The loudest moments in college football usually happen on Saturdays, but the story that lasts is the one that follows you home. We sit down with Coach Jones, tight ends coach Alex Jones, wide receiver Andrew Jones, and the Voice of the Red Wolves, Matt Stolz, for a candid look at what it means when a family builds a life around Arkansas State football and finally gets to live in the same place again. After years of being spread across Knoxville, Tuscaloosa, and multiple programs, Jonesboro becomes more than a job site. It becomes home, dinner-table territory, and a shared community investment.

We talk about what fans don’t see: how Barb Jones holds the whole operation together, how the “strict coach at home” stereotype misses the mark, and how the family keeps laughter in the mix with group texts, stories, and constant ribbing. Coach Jones also breaks down the now-famous practice microphone, why it started as a simple solution, and how it turned into a real-time teaching tool that keeps energy high while still demanding accountability. If you’re curious about coaching culture, player development, and what leadership sounds like day to day, you’ll get a front-row seat.

Then the conversation turns serious as Alex shares his health battle with a congenital bicuspid aortic valve, a marathon surgery, the shock of learning his heart was working at 50% capacity, and the path to a mechanical valve and recovery. We reflect on how that season reframed everything, deepened the family bond, and made moments like bowl wins and rings feel even more meaningful. Subscribe, share this with a Red Wolves fan, and leave a review, then tell us: what part of the behind-the-scenes life surprised you most?

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0:00 - When Football Finally Brings a Family Home

1:20 - From Knoxville to Jonesboro: Making A-State Home

3:15 - Barb Jones: The MVP Holding the Operation Together

5:10 - Group Texts & Ribbing: The Coach at the Dinner Table

7:30 - The Story Behind Coach Jones’ Famous Practice Mic

9:45 - Alex Jones: Diagnosing a Congenital Heart Condition

12:00 - 50% Capacity: The Shock, Surgery, and Mechanical Valve

14:15 - How a Health Battle Reframed Bowl Wins and Football Rings

16:30 - Community Investment: A Message to Red Wolves Fans

A coaching hire can look like a headline, but the real story is what happens behind closed doors: the late-night phone calls, the risk of starting over, and the trust that makes a staff function as one. We’re joined by Arkansas State Red Wolves offensive coordinator Garrett Altman and running backs coach Kenny Hill for an honest, funny, and detailed talk about how their careers took shape and why relationships are the first “scheme” any team needs.

Garrett walks us through his path from TCU to New Mexico State to Vanderbilt, including the moment he nearly chose dental school over football, and what he learned from building programs with Jerry Kill and Tim Beck. Kenny shares what it’s like transitioning from player to coach, how being candid about mistakes builds credibility with athletes, and why relatability matters in modern college football. Along the way, we unpack leadership, recruiting mindset, quarterback development, and the behind-the-scenes reality of big stages like Heisman weekend with Diego Pavia.

We also get practical about the job: what changes when you become an offensive coordinator, how to manage time and install plans, how to keep staff ideas flowing without “too many cooks,” and how to simplify the message so players can play fast. If you care about college football culture, building trust, and what it takes to create real momentum at Arkansas State, this one delivers.

Subscribe for more Red Wolves Saturdays, share this with a coach or player who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. @Arkansasstatemedianetwork.com.

00:00 - The Reality of Coaching

01:45 - Dental School or Football: Altman’s Choice

04:30 - Moving Up: From TCU to Vanderbilt

07:15 - Player to Coach: Kenny Hill’s Journey

10:40 - Heisman Weekend with Diego Pavia

13:50 - Transitioning to Offensive Coordinator

17:10 - Designing the Install Plan

20:30 - Managing a Coaching Staff Room

23:15 - Simplifying the Playbook for Speed

26:40 - Building Trust with Modern Athletes

29:55 - Red Wolves Recruiting Mindset

He’s one of the best to ever wear No. 7 at Arkansas State, but Corey Rucker’s real impact goes deeper than receiving yards. We sit down together and walk through how a small-town kid from Mississippi became a foundational piece of Red Wolves football and a true part of the Jonesboro community. From the way people embraced him in town to the way he chose to pour back into kids through camps and local support, Corey explains why “home” can be a performance edge in college football.

We also get honest about the transfer era. Corey talks about leaving for South Carolina, realizing the fit was off even after a big touchdown, dealing with injury and surgery, and what it took to return and feel like himself again. From there, we dig into the moments that changed the trajectory of the program: the rise of Jalen Raynor, special teams sparks, and how a two-minute offense mindset became a weekly standard that shaped close-game confidence.

The memories keep rolling from bowl wins to record-breaking seasons, including the Xbox Bowl MVP trophy that looks like a blown-up “achievement unlocked.” Corey shares what he’s like off the field, too, from photography and creative media to bowling, long drives, and the playlists that keep him steady while the NFL Draft approaches. If you care about Arkansas State football, Sun Belt growth, building culture, and what it really takes to prepare for Pro Day and the next level, this one delivers.

Subscribe for more, share this with a Red Wolves fan, and leave a review with the biggest lesson you’re taking from Corey’s journey.

@Arkansasstatemedianetwork.

0:00 Small Town Roots and Late Offers 1:22 Earning Jonesboro’s Love by Giving Back 3:09 Leaving for the SEC and the Journey Back 6:30 The Defining Moment: Jalen Rayner’s Arrival 8:31 Bowl Breakthroughs and Record-Setting Seasons 10:10 Resiliency: From 1-4 to Bowl Champions 12:24 Xbox Bowl MVP and the "Achievement" Trophy 14:17 Off the Field: Photography, Bowling, and Road Trips 20:13 The Draft Process and Training Travels 21:45 The Pitch: Why Recruits Should Choose Arkansas State 26:18 Pro Day Mindset: Running the 4.38 29:04 The NFL Pitch: Value Beyond the Ball 32:00 Leaving a Legacy in Jonesboro