Phil & Tye hit on the healthy competition between Hicks/Starkel, Aaron Torres, and more!
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday
John & Tommy eat some Hardee’s sausage biscuits, plus Clay Henry breaks down the depth chart and fall camp!
???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — w/ Evin Demirel
Phil & Tye hit on alcohol sales, A-State vs Ark, Evin Demirel, and Halftime Homework!
Razorbacks announce sales of beer, wine, at football games this year
FAYETTEVILLE — Beginning with the 2019 season, fans attending football games at Razorback Stadium will be able to purchase beer and wine in public areas of the stadium.
Alcoholic beverages at Razorback football games have been available since 2014, but previously have only been available in suites and private club areas.
The program will now be expanded to create availability for the purchase of beer and wine to fans 21 years or older within designated public areas in and around the stadium.
In May, the Southeastern Conference announced revision of a policy that had previously restricted the sale of alcohol in public areas of athletics venues.
Under the revised policy, each institution within the conference now has the autonomy to determine the permissibility of selling alcoholic beverages in its athletics venues, subject to certain conference-wide alcohol management expectations.
At this time, War Memorial Stadium also anticipates employing an expanded alcohol sales program for Razorback Football games.
No decision has been made concerning the expansion of alcohol sales to other on-campus athletics venues, including Bud Walton Arena and Baum-Walker Stadium.
“By expanding our established alcoholic beverages program to include the sale of beer and wine in public areas of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, we are building on an already successful model while furthering the fan experience in a responsible way,” athletics director Hunter Yurachek said. “Working in coordination with campus officials and within established guidelines adopted by the SEC, we will now be able to offer this gameday amenity as an option to fans while working to further educate University of Arkansas students and the general public about safe and responsible consumption.
“We are implementing a number of corresponding initiatives aimed at preventing underage consumption and promoting responsible choices, including a ‘We ID Program,’ and a designated driver and rideshare program.
“In many cases at other power 5 conference institutions, alcohol-related incidents at events have decreased following the introduction of a formal alcohol sales and educational program. As with other gameday options, we realize individuals will ultimately make their own choices on whether to utilize these expanded opportunities.
“Our focus will be continuing to work with campus officials, UAPD, the SEC and others to ensure that fans of all ages can enjoy their gameday experience.”
Consistent with SEC guidelines, alcoholic beverages will be sold and dispensed only at designated stationary locations and not by vendors in seating areas.
Identification checks will be required of every person at the point of each sale and alcohol will be dispensed in cups. A limit of two servings per person will be allowed in each transaction.
Sales of alcohol will be halted at the end of the third quarter of the game.
A new program will allow fans to get a gameday discount from Lyft when using the rideshare service at Razorback football games.
A designated driver awareness program will also be implemented, encouraging fans to plan ahead on transportation options if they wish to consume alcohol on game day.
Alcohol will not be allowed in the University of Arkansas student seating section, located in the lower east grandstand of the stadium.
Beer and wine sale kiosks will also not be located in the immediate proximity of the student section. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from alcohol sales will be designated for use by the University of Arkansas’ Division of Student Affairs for alcohol related education and programming for university students.
“We have confidence in the many mechanisms being put in place to ensure that sales are limited to those 21 years or older as well as supporting responsible consumption for those who are allowed to purchase beer and wine,” dean of students Melissa Harwood-Rom said. “We begin educating our students about the effects of alcohol and how to act or intervene in alcohol-related situations from the time they first arrive on campus, so the proceeds from sales designated to support our educational efforts will be put to good use.”
Razorback athletics will work with its concessionaire partner Levy to implement the expanded program, including training for gameday staff related to SEC alcohol management guidelines, university policy and state and local regulations governing alcohol sales and consumption.
All servers will be trained to identify public intoxication in order to refuse service to any fan who appears impaired. Security personnel reserve the right to eject or arrest fans who are intoxicated or share alcoholic beverages with minors.
As has been the case in previous seasons, fans are encouraged to report any unruly behavior or in-game security or guest services concerns to stadium and law enforcement personnel by texting the keyword “HOGS,” your specific message and stadium location to 69050.
Click here to read the frequently asked questions from the UA.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Thursday
John & Tommy discuss recruiting spending, funny Eddy O comments, plus Richard Davenport!
Quarterback may be most intriguing competition in Hogs’ camp
Chad Morris has used just about every cliché in the coaches’ manual about how he wants players fighting every single day for playing time for Arkansas this fall.
That’s why practices that start Friday morning may have an interesting battle at the quarterback spot between a pair of graduate transfers from Texas schools in Ben Hicks and Nick Starkel.
Hicks is a fairly calm, low-key, guy who seems to always keep his cool, even with the media back during spring practices.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Starkel enjoys those energy drinks Morris has daily, reading a story by Tom Murphy at WholeHogSports.com on Wednesday.
Hicks played at SMU, a Dallas-based school that prides itself on a preppy atmosphere. Starkel played at Texas A&M, which is in College Station and was a military, guys-only, place less than 60 years ago.
Hicks played for Morris and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock with the Mustangs for three years.
Starkel played for Kevin Sumlin and Jimbo Fisher, feels like he got screwed with the Aggies and knows the offense as well as Hicks.
The biggest difference is Starkel has a cannon for an arm while Hicks can fling it, but everybody has talked about the way the ball jumps out of his hand.
All of that means this may be one of the most interesting quarterback competitions in a long time on campus.
The guess here is Morris is going to not name a starter publicly until near the end of fall camp. I’m not holding out any hope we’ll be able to figure out anything in the 20 minutes of several practices the media will get to see.
