Ark. State rout leaves store offering 73% off

JONESBORO, Ark. (AP)—At least one Arkansas State fan would prefer to see his favorite team win a close game this weekend.

Hoppy Hoffman, who owns a store that sells Arkansas State apparel, came up with a new promotion this season: 1 percent off after each home football game for every point the Red Wolves win by.

Then Arkansas State won its home opener 83-10 on Saturday.

“We had a ball with it,” said Hoffman, who owns The Design Shoppe. “It was so much fun yesterday.”

The discount is offered the Monday after each home game, and shoppers might never find cheaper prices than they did after Arkansas State scored more points in a game than any major college football team this decade against Texas Southern.

Combine 73 percent off with the fact that Arkansas State is 2-0 for the first time in 22 years, and business was booming Monday.

“It got crazy. We opened at 9:30. The people who probably got in line by 10 checked out about 1:30,” he said. “When the door opened at 9:30, I know at least 200 people filed in. It was hilarious. … It looked like they were waiting to buy rock concert tickets.”

Arkansas State has four more home games this season, including Saturday against Southern Mississippi. Hoffman is hoping for another win, although perhaps a one-point victory will suffice.

“I think I’m going to go to practice one day and have a chat with my team,” Hoffman said. “Beat ‘em, but don’t run it up on me that bad any more.”