ASU trainer, 66, always on the job

Ron Carroll will serve his 500th consecutive game as Arkansas State’s head athletic trainer Saturday when the Red Wolves take on Georgia Southern. In 43 seasons, Carroll has missed one practice. - Photo by Christian BoutwellJONESBORO -- Ron Carroll crunches one hand into a fist, smashes it into the palm of the other, grunts and precisely recalls every detail of the week in March 2013 that still haunts him.

Five years ago on a Saturday, he remembers, a piercing pain spawned from his gallbladder. He was urged to have surgery.

Not even 24 hours later, the Carrolls went to church and ate lunch at their favorite Jonesboro-based Italian restaurant, Lazzari Italian Oven. That Wednesday, while eating…