Maybe Arkansas State should just hire interim coach John Thompson as its permanent coach.
For the second-straight year, Thompson picked up the pieces of a coaching staff in turmoil -- the result of Brian Harsin being hired away by Boise State -- and led the Red Wolves to a postseason victory, this time defeating favored Ball State, 23-20, in the GoDaddy Bowl in Mobile on Sunday night.
This one featured a wild finish, as Ball State rallied from a 16-10 third-quarter deficit to take a 20-16 lead with 1:33 to play.
But ASU came back and went 59 yards in five plays, with Fredi Knighten finding Allen Muse for a 13-yard touchdown pass to put the Red Wolves up, 23-20, with 32 seconds left.
The Cardinals weren’t finished. Keith Wenning passed Ball State into Red Hawk territory, then completed a first-down throw to Willie Snead with two seconds left at the ASU 36 yard line. A late hit penalty advanced it to the 21 and BSU had a chance to pull out the victory with a field goal.
But Scott Secor’s 38-yard attempt was blocked and ASU secured the wild win.
The Red Wolves finished up the year 8-5, while Ball State fell to 10-3.
With the loss, the Cardinals dropped to 0-7 in bowl games. Arkansas State moved to 2-2 in bowls and can now embark upon its coaching search with a little bit of momentum behind it.
