Arkansas State football has challenged the Oklahoma Sooners twice, the last in 2000, when Joe Hollis’ squad limped away from Norman a 54-7 loser. However, the first time A-State took on Oklahoma was in 1992, the team’s first season as a “Division I-A” program (today, we call it FBS). The man tasked with leading A-State into these new waters was Ray Perkins, formerly head coach of the New York Giants, Alabama Crimson Tide and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Perkins’ hire was quite a coup, raising plenty of eyebrows around the college football community.

After Week 2 of the season, a post game article from The Oklahoman indicated that Coach Perkins may have been greatly regretting his decision to darken A-State’s locker room doors. The article came after a 61-0 “steamrolling” of the Indians (as the program was once known), and the post’s writer, Berry Tramel, seemed genuinely bemused by Perkins’ life choices.

A coach who has had two of the best football jobs in America – head coach of the NFL’s New York Giants and the Alabama Crimson Tide – was reduced to a very simple goal against 13th-ranked OU at Owen Field.

“My intention was not getting the quarterback killed,” Perkins said after the 13th-ranked Sooners steamrolled the Indians 61-0.

Barry Tramel, “Perkins Has a Tough Day at the Office”

Johnny Covington was the freshman QB starter for the Indians, and he was only allowed a total of 16 passing plays the entire game.  “We expected them to come out and throw a lot more,” observed Sooner cornerback Darnell Walker. “We figured they would try some trick plays.” Nope. Perkins wasn’t in the mood to dazzle that day. Instead, “in the first half alone, ASU ran the ball on third-and-10, third-and-6 and third-and-15 plays.”

Tramel, who still covers the Sooners for The Oklahoman, seemed focused more on Perkins’ bizarre lot in life than the details of the game:

The Indians now are 0-2 and have been outscored 110-0 in their return season to Division I-A. Does Perkins have second thoughts about taking the job?

“No. Why would I be sorry? ” he asked. “Hey, they only won one game last year, lost the only quarterback who took a snap, and you stick (the move to) Division I on it . . . I kind of like that challenge.

Barry Tramel, “Perkins Has a Tough Day at the Office”

Perkins love-affair with “that challenge” lasted as long as the season, upon which Perkins bailed for an OC position with the New England Patriots.

A-State pocketed a princely sum of $300,000 for the bruises in 1992. Rates have gone up. The Red Wolves will deposit a $1.35 million guaranteed check from the Sooners when the two butt-heads on September 2nd.