New faces should lead to changes for Arkansas athletics

Off the foul Pohl

By: Bart Pohlman

Posted: 1/18/08

Usually, when there is a changing of the guard, the new guard institutes a series of changes that will ultimately help define his legacy.

For new Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long, those changes already include the firing of one football coach and the hiring of another.

But Long isn't the only new face on the hill, and chances are good he won't be the only one trying to change things.

There's new head football coach Bobby Petrino, who will undoubtedly try to lead the Razorback program to places it has never been.

Then, of course, there will be the new chancellor, the man who replaces John A. White. He, like his predecessors, will strive to make his own unique imprint upon the university.

With a new athletic director, new football coach and new chancellor, it seems as though it is finally time to address an issue that has irritated many a fan over the last few years: Little Rock.

It's time for the new leaders of the athletic department to evaluate the viability of continuing to play two Razorback football games every season at War Memorial Stadium.

It would take only a quick look to see that playing two games in Little Rock is hardly viable.

No other team in the Southeastern Conference plays home games at two different sites regularly.

Why? Because it doesn't make sense.

Why anyone would think it is a good idea to play home games outside of the fantastic Reynolds Razorback Stadium is beyond comprehension. It's one of the top facilities in not only the SEC, but in the entire NCAA.

Razorback Stadium seats 72,000 screaming Hog fans for every home game. It has a state-of-the-art jumbotron and scoreboard. It has luxury boxes and any other amenity one could possibly want.

War Memorial Stadium just doesn't stack up.

Don't get me wrong, War Memorial was a good stadium - when it was built.

But now, it's nothing but a run-down, rinky-dink stadium. It seats only 53,727 - nearly 20,000 less than RRS. It doesn't have all the amenities that RRS has - in fact, it really doesn't have any amenities.

Now, there are Arkansas fans who will argue that the Razorbacks are a statewide phenomenon, and, well, they are.

But by no means does that translate into playing games in the capital city.

This is the UA-Fayetteville.

The campus is in Fayetteville.

The stadium is in Fayetteville.

The games should be played where the stadium and campus are located. It's very simple and straightforward.

It's so simple that it makes one wonder why this hasn't always been the case.

One word - money.

The university and athletic department's search for the almighty dollar led to games being played in Little Rock, and it's what keeps them there now.

Many Razorback donors and alumni don't actually live in Fayetteville, of course, and there are plenty that live in the middle of the state.

Naturally, there are those who think it makes sense to move two games a season to Little Rock in order to appease the donors and alumni.

But those who are in that frame of mind are forgetting something.

Well, several thousand somethings, really.

The STUDENTS.

These are the UA Razorbacks, not the "Big Time Donor" Razorbacks.

The Razorbacks, first and foremost, represent the university and its student body. They do not represent only those who donate big bucks to the university.

Over the last several years, this idea has been lost. The students have been pushed aside in favor of the greenbacks, and too much power has been given those who donate the most.

In this new era of Razorback athletics, it's time for some changes.

A new athletic director is in place. So is a new football coach. Soon, a new chancellor will join them.

Each of them will want to define their Razorback legacy and shape their role in what former athletic director Frank Broyles so eloquently calls the "Razorback Miracle."

By keeping every home game in Fayetteville, those new members of the Razorback family will certainly be off to a favorable start, at least in the eyes of the students.

And that should be of utmost importance.

After all, without the students, there would be no Razorbacks.

Bart Pohlman is the assistant sports editor for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Friday.