By Audrey Poff, Photography by Melissa Donner and submitted by A-State Athletics

Long before the A-State Red Wolves kicked off their football season with the home opener on Aug. 30, plans were underway to keep fans engaged throughout the upcoming season. 

Brad Bobo, Arkansas State Athletics associate athletic director for marketing and fan engagement, says Red Wolves football fans have a lot to look forward to this fall.

“First of all, the biggest thing I think we have to offer fans is what I think is the best home schedule in program history,” said Bobo. “Five of the six opponents made it to postseason play last year. They averaged more than nine wins apiece in 2024, including an Iowa State team that will likely be the highest-ranked opponent to ever play at Centennial Bank Stadium. We also have two national TV broadcasts at home this year: the Iowa State game on Sept. 13 will air on ESPN2, and our final home game of the year against the Ragin' Cajuns will be on ESPN on Thursday, Nov. 20.”

In addition, Bobo said A-State Athletics has promotional items that will be given away again this season. 

“We’re thrilled to say that, for the third straight year, we are offering a promotional giveaway item at all six home games,” said Bobo. “That’s not something a lot of our peers are doing, and we couldn’t do it without the help of some great Red Wolves Sports Properties partners around the area. I also think the fans will notice some new and innovative ways for them to get involved with the in-game presentation, some things we are very excited about breaking out in 2025.”

As the Red Wolves enter October, A-State Athletics also has plans for a monumental celebration during which it will honor the 1975 undefeated football team at the Oct. 4 game. 

“We’ve actually had two undefeated teams at A-State: the 1970 team ran the table and won a national championship. The 1975 team was playing at the highest level of college football and wasn’t picked to win the Southland Conference title,” said Bobo. “The Tribe ended up being one of only two major college teams to go unbeaten in 1975. A-State scored 32.3 points per game and only allowed 7.4. Each of those totals were in the top three in the nation that year. The team also blocked 11 punts, which is a national record that still stands.

“Despite being unbeaten and never trailing over the final five games of the year, the Indians were not invited to a bowl game. Because of that, they were dubbed as being ‘11-0 and nowhere to go.’ Following the 1975 season, and in response in large part to that snub, the Independence Bowl was formed and would go on to feature the Southland Conference champion.”

As of Aug. 15, Bobo said A-State has heard from approximately 35 members of the undefeated 1975 team.

“They are scheduled to come to town from as far out as Anchorage, Alaska,” he said. “There are several members of the team still in the area. Three who live in Jonesboro and are all members of our Hall of Honor include Robert Speer, Jerry Muckensturm and Roy Painter.

Painter, who played football for the Indians from 1973-1976, was a four-year starter. Inducted into the A-State Hall of Honor in 2002, he was considered one of the most consistent defensive players and hardest hitters on the team.

“One of Painter’s most memorable plays was a 64-yard interception return for a touchdown against Memphis in ASU’s undefeated 1975 season,” according to the A-State Athletics website. “That season and that game were later voted by fans as the ‘Top Game’ and ‘Top Season’ in ASU football history.”

Other than the excitement of an undefeated season that the team had, Painter said what stands out to him 50 years later is the bond that he and his teammates had and continue to have.

“We all did things together,” said Painter. “We hung out together in college and the majority of us still stay in contact with one another, even though we all went in different directions.”

He attributes much of the 1975 team’s success to the number of years that they were able to play together. 

“We all got there as freshmen and played four or five years together,” said Painter. “We had a lot of good athletes on that team, and everybody was doing their job. Out of the starting 22, I would say 15 or 16 of us got drafted after college or had the opportunity to play pro football and many of us got selected to play in all-star games together.”

Painter said he and teammate Robert Speer played in the 1976 Blue-Gray Classic in Montgomery, Ala. 

Following the 1975 season, Painter signed as a free agent with the New York Jets and later played with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. In 1978, he and his wife, Karen, moved back to Jonesboro where they raised their two sons.

The undefeated 1975 football team was led by Coach Bill “Bull” Davidson, who served as head football coach at Arkansas State from 1971 to 1978 with a record of 51-32-1. Davidson coached his 1975 team to a perfect season during its first year at the NCAA Division 1 level and was later inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. Davidson passed away in 1999.

“It looks like ‘Bull’ will be represented by a large group of family members, including his daughter, Sharon Davidson Konecny,” said Bobo.

Painter described Davidson as one who cared about his players.

“To me, he was a player’s coach,” said Painter. “If you needed to talk to someone or you had a problem, he was always there for us.”

Members of the undefeated team will be welcomed back on Friday, Oct. 3.

“Following the Letterwinners Club’s Hall of Honor banquet, there will be a reception and facilities tour for members of the ’75 team,” said Bobo. “On Saturday, we’re hosting a tailgate party for them and their families and will have them on the field to be recognized during the game. The giveaway item that day is a mini-banner recognizing their accomplishments.”

For more information about the upcoming games and special promotions for the Red Wolves or to purchase tickets, visit astateredwolves.com.