Changes to Hog football in Little Rock
There has been some talk lately as to whether or not Jeff Long would address the current contract the University of Arkansas has regarding “home” football games at War Memorial Stadium. The verdict is in.
You see, back in the day, the Hogs played no less than three “home” football games each year on a field 3 hours south of Razorback Stadium in Little Rock. However, in 2000, then athletic director Frank Broyles successfully moved one of those “home” games back home to Fayetteville. Naturally, anyone further than a rock toss from the Razorbacks’ hometown flipped the hell out.
To try and ease the pain of those in Central, South and East Arkansas, a provision was added to the contract that granted War Memorial a total of 4 three-game seasons over the following 15 years with each of the other 11 seasons getting only two “home” games.
Since then, only twice has this occurred.
According to a story released today by Harry King, those remaining two seasons that are owed an extra “home” game have been eliminated from the revised contract. To compensate, however, Long gave Little Rock two more two-game seasons which extends the life of said contract to 2016.
Some would say that playing any games at all in Little Rock is foolish, if not hilarious. Others further south would understandably disagree. In a state with only one major athletic collegiate program and zero major professional teams, dividing the games up only makes sense as far as the fanbase is concerned. One has to wonder, however, how the players feel about all this mess considering two of their “home” games aren’t at home at all.
[Via arkansasnews.com]
Comments
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sg
August 21, 2008
Bring ‘em back home. If a team ever wants to play on a “neutral” field, then War Memorial is the equivalent to Alltel Arena.
aquachong
August 21, 2008
I’ve always thought it was incredibly lame to play games down in LR. The school is in Fayetteville, and the games should be played there. Sorry LR folks, but I think this is outdated and should be done away with.
Angel Lust
August 21, 2008
OMG. Check out the whining wankers on the Ark Times blog.
Some of them want more games there because of the nostalgia.
I know some of them like the nostalgia but how much nostalgia can a program that wants to be in the top ten in the nation afford.
Look at the picture of the actual stadium. There are high school stadiums in Ohio almost as big.
They should have the spring game there and the fall jersey scrimmage there. IF they want big time football, put up some money and build a big time stadium.
Total bastard
August 21, 2008
This is so ****ing stupid.
Just when I was starting to like Jeff Long. jefflong@uark.edu
Michael
August 21, 2008
I hope to see the day WMS is bulldozed.
Total bastard
August 21, 2008
People from Little Rock like to delude themselves that they live in a big important city.
Arkansas is their “pro” team. Without our school’s team, there would be even less to entertain yourself with in that crime infested ****hole.
I just can’t believe Jeff Long is allowing this stupidity to continue.
So much for excellence.
Kornedog
August 22, 2008
A contract is a contract. I can see letting it play out. Then let’s see what he does after that. Personally, I’d rather add two more 2-game seasons in LR than to EVER have another 3-game season there. Two is to many, three is just way over the top.
Sardon
August 22, 2008
I have to agree with the bastard. Little Rock Mother****ers, as we called them in my undergrad days, have a disgusting superiority complex, and I think having Razorback games in LR reinforced their sense that LR is something great and the U and the Hogs belonged to them, like their granddaddies owned the shed and the nigras down on the back forty.
Unfortunately, not just LRMs, but the rest of the Hog fans in eastern and southern Arkansas may stay on the bus with a couple of cheaper chances to see games in LR.
I like the Hogs being the team of the entire state. I remember when you could go to any store in any town in Arkansas and see those little signs that said “GO HOGS, BEAT (this week’s opponent).”
Total Bastard
August 22, 2008
A contract is a contract, and all contracts can be broken as long as you’re willing to pay the damages.
Angel Lust
August 22, 2008
In the end, I think for Long to come in and make a decision like moving games out of LR would have been pretty arrogant. It is the state capital. Alot of LR people $upport the hogs and you can’t turn away money or political influence.
Eventually, Arkansas and LSU will meet in a major game where they are both in the top 10 and have to play one the day after Thankgiving in that high school stadium. The networks are going to refuse to televise it an ESPN will choose to send their gameday crew to Ausitn for the Texae vs A&M game because who wants to briadcast on one of the biggest weekends in sport from a golf course with a high school stadium behind you. Then, the movers and shakers will understand how small time games in LR are and replace the football games with a couple of baseball game sin the spring at the North Little Rock field.
