NEW ORLEANS – Following Week 3 action in Sun Belt Conference football, here is a snapshot of what people are saying across media outlets and social media:
ARKANSAS STATE AT GEORGIA
On Saturday morning, the Arkansas State Red Wolves will visit Sanford Stadium at the University of Georgia, and it will be decked out in pink honoring the wife of ASU head football coach Blake Anderson who died after a long battle with breast cancer last month. The hashtag #WearPinkForWendy has spread all over social media, coming from all parts of the country. It's bringing awareness to breast cancer and how horrible of a disease it can be. – KATV (
#WearPinkForWendy Brings Nationwide Awareness to Breast Cancer)
Anderson, coaching his second game since returning from a leave of absence, was moved by the support of the Georgia fans. A group of shirtless students sitting in the first row behind the Arkansas State bench painted their upper bodies pink and wrote “Remember Wendy” across their backs. – AP/Washington Post (
No. 3 Georgia Romps to Another Win, 55-0 Over Arkansas State)
"I just want to say publicly: one of the classiest moves I've ever seen. It's hard to truly prepare for something like that." – Associated Press (
Anderson Stirred by UGA Pink Out: 'Overwhelmed')
When University of Georgia football fans paraded into Sanford Stadium on Saturday, many had swapped out traditional red Georgia shirts for bright pink. They were staging a "pink out" of the stadium in honor of Wendy Anderson, the wife of Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson. – CNN (
University of Georgia Fans Staged a 'Pink Out' for Opponent Arkansas State, Whose Coach's Wife Just Died of Cancer)
As Arkansas State head coach Blake Anderson emerged from the Sanford Stadium tunnel, an unfathomable level of warmth flashed before him. Tens of thousands joined together in pink to remember his wife Wendy Anderson, who passed in August after a two-year battle with breast cancer.Her spirit made the travel roster Saturday afternoon. “This was one of the classiest moves I’ve seen,” Anderson said. - Macon Telegraph (
‘Bigger Than Football’: Arkansas State Moved by Response to Honor Wendy Anderson)
COASTAL CAROLINA VS. NORFOLK STATE
The Chanticleers defeated Norfolk State 46-7 on Saturday at Brooks Stadium, dominating the overmatched Spartans of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, who lost by just three points to Football Bowl Subdivision member Old Dominion in their opener. – Myrtle Beach Online (
How Coastal Carolina Football Kept the Momentum Going in a Big Way Against Norfolk State)
Coastal Carolina’s smothering defense held Norfolk State to two first downs in the opening three quarters, as the Chanticleers rolled to a 46-7 victory over the visiting Spartans on Saturday afternoon. – Charlotte Observer (
Coastal Carolina Defense Shuts Down Norfolk State)
SOUTH ALABAMA VS. MEMPHIS
GEORGIA SOUTHERN AT MINNESOTA
This performance, though plagued with self-inflicted setbacks, ought to provide some confidence for conference play as well as future visits to Big Ten foes Nebraska (2022) and Wisconsin (2023). – The Associated Press (
Minnesota Football Scores Late to Beat Georgia Southern 35-32)
TROY VS. SOUTHERN MISS
Troy linebacker Carlton Martial had another huge game during a 47-42 loss to Southern Mississippi on Saturday. Martial recorded a career-high 16 tackles – 10 in the first half – and had 4.5 tackles for loss in the game. – Dothan Eagle (
Troy Notebook: Martial Has Big Game)
GEORGIA STATE AT WESTERN MICHIGAN
Yes, there is a positive takeaway from this contest. Running Back Tra Barnett had a great game, picking up 127 yards on 19 carries. He showed a quick burst and excellent vision behind the line of scrimmage. Barnett has 274 yards through three games, thus far, which is about half of what he had through 11 games last season. As a team, GSU had 210 rushing yards on 5.1 yards per carry. – Panther Talk on 247Sports.com (
Takeaways from the Loss to Western Michigan)
TEXAS STATE AT SMU
LOUISIANA VS. TEXAS SOUTHERN
As the Ragin’ Cajuns led Texas Southern 56-6 at halftime of Saturday night’s game at Cajun Field, the two teams agreed to shorten the second-half periods to 10 minutes apiece. - Lafayette Daily Advertiser (
How Do College Football Games Switch to 10-Minute Quarters?)
Up by 50 points at halftime, UL played mostly with reserves throughout the second half of a 77-6 win over SWAC-member Texas Southern on Saturday night at Cajun Field. By mutual agreement because the blowout already was well underway, the teams played just 10-minute periods in the second half — not the usual 15. - Lafayette Daily Advertiser (
Buckley's Breakdown: UL Blows Away Texas Southern with Record-Breaking Scoring)
There was 1:42 off the clock in the first quarter when UL scored its first touchdown Saturday night against Texas Southern. Scoring quickly — and easily — then became the theme of the game. In fact, the Ragin’ Cajuns scored so much, and so frequently, that the second half was reduced to 10-minute quarters after a mutual agreement between Cajuns coach Billy Napier and Texas Southern coach Clarence McKinney. - Lafayette Daily Advertiser (
Cajuns Get Chance to Develop in Crushing Defeat of Texas Southern)