[2024] Aggieland Book Report: Week 3 - Arkansas State

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Wow last week SUCKED but we will REBUILD!

Nobody said it would be easy to go into the #1 teams home and come out with a win. In fact, I think we all learned last week that it is very hard to win those type of games. But that's all in the past now. We move on to the next opponent on the schedule, and are prepared to re-build into becoming a strong force in the SEC. How will we re-build? Um.......I don't know. Football is still a very foreign concept to us here in the Battalion. But we do like to do research on these cities where Universities have become a staple to their economy. And so, we move on with our "scouting" report, this week, in an effort to become better than we've ever been. Let's go to Arkansas.

 

Jonesboro, Arkansas

So this is where they boro all those Jones'

What is a "Jonesboro"? - In a basic sense, a town in Arkansas. In an etymology sense, the land for the county was originally a part of Mississippi before becoming a part of Arkansas. When Craighead County formed from this land, they named the original county seat Jonesborough in honor of State Senator William A. Jones who was the man mostly involved with creating the county. This backstory is so boring I have no choice but to believe this is not what actually happened but it's the only story we could find. 

Where is this "Jonesboro"? - In a basic sense, Arkansas. In a geographical sense, it is in the Northeast corner of the state of Arkansas. The town is about 80 sq miles. In a latitudinal/longitudinal sense, it sits at 35° 48′ 40″ N, 90° 41′ 49″ W.

Why is "Jonesboro" a thing? - In a basic sense, hunting and trading. In a historical sense, after the Louisiana Purchase, settlers moved into the area and began hunting, trapping, exploring, and trading with the local Indian tribes. Eventually Jonesboro became the largest settlement in the area and became the county seat for Craighead. And if you're wondering if it ever became a rail stop, you know the answer is uh yeah of course it did. Fun fact! There were efforts to build a courthouse in town a few years after it was incorporated, however it was delayed for YEARS because the locals did not want to interfere with their hunting seasons. Not long after finishing the first courthouse, it burned in a fire in 1869. So they converted a store across the street into a courthouse...and then that burned in a fire in 1876. So they built another building...and that burned in a fire 2 years later.

Who is in "Jonesboro"? - In a basic sense, humans. In a demographical sense, the 2020 census reports that the population of Jonesboro is 78,576, the 5th most populous city in Arkansas. The town is 71% white non-Hispanic, 21% Black or African American non-Hispanic, and 7% Hispanic or Latino. Jonesboro is the principal city of the Jonesboro-Paragould Combined Statistical Area, a CSA with a population of 179k according to that 2020 census. 

Top 5 Things To Do in Jonesboro (Sponsored by TripAdvisor)

This uh, this might be a short write-up, just FYI

• #5 - Civil Axe Throwing - Jonesboro - So, as you can probably already tell, this is a smaller town with not much to do. That being said, who can say no to some good axe throwing? It's, it's really just a normal axe throwing place.
• #4 - Centennial Bank Stadium - Well, this is a new one. The stadium we are playing in is one of the top things to do in Jonesboro. Not really sure what the protocol is here. Here's a blurb about some in stadium features I guess: Centennial Bank Stadium features a multi-level press box, which houses media areas, coaching booths, broadcasting locations, a video control booth, camera areas, suites, a club area and more. The face of the stadium has been redesigned to include 42 loge boxes, 20 suites, a club area covering close to 8,000 square feet (740 m2) and 344 club seats in its revenue-generating areas. Not only has depth been added to the press box, it now spans from approximately the 15-to-15 yard lines, allowing for enhanced media, coaching, broadcasting, control booth, visiting athletics director suite, and camera areas.
• #3 - ASU Museum - Finally an interesting and unique attraction! The University Museum offers exhibits that help further academic research by providing quality programming to the people of NE Arkansas. See and learn things about the Arkansas Frontier, including wildlife and Native American art. Conduct earthquake experiments and see the giant Mastodon fossil. It's fun-ducational!
• #2 - Forrest L Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center - If the amount of fun had was tied to the number of letters used in the place's title, then this must be the most fun place on Earth! The three-story facility offers an educational experience focusing on the local wildlife in the area, ranging from large game animals to the smallest insects. There's also 3 miles of hiking trails so you can do your own damn research if you want!
• #1 - Craighead Forest Park - As seen pictured above, you can get some really nice views in Jonesboro. The best place to get these views is at Craighead Forest Park. The park offers several different buildings and facilities for the public (including a dog jumping pier WHAT!) and is 692 acres of forest beauty. Activities include basketball, biking & running trails, bird watching, camping, disc golf, fishing, horseshoes, playgrounds and softball & volleyball fields. And the lake has catchable bass, bream, crappie and tilapia.

Arkansas State University

The crown jewel of Jonesboro...no, really

Arkansas State University is a public research university in Jonesboro. The university was founded in 1909 as the First District Agricultural School. In 1925 it became the First District Agricultural and Mechanical College. The first 4-year program started in 1930, and in 1933 the name changed again to Arkansas State College. Finally, in 1967, the Arkansas state legislature elevated the college to a university. Enrollment is about 15k, with an acceptance rate of 70% and a graduation rate of 53%. 2023 U.S. News & World Report has Arkansas State as the 361st best school in the country. Its motto is "Educate, Enhance, Enrich." 

NOTABLE ALUMNI:

Debbye Turner - Miss America, 1990

Jeff Hartwig - former U.S. Record holder for Pole Vaulting

Earl Bell - former World Record holder for Pole Vaulting

Rodger Bumpass - voice of Squidward Tortellini (what the sigma??)

The Arkansas State Red Wolves

Yeah alright it looks pretty sick

Why Red Wolves? - In the early history of ASU, the team went by multiple different nicknames, including Aggies (hey!) Gorillas, and Warriors. But in 1931, the school settled on being called the Indians. ASU had a trio of Indian mascots, with the only named one being Chief Big Track (named after an Osage chief), the other two were an unnamed brave and princess (look, it was Arkansas in the 1930s ok? Didn't exactly age well!) Local tribes including the Cherokee worked with the university to use accurate attire, dances, and appearances. In 2007, the mascot review committee voted unanimously to retire the Indians namesake. A panel was created to select a new team name. They had 12 finalists: A's (athletics), Black/Red Wolves, Diamonds, Express, Mallards, Mustangs, Red Dragons, Red Storm, Ridge Runners, Ridge Riders, and Thunderbirds. A further cutting down of the list left three candidates: Red Wolves, Ridge Riders, and Express Train. On the last day of January 2008, the committee voted on the Red Wolves (personally I liked Ridge Runners for its uniqueness, but Red Wolves is also good). 

Unfortunately the school does not have actual wolf mascots

Sports? - Yes. The school sponsors 13 sports and also has women's bowling which is not a sponsored league. For both men's and women's there's basketball, cross country, golf, and track and field. They have baseball but no softball, and for soccer, tennis, and volleyball those are all women's teams only. And of course they also play...

FOOTBALL!

Hard to make any football stadium look bad honestly, this is no exception

The House - Centennial Bank Stadium

The Cap - 30,406

The Field - ProGreen

The Name - While formerly known as Indian Stadium and ASU Stadium, in 2012 Liberty Bank became the title sponsor after they donated $5 million to the university. A year later Liberty Bank was bought by Centennial Bank and thus the name changed as well.

Extra Curriculars? - Other than the occasional high school football game....nope.

IN CONCLUSION

Arkansas State University is the most notable thing about Jonesboro Arkansas. The Aggies will go into enemy territory and come out with a win, destabilizing the local economy.