Tracy Sprinkle trying to fend off redshirt freshmen Davon Hamilton

JONESBORO, Ark. -- Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson couldnt sleep while the Red Wolves were in the middle of a four consecutive losses to start to this season.It wasnt so much the lack of wins that kept the third-year coach awake at night as much as it was his self-criticism and thoughts about defending his assistant coaches to the outside world.Most frustrating was that Anderson knew Arkansas State was better than it had shown. This was, after all, the school that had overcome a run of five head coaches in five years at one point to win at least a share of four of the last five Sun Belt Conference championships entering this season.It was just exhausting, Anderson said. You dont sleep, because you know youve got the ability to be better than we are ... I just didnt want it to be my fault that we fell apart. Nobody wants to be a part of that.Thanks to a remarkable turnaround from that winless September, the Red Wolves (7-5) were able to help Anderson sleep better -- winning seven of their last eight games to secure a share of the Sun Belt for a fifth time in six seasons. They will cap their season with the schools sixth straight bowl appearance when they face Central Florida (6-6) in the Cure Bowl on Saturday.Despite the good feelings in Jonesboro these days about how the season turned around, the frustration of the early season struggles remains.Anderson blames himself for protecting the Red Wolves during a less-physical set of preseason practices, while players said chemistry was an issue early as a quarterback and several other new starters were settling in.The lowest point came at home on Sept. 24 when the school lost 28-23 to FCS member Central Arkansas, a game in which Arkansas State fumbled five times and committed four turnovers against their in-state foe. That followed three turnovers in a loss to Utah State a week earlier, and it signaled there were more problems than initially thought after early losses to Toledo and Auburn.It was so quiet, you could feel the frustration, Red Wolves senior defensive end Chris Odom said of the locker room after the UCA loss. It was like, `We really just lost to an (FCS) school, and were known for winning championship in our conference. That was kind of a reality check for all of us.Arkansas State turned its season around with a 27-26 win over Georgia Southern in its next game, a victory that led to a six-game winning streak and a Sun Belt-clinching win over Texas State to end the regular season.The Red Wolves were fueled by Odom and fellow defensive end JaVon Rolland-Jones, who combined for 24 sacks and 36 tackles for losses on the season. They led a defense that totaled 37 sacks on the season, tied for 12th nationally.More important, Arkansas State relied on the stability of having Anderson for a third straight season to help it overcome its early losses. The former North Carolina offensive coordinator sent a video to the Red Wolves after the UCA loss, a video that featured ESPN analyst and former NFL coach Herm Edwards.Andersons message to the Red Wolves was, Weve got to decide, are we committed or interested?They were committed, he found out, sparking a turnaround Anderson isnt sure could have happened in his first season in 2014.It would have been hard, because there was a lot of trust still being earned, Anderson said. I think weve gotten to a point this year where they know we truly care about them, not just football-wise ... You dont get that without time spent together.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. Fake Yeezy . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. Wholesake Fake Air Jordan 1 . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. https://www.fakeshoes.net/ . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. Fake Shoes Free Shipping . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. Fake Jordan . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When Ohio State opened training camp earlier this month, coach Urban Meyer said it was open season for starting jobs. With a little more than a week to go before the season opener, some of those jobs have yet to be locked down.That happens when a team has to replace eight starters on each side of the ball. Offensive line, wide receiver and cornerback are among the positions where starters for the Sept. 3 game against Bowling Green still havent been named, Buckeyes coaches said this week. Regardless of who starts, there will be many new faces on the field next week.On the offensive line, returning starters Pat Elflein and Billy Price are the anchors at center and right guard. Pencil in Jamarco Jones at left tackle and at right tackle probably Isiah Prince, one of the teams few true freshmen who earned playing time last year. The big competition is for the left guard spot, with 6-foot-7, 310-pound true freshman Michael Jordan mixing it up with sophomore Demetrius Knox and redshirt freshman Matthew Burrell. All likely will see playing time.Highly touted junior college transfer Malcolm Pridgeon, who was expected to compete at guard and tackle, was lost to a knee injury in training camp.The number one thing up front, I think, is experience, so we dont have a lot of it, offensive line coach Greg Studrawa said. Weve got some new guys coming in there. The second thing is getting the group in there playing together. Were struggling with that a little bit.On the defensive line, Tyquan Lewis returns at end, and sophomore Sam Hubbard, who backed up All-American Joey Bosa last season, has locked down the other end position. The competition for the tackle spots continues, with juniors Michael Hill, the most experienced tackle on the squad, and Tracy Sprinkle trying to fend off redshirt freshmen Davon Hamilton and DreMont Jones.Everything is a competition,, no matter if you think youre a starter or youre not, Sprinkle said.dddddddddddd. Everythings a competition, so you have to go out there every day like somebody is on your heels.The No. 6 Buckeyes lost all their starting receivers from last year, which has made for one of the most intriguing competitions in camp.Noah Brown, who has just one catch in his Ohio State career, has been designated a starter at one of the wideout spots. Fifth-year senior Corey Smith had laid claim to the other spot because of his experience, but Meyer said this week that Parris Campbell, who played some last year as a redshirt freshman but has yet to catch a pass, has a chance to grab that job. Terry McLaurin, Austin Mack and others also are expected to play. Curtis Samuel, who backed up Braxton Miller last season, brings some experience to the H-back position.I need six guys who are going to go into every game, and whoever earned it that week will start and the other ones will play just as many plays, receivers coach Zach Smith said. I dont know who it is yet. I cant stamp anybody as `game ready. There are a couple who are close.Returning starter Gareon Conley is locked in at one cornerback spot and could be, according to coaches, one of the best in the country. Its been a fight for the other spot between sophomores Marshon Lattimore, who is returning from a nagging hamstring injury, and Denzel Ward, who is the fastest player on the team. Redshirt freshman Damon Arnette also is in the mix.Theyre all going to play, theyre all going to play early, and Im very, very excited about that, cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs said.---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacy . For some of his other recent stories: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/mitch-stacy ' ' '