used to be in the WAC, very hard for our fan base to get excited about some of those rivalries. They're so far away, you can't travel to them. I would applaud it. I think it would be great for both programs and both fan bases, as well."
I got him
Rocky Hayes almost let part of Arkansas State's game plan slip during Thursday's news conference at the Superdome.
The Red Wolves' senior cornerback was asked about Louisiana Tech's group of receivers, and he spoke specifically about Trent Taylor, the All-Conference USA pick who has 89 receptions for 1,113 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Hayes was asked whether he would stay to his side of the field, like usual, or track Taylor throughout Saturday's game.
"We can't really talk about it," Hayes said. "But, yeah, I am going to be doing that a little bit. It depends on how they're starting off."
No matter where Hayes lines up, he has confidence in ASU's ability to slow a group of receivers who shares catches. Quarterback Jeff Driskel's favorite target is Taylor, but Paul Turner has caught 40 passes for 560 yards and Carlos Henderson has caught 35 passes for 721 yards.
ASU faced three Sun Belt teams -- Idaho, Georgia State and Louisiana-Lafayette -- this season that have three receivers who have made at least 35 catches. ASU, which gives up an average of 251.9 yards passing per game, allowed 269.7 yards in those games, but six of its FBS-leading 26 interceptions occurred during those games, too.
"They're going to touch the ball. They're on scholarship, too," Hayes said. "It's going to be about when they do make plays, don't let it rattle us. We have to keep playing."
Another year?
Arkansas State defensive tackle Robert Mondie could play his final college game during the New Orleans Bowl, but he hopes it won't be his last.
The senior -- who transferred to play his final season with his brother, center Devin Mondie, after the brief cancellation of Alabama-Birmingham's program last spring -- said ASU is looking into filing paperwork to get him an extra year of eligibility.
Robert Mondie said his request will be based on his first season at Northeast Mississippi Community College, which was cut short when he left the school after a month to help run his father's cleaning business. His father was having back trouble and couldn't work at the time.
"Hopefully, we'll find something out maybe in the next couple of weeks," Mondie said. "So hopefully by the time spring ball rolls around, we'll know."
If not, Mondie will be pleased with his one season at ASU. He started 11 games, missing only one game with a torn MCL while making 23 tackles and helping ASU hold teams to 145 rushing yards per game, third best in the Sun Belt.
"It's been a fun ride, especially being around my brother," he said. "We just want to win that trophy and it'll be complete."
USA! USA!
Fredi Knighten came to New Orleans to play his final game as Arkansas State's quarterback, but he made a special request to offensive coordinator Walt Bell.
Knighten wanted to see the U.S. women's national soccer team play China at the Superdome on Wednesday night.
"I was like, 'Coach Bell, I really don't ask you for anything, but I'm going to ask you for something. Is it possible I can go to this game?'" Knighten said Thursday.
Bell obliged, and Knighten and about 20 other players and coaches hurried from the New Orleans Saints practice facility, where Wednesday's practice was held, downtown to the Superdome. Knighten even had time to stop at Walgreen's across the street from the team hotel for a poster board and some markers so he could write a message to his favorite player, forward Christen Press.
The sign read: "23 WILL YOU MARRY ME?"
"I don't think she saw it," Knighten said. "But, it's not done yet."
Sports on 12/18/2015