Just over two hours before kickoff against UNLV on Saturday night in Las Vegas, the Arkansas State University football team received a huge, unexpected boost.
Coach Blake Anderson -- who was on a leave of absence for nearly three weeks after his wife, Wendy, died of cancer Aug. 19 -- announced he was returning to the sidelines to coach the Red Wolves, an ASU team spokesperson confirmed to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
"Leave of absence is over," the spokesperson said.
Anderson surprised the Red Wolves with the news during a meeting at the team hotel before they headed to Sam Boyd Stadium.