MOBILE, Ala. -- Arkansas State will be placed on a national stage for Sunday's GoDaddy Bowl against Toledo and some Red Wolves see another benefit to the game that will be seen by an ESPN audience.
Redemption.
"We got embarrassed twice this year on national television," ASU linebacker Xavier Woodson said. "Third time's the charm. We've got to come right. We've got to come correct."
ASU enters the game with a 7-5 record, but is 0-4 in games broadcast on national networks. ASU has lost to Tennessee 34-19 (SEC Network), Miami 41-20 (ESPNU), Louisiana-Lafayette 55-40 (ESPN2) and Texas State 45-27 (ESPNU). The two embarrassments Woodson was referring to were losses at Louisiana-Lafayette and Texas State, Sun Belt Conference foes who took advantage of ASU's inability to stop a physical running team.
ASU Coach Blake Anderson brushed aside the notion that disappointing losses on national television can provide extra motivation. Instead, Anderson said he's looking at the benefits of another game in a national spotlight.
Toledo is 2-3 this season when playing on ESPN networks. The Rockets beat Kent State (30-20) and Bowling Green (27-20) and lost to Missouri (49-24), Cincinnati (58-34) and Northern Illinois (27-24).
"Obviously, anytime you get that platform, you want to do a great job with it," Anderson said. "I still think we've represented ourselves well. We haven't won. We've had some ups and downs. ... I think we have a fun brand of football. I think people know that we're just going to get better. As much as we're disappointed that we didn't win them, I think the guys represented us well."
SPARKED BY SNUB
While Arkansas State was preparing to play in the GoDaddy Bowl a year ago at this time, Toledo was sitting at home, despite the teams having identical 7-5 records.
ASU was the Sun Belt Conference representative in last year's game, like it is this year, and played Ball State from the Mid-American Conference. Toledo, which is the MAC representative this year, wasn't selected to any bowl after reaching the postseason in three consecutive years .
Coach Matt Campbell and some players said Friday it's been a source of motivation all season long.
"I think it really left a hard taste in our mouths," Campbell said. "I remember talking to our kids about it, and we said in life, when you have the opportunity to control your own destiny and you don't, sometimes bad things happen. That's what occurred."
There is really no way to directly guarantee a bowl invite, but Toledo went 8-4 in earning its fourth bowl invite in five seasons.
"I think Coach Campbell really did a good job motivating us after last year," quarterback Logan Woodside said. "Going 7-5, that's not how Toledo wants to represent itself."
NO PADS, NO PROBLEM
Arkansas State practiced at the University of South Alabama again Friday, and again did so without pads. The Red Wolves won't wear pads in a walk-through today, meaning Sunday's 8 p.m. kickoff will be their first time in pads since Monday, their last practice in Jonesboro.
Red Wolves Coach Blake Anderson said he doesn't think his team will lack any crispness from the week without heavy hitting. ASU installed its game plan for Sunday before leaving Jonesboro, and he said there was no need to hit during Mobile practices.
"This is more about cardio, conditioning and focus," Anderson said. "I like what we did today. Just didn't feel like we had the luxury to keep banging, and honestly didn't feel like we needed to."
BLACKMON FINE
Defensive tackle Dexter Blackmon worked with strength and conditioning coaches on the sidelines while Arkansas State went through about a 90-minute workout at the University of South Alabama's practice fields Friday. Blackmon tweaked a hamstring during Thursday's practice and Coach Blake Anderson said Blackmon's absence from practice Friday was "precautionary."
Blackmon has been recovering from an ankle injury that caused him to miss the Red Wolves' loss at Texas State to end the regular season. Anderson said he expects Blackmon, who has started 11 games this season, to play Sunday.
"He was fine," Anderson said. "We just thought don't over do it today and at the end of it he said it was feeling good."
Sports on 01/03/2015