Angie Gallaher sat in front of her computer screen last Saturday morning with mixed emotions.
On one hand, she was excited to see that she placed the winning bid in an online auction that would allow her to serve as guest coach during Arkansas State's final spring scrimmage at 6 p.m. today.
ASU spring game
WHEN 6 p.m. (field is open at 4 p.m. for autographs)
WHERE Centennial Bank Stadium, Jonesboro
ADMISSION Free (Fans are asked to enter on the east side)
On the other hand, the Pocahontas native and Jonesboro resident had just spent $8,700.
"Oh, crap, that's a lot of money for one day of coaching," Gallaher said of her reaction. "What was I thinking? But that quickly went away."
Gallaher, 45, was the high bidder in ASU's second annual "Coach Experience" auction, a promotion that Coach Blake Anderson thought of last season that brought the program some extra funds and national publicity. This year, Anderson even made some adjustments to it.
Not only will Gallaher receive a one-day contract, a jersey with her name on it and get to stand on the sideline while wearing a headset and deciding when to go for it or punt on fourth down, she'll get to draft her team and pick the coach for the opposing team.
Last year Nick Bhardwaj, CEO of a California video game company, paid $11,700 and coached alongside former ASU coach Larry Lacewell. Gallaher will coach tonight at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro alongside Meredith Poland, an ASU alumna living in Little Rock who Gallaher didn't know until the two started bidding against each other.
The whole experience was too good of an opportunity for Gallaher to pass up. She has been a season-ticket holder with her husband Allen, an ASU alumnus, for the past few seasons. She said she made an early bid during last year's auction but quickly shied away after seeing the total raise as high as it did.
"I had a limit and I exceeded it by far, until I found out there was another female bidding against me," Gallaher said. "I couldn't let that happen. So, I upped my bid and told my husband to stay off Twitter and don't look at it."
Anderson said the auction is about letting fans have fun and connect with the program. In addition to letting fans participate in the game, the field at Centennial Bank Stadium will open from 4-5 p.m. for fans to get autographs.
"I want it to be a great fan experience," Anderson said.
While it is a scrimmage that will be graded by coaches, the most important practices for evaluation purposes have already been held. Starting quarterback Fredi Knighten likely won't play because of a pulled hamstring. Neither will wide receiver J.D. McKissic because of a sprained ankle.
Freshman quarterback James Tabary said the April 10 scrimmage was more important than the spring game. Tonight's scrimmage is a chance to let loose, which is what Gallaher is looking forward to doing after making such an investment.
Gallaher and Poland drafted teams Thursday morning, but rosters won't be unveiled until today. Gallaher said she had an idea of which quarterback to draft -- either Tabary or freshman Cameron Birse -- but said some friends are trying to influence her decisions. She said she would even like to include what was a staple of Anderson's first season -- the trick play -- into the mix.
No matter how it plays out, Gallaher intends to enjoy her one day as a college football coach. She expects to have enough fun to make the investment worth it.
"When I saw they were doing it again this year, I just had to," Gallaher said. "We've been a part of everything else with the Red Wolves -- going to Mobile, being a season-ticket holder, everything -- so why not this one?"
Sports on 04/17/2015