Go ahead, let the Razorbacks play in Little Rock one more time

Arkansas Razorback football in the capitol city has either come to an end or will do so after next year. Rumors are circulating that a possible contract buyout could be in the works between officials from the University of Arkansas and War Memorial Stadium. This would mean the game two weeks ago was the final one.

Athletic director Jeff Long said earlier this year he wants to know within three to five months whether the Hogs will play in Little Rock after 2018, which sort of implies there will be one more game.

If you ask me, Little Rock should at least get that final game at War Memorial Stadium in 2018. It just wouldn’t be a good political move if the Board of Trustees pulled the plug now. Taking all the games to the hill will already leave a bitter taste in many people’s mouths and UA doesn’t want to make it any worse.

If the Hogs are in Little Rock one more time, the university will again lose additional football revenue. But it would be only a fraction of what the state’s flagship institution could lose from central Arkansas supporters and others from around the state if that contract through 2018 is not honored.

I’ll go out on a limb and say Razorback football will be in Little Rock next season.

I do understand it is a good business move for games to be played in a 77,000-seat stadium instead of one that holds 55,000 fans.

Only 36,000 fans showed for this season’s Hogs’ game in Little Rock, but that low attendance should be blamed on whoever scheduled the contest. Not many people are going to flock to the stadium to watch the Razorbacks take on a team like Florida A&M on a Thursday night. A Saturday game would’ve drawn more people, but the stands still would not have been full because of the opponent.

Under the contract, Arkansas has to play an SEC team in Little Rock next season. The choices are Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss or Vanderbilt.

Why not bring Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide to the capitol city?

The chances are slim, but nothing would be more satisfying than a victory over ‘Bama at War Memorial Stadium. There’s no question that this SEC matchup would leave a great taste in people’s mouths.

Again, money would be lost with not having a game of this magnitude in Fayetteville. But there are situations where one has to take a loss in order to gain a victory, if you know what I mean.

Long also said, “We need everyone pulling together, and I mean that sincerely. We will not be able to be successful at a high level unless we have everyone across the state pulling for us. We are a small state. We’re proud of that. We wear that on our shoulder and we compete knowing that we’re a little bit of an underdog.”

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There seems to be some confusion about who Magnolia will be playing next football season.

Back in July, the Arkansas Activities Association passed Proposition 9 to restructure non-football sports. The new rule change will take effect at the start of the 2018-2020 cycle. If the proposal had received two more negative votes, the change would have failed.

There are currently seven athletic classifications among Arkansas high schools, and the new proposal will not change the existing structure for football.

But starting with the 2018 school year, non-football sports will move to six classifications. The 16 largest schools (currently Class 7A) will become 6A, the next 32 largest schools will make up Class 5A, the next 48 will be in Class 4A. All remaining schools evenly are distributed between Classes 3A, 2A, and 1A.

The move will eliminate the combined conferences for non-football sports such as basketball, baseball, volleyball, softball, and soccer.

So what does this means for the Panthers?

Starting next school term, the new Class 4A-8 Conference will consist of Magnolia, Monticello, Star City, Warren, Hamburg, Crossett and Camden Fairview.

The new Class 5A South Conference in football will be Magnolia, Camden Fairview, De Queen, Hope, Hot Springs, Hot Springs Lakeside, Texarkana and Little Rock McClellan. White Hall and Watson Chapel will move over to the 5A Central.

For now, Magnolia will continue playing in the combined 5A/6A District 6 Conference that includes Lake Hamilton and Texarkana, and not Watson Chapel and White Hall. But Watson Chapel and White Hall will rejoin the league during district tournament play this year.

(Chris Gilliam is Sports Editor at the Banner-News. Email him at [email protected]).

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