Hogs planning football players returning mid-July, normal schedule for fall

Hunter Yurachek followed the lead of the SEC on Monday, telling the UA’s Board of Trustees on Monday they are planning on a normal football football schedule and players returning in mid-July.

The board voted unanimously to have classes ready to re-open in the fall.

KARK-TV had a tweet with more details Monday.

JUST IN: University of Arkansas planning on starting Razorback football Sept. 5, with practice starting mid July -per Hunter Yurachek on Board of Trustees virtual meeting today pic.twitter.com/w9IhxH4Zi5

— Susan El Khoury (@SusanElKhoury) May 4, 2020

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey made the media rounds last week and probably the most compelling reason that at least the league is looking at things getting back on track sooner rather than later.

“If football is not an active part of our life in the fall, what’s happening around us becomes a real big question societally, economically and culturally,” he told WJXL-FM sports radio in Jacksonville, Fla.

What he didn’t say is it’s an economic necessity, whether anybody wants to admit it or not.

“My focus is on football as scheduled,” Sankey said. “The week before volleyball and the week before that soccer starting. The circumstances will guide that decision making. We want to be prepared.”

Then Yurachek stepped up and told the UA’s board that very thing in a virtual meeting Monday.

“We have to create confidence for our student-athletes and their parents that we can minimize risk,” Yurachek said.

Will things change? Probably. There will likely be spacing and other measures implemented.

Yurachek told the board season ticket sales have been slower than normal while fans wait to see if the season will be played. The athletics department has alternative budget plans if the season is canceled or shortened, he said.