JONESBORO, Ark. — The 29th annual Order of the Pack pep rally is set to energize the Arkansas State University community Thursday evening at Centennial Bank Stadium. Scheduled for 7 p.m. on Sept. 10, the event serves as a spirited lead-up to the Red Wolves’ first home football game of the season against West Georgia, which kicks off at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Led by the Student Activities Board (SAB), the pep rally is open to students, faculty, alumni, and other members of the A-State community. Attendees will be introduced to university cheers and chants to prepare for the football season. The rally will also include welcoming remarks from head football coach Butch Jones and other leaders from the university and athletics department.
A-State athletic teams will be formally introduced during the event, accompanied by performances from The Sound of the Natural State, Arkansas State’s renowned marching band. In addition, student organizations and individuals will have the chance to compete for spirit awards, and the Homecoming theme for 2026 will be unveiled.
Preceding the rally, a tailgate featuring popsicles is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. outside the stadium, prior to gates opening for the main event.
Order of the Pack is an integral part of "Paint the Town Red," a week-long celebration organized by the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce to rally community spirit. The week’s activities include a downtown window decorating contest and the Great A-State Block Party. The block party is slated to kick off at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, in downtown Jonesboro, featuring live music from the band Bloodhound and the announcement of contest winners.
The Order of the Pack rally and related events aim to bring both A-State supporters and the broader Jonesboro community together as the campus gears up for another exciting football season.