JONESBORO -- The mood was tempered late Saturday night inside the Centennial Bank Athletics Operations Center, and it was easy to understand why.
Arkansas State University's 41-28 victory over FCS opponent Southern Illinois wasn't exactly an authoritative bounce-back effort, a week removed from getting whacked 55-0 by No. 3 Georgia on the road.
SIU made the Red Wolves, who entered as 23-point favorites, uncomfortable for nearly the entire night and exposed some glaring issues that will now require major attention heading into Saturday's Sun Belt Conference opener against Troy.
"They weren't dancing and celebrating. They're very realistic about how we played," a subdued Coach Blake Anderson said of his players after the game.