Did I say Arkansas? I meant Alabama. And replace LR with Birmingham. And replace date this post back about five years.
EL Dookie
August 22, 2008
Well, prepare to hate me. I like LR games. Although I totally understand the benefits of bringing them all up here to Sweet Home Fayetteville. And of the record, I’m not an LRM (However, we called them LRP’s -Little Rock Pricks – in my day).
Today I’m a proud citizen of Fayetteville, but was born and raised in eastern Arkansas in a town that is 5 1/2 hours away from Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The ONLY Hog games I went to as a kid were in the Rock. My first Fayetteville Game was when I was actually in college.
Although Ole Miss, Miss State, Memphis State, and Vanderbilt were closer. And Alabama, Auburn and Tennesseee are only 30 minutes farther than Fayetteville, I was raised a Hog fan. (I won’t even mention the sports program at the school at Jonesboro, because it’s not worth mentioning).
And I’m sure that Hog athletics could survive without me, but what if I was a blue chip athelete of some sort? If I grew up in a town where there were mixed alegences I could have gone to one of those schools.
The Hog fans in Fayetteville have to realize that the MAJORITY of the Razorback fan base is EAST of Fayetteville. WAY east of Fayetteville. And you can bet those people won’t turn in their Hog Fan card if they move the games away from LR, but you can’t tell about the next generation. I understand where you’re coming from, but don’t underestimate the value of fans from “the rest of the state.”
Michael
August 22, 2008
Seriously how does having 2 games in a dump (as evident by Waste Management being the title sponsor) help the Razorbacks? That takes away 2 weekends that recruits cannot be brought in for official visits as WM ‘home’ games are not on campus. If not playing 2 games in the armpit of the state causes us to lose a couple players from south, east and central AR, I’m sure there will be others lining up to take their spots on the team in particular with the current coaching staff.
EL Dookie
August 22, 2008
Michael,
I’ll agree that two games may be too much, but it’s a 12-game season, so the losing of 2 “official visits” arguement is pretty week. According to NCAA regulations Seniors are allowed up to six “off-campus” visits.
Also, you need to brush up on your derogatory terms used for areas of the state. “The arm pit” of the state is a term reserved for eastern Arkansas because the indention of the Missouri Bootheel making an angle shape similar to that of a raised arm, it also stinks to live there. However Springdale is the **** of the state, cause it literally stinks there.
I like what you did with the Waste Management Logo there. Unoriginal, but you were the first to mention that on this site. Nice to see you noticed the change in the coaching staff too. So, you are paying attention. Again, nice hustle.
jones
August 22, 2008
School is in Fayetteville, play the games in Fayetteville. Done.
EL Dookie
August 22, 2008
It’s the “Arkansas” Razorbacks, not the Northwest Arkansas Razorbacks. Not so simple Dr. Jones.
aquachong
August 22, 2008
Jones is right…it’s plenty simple. I’m sorry El Dookie, but how is it that the “MAJORITY of the Razorback fan base is EAST of Fayetteville. WAY east of Fayetteville”? I think you’re confusing your personal experience growing up as a fan in Eastern Arkansas with the reality of the fan base. All of the towns East of NW Arkansas don’t even begin to equal the the number of fans living in the NW area. I don’t think anyone underestimates the value of Razorback fans throughout the state, but as stated the school is in Fayetteville, the games should be played in Fayetteville.
LR used to have more money and clout back in the day, that is no longer the case.
How many other division I schools use multiple stadiums anymore?
Michael
August 22, 2008
Dookie, what in LR would you show recruits to get them to want to live, go to class, practice and play in Fayetteville? Buildings with bars on the windows, schools with metal detectors, mile after mile of orange construction barrels?
And to answer Aqua’s question, no other school in a major conference (Alabama quit doing it several years ago) and I know of no teams in mid-major conferences playing at a 2nd ‘home’ stadium.
aquachong
August 22, 2008
Micheal, exactly.
Total Bastard
August 22, 2008
Actually, El Dookie, its the UNIVERSITY of Arkansas Razorbacks.
ALL of the players, band members, cheerleaders and coaching staff currently reside in Fayetteville.
**** LR.
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