Please, oh pretty please
For years, fans here have clamored for an in-state matchup that involves the Razorbacks. But in his 34 years of presiding over Arkansas’ athletic department, Frank Broyles has never relaxed his unofficial scheduling policy that is summed up in these 11 words: Thou shalt not play another school located within the state’s borders.
But Broyles is stepping down Jan. 1, and University of Central Arkansas football coach Clint Conque seems to be well-aware of that. At the Little Rock Touchdown Club on Monday, Conque suggested that the state’s flagship university reconsider its unwritten rule that has been implemented by Arkansas assistant athletic director Bill Gray for more than three decades.
Central Arkansas plays in the Football Championship Subdivision, formerly called Division I-AA. Arkansas-Pine Bluff is another FCS team, and Arkansas and Arkansas State play in the Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly called I-A. Conque would like those four schools to play on a rotating basis — he pointed out that major programs like Ohio State and Texas have been willing to play in-state opponents of less prestige.
“They’re keeping their revenue in their state,” Conque said.
Conque has spoken several times about the “food chain” in Arkansas, saying he understands the Razorbacks are the state’s most popular team and he doesn’t begrudge them that.
But Broyles’ philosophy is that Arkansas doesn’t gain anything by playing a UCA or ASU. And he’s got a point. However, the interest in a game that involved the Razorbacks and another in-state team would be substantial. Furthermore, if the Hogs would relent and play the Bears or that unnamed team over in Jonesboro, the Fayetteville campus would engender some goodwill among their critics who think the UA is a big bully.
Broyles is and always will be a wussy.Think of the excitment and money that would be here if we play interstate teams.We could be another Auburn-Alabama.Think about it folks.We could keep all the great players in the state at home(Burns…Ziemba…Mustain…Williams….etc Broyles is gone ,next is Nutt or the fans will revolt
i am with the old man all the way on this one. UA is the only game in town, and would have absolutely nothing to gain and everything to lose by scheduling ASU or UCA, etc. why divide the state’s loyalties as well as an already limited recruiting base? it makes no sense whatsoever.
the unique and special role that razorback athletics play on the state of arkansas should be maintained.
That sounds a little cowardly to me. If you have the best product, you shouldn’t have to worry about the wannabe’s.
cowardly? nah.. not at all. sound policy? ya, absolutely.. some of the reasons were mentioned above. arkansas is a very unique school and one reason is because of its state wide and loyal fan base. the very thing that drew coach broyles to UA almost 50 years ago, was the tremendous, undivided fan support. there is absolutely no reason to change such a successful concept, unless of course you are an ASU or UCA coach, graduate, etc. i attended school out of state and will always be an avid razorback fan. i also hope the other schools in the state do well. i have lived in texas for most of my adult life. broyles is [rightfully] a living legend in these parts and there are reasons for it. why tinker with a proven formula for success?
Sound policy, yeah, but still cowardly when you get down to it. LSU has no other serious competition for a fan base inside of the state, with the exception of Tulane in some parts of New Orleans. We play the in-state schools often, and we get beat once in a blue moon. Can you honestly tell where those rare losses have eroded our recruiting or fan base? No, because they haven’t. We’re still the big dog (or cat, in our case) in Louisiana. Arkansas is a little smaller as far as a fan base, but it’s not that much different. And if you’re worried about in-state recruiting, my answer to that is that you need to be able to reach out to other states if you want to be competetive in the SEC. I, too, attended school out of state, LSU, if you haven’t guessed by now, and will always be loyal to my school as well. I don’t know that I would consider Broyles’ formula a success, at least not in recent times.
disagree there, arktiger, and that’s cool. as you know, college football is a major business. in this regard, i haven’t heard one legitimate reason, beyond words like “cowardly” and “wuss” or whatever, that would come close to justify UA taking on smaller schools, in state. where’s the MUTUAL benefit? it just doesn’t make sense, economically or otherwise. as to broyles, sure, he has made mistakes, like most active ADs as well as the rest of us; yet, the program and facilities the old man has built in fayetteville during his tenure speak volumes and for themselves. as to the LSU comparison, i would both agree and disagree. they have a great athletic program in baton rouge, but the available, gifted athletes in louisiana far outweigh those in arkansas - and tulane, a private institution, has or used to have extremely high admission standards. when comparing UA and LSU on these issues, you have the proverbial apple and orange. take care, man… and GO HOGS!
Well, thanks for keeping it friendly, and I’ll try to myself, but if you’re going to schedule cream puffs anyway (and we schedule them too, like everyone else), why not try a few from the local bakery, since we supposedly represent the whole state? The argument of having nothing to lose should apply to any game scheduled with a lesser opponenent, no matter what the location (see Michigan/App State, for instance). You’re right in that Arkansas’ size, as far as fan base and recruiting pool, make it different than most other major schools, but I would counter by saying that if you want to be considered a big boy in the SEC and the nation, you’re going to have to go outside of Arkansas to get players anyway. Besides, given a choice between college life in Fayetteville, Jonesboro, or Conway, what would most guys choose(regardless of the occasional fluke loss by the Hogs)? The facilities, campus setting, and, ideally, the coaching staff, etc., should be able to sell themselves, and what you’ve got sure makes anything else in Arkansas look second rate. No matter what they all decide, good luck to your side, except for the day after Thanksgiving.