Arkansas’ running game will probably be determined by how good the passing game is, especially early in games and the season.
If you’re expecting to suddenly go back 10 years in the way the world of college football has evolved and see the good ol’ running game set up the pass, well, it doesn’t work that way anymore.
The Razorbacks are going to have to throw the ball with a talented group of receivers that will be better than anybody’s guessing right now, at least in my opinion. The running backs may put up some pretty big numbers, but that will only be if the passing game opens up the running lanes.
Running backs coach Jeff Traylor talked Monday about how much he’s liking that he’s got the numbers this year. That’s why they welcomed T.J. Hammonds back to go along with a diverse group led by Rakeem Boyd.
Defense is going to be a question mark for the Hogs, so they may have to simply out-score some folks to win games.
How well they do that is likely going to depend on the quarterback.
And we probably won’t know who that will be, but the general thinking is Hicks will start the season and Starkel will take over sooner rather than later.
It likely is going to be interesting, regardless how it plays out.
???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — w/ Clay Henry
Phil & Tye discuss media access to Arkansas football, Clay Henry on Paul Eells, Bill King on a great Urban/Saban story and more!
Morris on Halftime talking fall camp, recruiting, prep coaching days
Arkansas head coach Chad Morris joined Phil & Tye to discuss fall camp, recruiting and more!
Razorbacks set two-game series with Utah for 2026, 2028
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas and Utah are set to play a home-and-home football series as part of the 2026 and 2028 seasons.
The Razorbacks will travel to Salt Lake City to take on the Utes on Sept. 12, 2026, in the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron.
The Utes will make the return trip to Fayetteville on Sept. 16, 2028. The last time the Razorbacks played a member of the Pac-12 was in 2006 against USC and are 4-6-1 against current members of the Pac-12 all time.
Arkansas is set to open the second year under coach Chad Morris and the 2019 season at home against Portland State on Aug. 31 inside Razorback Stadium.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Wednesday
John & Tommy discuss excitement for fall camp, interview Hutch, and What’s Your Beef Wednesday!
Schaefer gets title to match what he’s been doing for Razorbacks
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors continues to retool his staff, announcing the promotion of Todd Schaefer to associate head coach Tuesday.
“Today’s announcement is simply a public recognition of what everyone in and around our program has known for the last three years,” Neighbors said. “None of our success would have been possible without Todd Schaefer being with us.
“Coach Todd has helped shape our identity on the court and has reinforced our culture off of it. He has had a major impact on every aspect of our program.
“The title associate head coach implies various things from program to program, but in ours, it displays the highest level of trust and talent. It is evidence that he has earned the confidence of coaches and players alike. The title here has been earned and is well deserved. He has been, and will continue to be, a highly sought-after head coach.
“We are thankful he, Lisa, Landon, Will, and Jake have made Northwest Arkansas their home to help us build pride around our women’s basketball program. Todd and I have successfully busted the myth that you can’t hire friends in this profession.
“After being friends for 17 years before working together, we continue to challenge each other daily to make sure we are getting it right, rather than focusing on who is right.”
“I strongly believe in what we are doing here,” Schaefer said. “I believe in our on-court philosophy.
“But more than that, I believe in the culture of trust between coaches and players we have built here at Arkansas. It’s really unique in this day and age, and it’s something I embrace. I love working in this office and for this program.”
The promotion of Schaefer comes after two seasons at Arkansas and three seasons serving as Neighbors’ right hand.
Through those three campaigns, the Neighbors-Schaefer combination has amassed an impressive 64 wins, including a 22-win showing in their most recent season together.
Schaefer was the only coach on the 2016-17 Washington staff that followed Neighbors to Arkansas.
Schaefer has become the go-to guy on Neighbors’ staff, helping with any and all aspects of the program, including scouting, recruiting and administration.
However, Schaefer is most well-known for his ability to develop talent, and the ways he uses player feedback and creative workouts to get the most out of those he coaches.
Schaefer, who grew up playing football, had to learn to play the game of basketball at a different level than more natural athletes in order to compete with them on the hardwood.
That ability to learn in his playing days, along with his longevity in the sport, has translated into an unparalleled ability to teach the game that he loves.
“Todd is unbelievable at developing talent,” assistant coach Pauline Love said. “He knows every mechanical detail, every drill, by heart. He is a genius in this game. He is smart to the point where he seems to have an answer for everything.
“And, if he doesn’t, you know he will do whatever it takes to figure it out.”
Schaefer combines his intellect and the trust players have in him into results.
All you have to do to see those results is look at some of the players he has helped mold during his time at Arkansas, Washington and his previous stop at Ole Miss.
This past season at Arkansas, the player development guru helped unlock Chelsea Dungee’s game in a season in which she shattered Arkansas’ single-season scoring record.
While at Washington, Schaefer helped shape Kelsey Plum, who would go on to become the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer during Schaefer’s one-year tenure with the school.
Before that, the Cincinnati, Ohio, native helped build up Ole Miss guard Shandricka Sessom, improving her scoring output from 5.3 points per game as a freshman to 15.6 PPG the following year.
Other coaching stops for Schaefer during his illustrious career include Arkansas State, Cincinnati, Arkansas Tech, Christian Brothers University, Allen County Community College, Western Illinois and Greenbrier High School.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Schaefer earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Thomas More College in 1995 while working as a student assistant basketball coach and playing on the football team.
He and his wife, Lisa, have three sons, Landon, Will and Jake.
