Camellia Bowl report

Stallings inspires Wolves

Arkansas State linebacker Ben Gallagher (center) shakes hands with former University of Alabama head coach Gene Stallings after Stallings received the Alabama Football Legend Award on Friday at the Camellia Bowl luncheon.
Arkansas State linebacker Ben Gallagher (center) shakes hands with former University of Alabama head coach Gene Stallings after Stallings received the Alabama Football Legend Award on Friday at the Camellia Bowl luncheon.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Former Alabama Crimson Tide coach Gene Stallings was presented the fourth Alabama Football Legend Award on Friday afternoon at the Camellia Bowl luncheon at the Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery.

The award has been given to former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden (2014), former Auburn coach Pat Dye (2015) and former Alabama All-American linebacker Woodrow Lowe (2016).

Arkansas State University Coach Blake Anderson and Middle Tennessee State Coach Rick Stockstill smiled onstage as Stallings, 82, spoke from the podium.

"I love the game of football because it teaches us a lot of things," said Stallings, who coached Alabama to a national championship in 1992. "Primarily, it teaches us how to do right, how to think right. Do you know the importance of just thinking right?"

Stallings told a story about Hall of Fame St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Stan Musial, who told Stallings once that he looked forward most to being down a run with runners on second and third and hearing the PA announcer say, "Stan Musial is coming to the plate."

Stallings also spoke about the life lessons he learned by raising his son, John Mark, who suffered from Down syndrome and died in 2008.

"My life wouldn't be nearly as rich if not for the fact that I helped raise a child with special needs," said Stallings, whose charity work led to the Stallings Award, which is presented annually to a coach for humanitarian contributions.

Stallings, who was one of the "Junction Boys" for coach Paul "Bear" Bryant at Texas A&M from 1954-1956, was an assistant coach for Bryant at Alabama from 1958-1964 before becoming the head coach at Texas A&M from 1965-1971. Stallings was then a defensive assistant under Tom Landry with the Dallas Cowboys from 1972-1985 before becoming a head coach for the St. Louis Cardinals through its move to Phoenix until 1989.

Stallings spoke without notes and recited Linda Ellis' poem The Dash.

"In the last four months, I've had two strokes and a heart attack," he said. "So, when I say I'm happy to be here, I'm happy to be here."

Anderson said afterward that listening to Stallings "speak from the heart" was "one of the best parts of this entire bowl event."

"I could have listened to him talk forever," Anderson said.

ASU redshirt junior quarterback Justice Hansen said he met Stallings in the elevator before the luncheon, and Hansen waited for the luncheon crowd to clear after Stallings' speech to thank him.

"He said things that could be applied to anything in life," Hansen said. "He talked about thinking right, just looking at every situation the right way."

O-line better

The ASU offensive line entered the season without a regular returning starter. Sophomore guard Troy Elliott played in two relief starts last season, and graduate transfer tackle Jaypee Philbert played in 12 games at Iowa State before transferring last offseason.

The Red Wolves finished the regular season ranked 94th in FBS with 2.45 sacks allowed per game, but Middle Tennessee State Coach Rick Stockstill said the offensive line has improved.

"They've done a nice job up front there," he said. "They gave up some sacks early in the year. They're not giving up near as many as they did the first half of the season. That group is a good offensive line. You don't throw for that many yards and not be a good offensive line."

Last shot at record

ASU senior defensive end Ja'Von Rolland-Jones is one full sack away from breaking the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision's all-time career sack record (44), which was set by Arizona State's Terrell Suggs from 2000-2002.

"We all know it's there," ASU Coach Blake Anderson said. "We obviously want Ja'Von's name at the top of that list. I say this all the time: It's not just Ja'Von's name. There's a bunch of people who contributed to that. Obviously, one guy's name is going to be listed. But it's going to say 'Arkansas State' beside it."

"As many people that have played the game throughout the years, as long as they've been keeping records, that's a huge accomplishment."

Anderson still around

After 20 FBS head coaching changes, and the departure of three Arkansas collegiate head coaches, ASU Coach Blake Anderson is the state's longest tenured FBS coach heading into the final game of his fourth season.

His three predecessors -- Hugh Freeze (Ole Miss), Gus Malzahn (Auburn) and Bryan Harsin (Boise State) -- each left ASU after one season.

"Excited to be in that position, to be honest with you," Anderson said. "It doesn't surprise me. It surprised a lot of fans because of what they've been through. When I took the job -- Day One, when we talked about the contract, the buyout, what we were committing to -- I knew we were planning on being here for a while, and our job, what we want to accomplish is still ahead of us. We have not nearly gotten there yet."

Sports on 12/16/2017

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