League officials skip out on celebration

Arkansas State finished off an undefeated Sun Belt Conference season while clinching the outright conference title Saturday night, but there was no representative from the league office to present the Red Wolves with the trophy.

Instead, ASU System President Charles Welch and Chancellor Tim Hudson handed the team the trophy, which was shipped to Jonesboro from the league office in New Orleans and presented to the team on a stage at midfield following Saturday’s 55-17 victory over Texas State.

A Sun Belt Conference spokesman said through a text message Saturday that Commissioner Karl Benson did not make the trip Saturday because of personal reasons. Benson was on hand to present ASU the trophy when it won an outright title in 2012, and former commissioner Wright Waters did so in 2011.

ASU Athletic Director Terry Mohajir said he wasn’t sure why no one from the conference office was on hand and said he didn’t have a discussion with Sun Belt officials before the game.

“You know what? It’s all about our players and our coach,” Mohajir said. “I don’t control those actions, nor do I worry about them. Our players and our coaches won the championship, and it doesn’t take anything away from what they’ve achieved this year. It didn’t change anything regarding the celebration after the game.”

ASU Coach Blake Anderson said earlier this week he felt his team had not been respected the way he thought it deserved and reiterated that Saturday.

“I was perfectly fine with whoever handed it to us,” Anderson said. “That’s their decision, not mine. Like I said, I think we made a pretty good point today.”