Head coach Steve Roberts left the practice field pleased with what Arkansas State accomplished during Tuesday?s practice.
The Red Wolves are preparing for their second game of the season against a Top 25 opponent, Saturday?s nationally televised meeting with 13th-ranked Iowa. The Red Wolves (1-2) and Hawkeyes (4-0) meet at 11 a.m.
?We?re pleased with the way the kids have responded,? Roberts said after Tuesday?s practice. ?I feel like we believe we can go in and compete, have an opportunity to win. We know it?s going to take a tremendous effort and we have to cash in on opportunities, but we?ll have opportunities. We have to make the most of them when they present themselves.?
Iowa hasn?t allowed opponents to do much with scoring opportunities, allowing only 11.5 points per game. The Hawkeyes shut out then-No. 5 Penn State for the final three quarters of their 21-10 victory over the Nittany Lions last weekend in State College, Pa.
Thanks largely to 12 turnovers forced, including nine interceptions, the Hawkeyes are among the national leaders in turnover margin. The Red Wolves broke even in turnover margin during their first three games, gaining five and losing five.
?We?ve done a great job offensively of maintaining the ball. Our turnovers have come in the kicking game,? Roberts said. ?We have to get hands on more balls defensively. I thought we made some big strides from Nebraska to Troy as far as competing for throws and that type of stuff. Hopefully we?ll continue to make that type of improvement.?
ASU vs. the Big Ten
Iowa will become only the third Big Ten team ASU has ever faced. The Red Wolves are 0-4 in previous meetings with Big Ten opponents, losing two each against Minnesota and Illinois.
ASU?s last meeting with a Big Ten team resulted in a 59-7 loss at Illinois in 2002, Roberts? first season as head coach. Asked what he recalls about that game, Roberts replied, ?Not a whole lot, except they were very physical as well. Hopefully we?ll be a little bit better prepared for that now.?
The Red Wolves nearly upset Minnesota in the 1998 season opener, falling 17-14 on a last-play field goal. Their other encounters with Big Ten teams resulted in a 41-3 loss at Illinois in 1999 and a 55-7 setback at Minnesota in 1995.
The Red Wolves are preparing for their second game of the season against a Top 25 opponent, Saturday?s nationally televised meeting with 13th-ranked Iowa. The Red Wolves (1-2) and Hawkeyes (4-0) meet at 11 a.m.
?We?re pleased with the way the kids have responded,? Roberts said after Tuesday?s practice. ?I feel like we believe we can go in and compete, have an opportunity to win. We know it?s going to take a tremendous effort and we have to cash in on opportunities, but we?ll have opportunities. We have to make the most of them when they present themselves.?
Iowa hasn?t allowed opponents to do much with scoring opportunities, allowing only 11.5 points per game. The Hawkeyes shut out then-No. 5 Penn State for the final three quarters of their 21-10 victory over the Nittany Lions last weekend in State College, Pa.
Thanks largely to 12 turnovers forced, including nine interceptions, the Hawkeyes are among the national leaders in turnover margin. The Red Wolves broke even in turnover margin during their first three games, gaining five and losing five.
?We?ve done a great job offensively of maintaining the ball. Our turnovers have come in the kicking game,? Roberts said. ?We have to get hands on more balls defensively. I thought we made some big strides from Nebraska to Troy as far as competing for throws and that type of stuff. Hopefully we?ll continue to make that type of improvement.?
ASU vs. the Big Ten
Iowa will become only the third Big Ten team ASU has ever faced. The Red Wolves are 0-4 in previous meetings with Big Ten opponents, losing two each against Minnesota and Illinois.
ASU?s last meeting with a Big Ten team resulted in a 59-7 loss at Illinois in 2002, Roberts? first season as head coach. Asked what he recalls about that game, Roberts replied, ?Not a whole lot, except they were very physical as well. Hopefully we?ll be a little bit better prepared for that now.?
The Red Wolves nearly upset Minnesota in the 1998 season opener, falling 17-14 on a last-play field goal. Their other encounters with Big Ten teams resulted in a 41-3 loss at Illinois in 1999 and a 55-7 setback at Minnesota in 1995.
