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Red-White game in Little Rock makes political sense

Moving spring game to Little Rock is a strictly political move that makes sense with the construction going on at Razorback Stadium and could be positive.

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Arkansas’ annual Red-White game will be April 7 and be played in Little Rock.

From a political standpoint that makes sense.

Razorbacks athletics director Hunter Yurachek made the announcement Thursday afternoon.

The game will kick off at 1 p.m., and admission will be free and open to the public. Additional details on the spring game and other festivities that weekend will be made in the coming weeks.

“This is a great opportunity for Central Arkansas to welcome back the Razorbacks by hosting the spring game at War Memorial Stadium,” Arkansas Director of Parks and Tourism Kane Webb said. “It brings back vivid memories for many of us who remember attending Red-White games at War Memorial and feeling a part of the statewide Razorback tradition.”

In addition to the traditional spring game in Central Arkansas, a family friendly event is being planned in Northwest Arkansas with more details to come at a later date.

Yurachek e-mailed WholeHogSports.com about the reasoning for the move:

“One thing that has become abundantly clear to Coach (Chad) Morris and me is the importance of the Razorbacks throughout the state,” Yurachek wrote. “… To better connect our new staff and program across the state this Spring, Coach Morris and I have decided that we will be taking the spring game to War Memorial Stadium on April 7.”

It’s a political bone thrown to the fans in Central Arkansas that makes sense, particularly with the construction going on with Razorback Stadium.

“We look forward to welcoming Coach Morris, his staff and the entire team to War Memorial Stadium,” War Memorial Stadium Commission Chairman Kevin Crass said. “This is a great opportunity for War Memorial Stadium and the fans in Central Arkansas to support the Hogs by having a record crowd for the spring game. We are grateful to Hunter Yurachek and Coach Morris for bringing this exciting weekend to fans throughout the state.”

The Hogs played spring games in first Fayetteville, then the next week in Little Rock for decades. The last time a spring game was played in Little Rock was 1988.

It was always an interesting game. In 1972, with Arkansas projected to be among the top teams in the nation with Joe Ferguson and a high-powered offense returning, a then-national record crowd of over 31,000 were there.

In 1978, there was a parade in downtown Little Rock in advance of a spring game that got rained out that might have surpassed that number. A storm with high winds, lots of rain and lightning made Lou Holtz just call it off.

As the Razorbacks enter the final year of their contract to play games at War Memorial Stadium, this is a political move that actually isn’t that bad of an idea.

With the unpredictability of Arkansas weather at that time of the year, though, it’s anybody’s guess how that will play out.

There’s also an SEC baseball series going on that weekend with Auburn at Baum Stadium, so it’s a good bet the crowd (which can get in for free) will be a sign of just how much Central Arkansas wants to support the Hogs playing there.

It will be Morris’ first showing and it will be in Central Arkansas, which apparently is now a priority for the new regime in football.

We’ll see how it comes off.

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Thu, Aug 29vs UAPB (Little Rock)W, 70-0
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Sat, Sep 14vs UABW, 37-27
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Sat, Sep 28vs Texas A&M (Arl)L, 21-17
Sat, Oct 5vs TennesseeW, 19-14
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2024 High School Rankings

Following is the Arkansas Sports Media High School Football Poll including the Overall Top 10, the top five in Classes 7A, 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A and 2A, plus the top three in the 8-man division, as voted by a panel of sports media from around the state for the week ending August 24. Ranking is given with first-place votes received, records, total points and ranking from last week's poll:
OVERALLRecordPtsPrv
1.Bryant (25)10-02681
2.Greenwood (2)10-02343
30Conway9-12022
4.Little Rock Parkview9-11714
5.Bentonville7-31625
6.Benton9-11486
7.Fayetteville8-21117
8.Pulaski Academy8-2898
9.Rogers7-3439
10.Joe T. Robinson9-122
Others receiving votes: Valley View 8, Mountain Home 7, Cabot 6, Little Rock Catholic 6, Shiloh Christian 6, Elkins 1, Farmington 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Bryant (27)10-01351
2.Conway9-11022
3.Bentonville7-3813
4.Fayetteville8-2454
5.Pulaski Academy8-2395
Others receiving votes: Rogers 3.
CLASS 6A
1.Greenwood (27)10-01351
2.Benton9-11082
3.Mountain Home8-2623
4.Shiloh Christian7-3494
5.Little Rock Catholic9-1345
Others receiving votes: Marion 6.
CLASS 5A
1.Little Rock Parkview (27)9-11351
2.Joe T. Robinson9-11062
3.Valley View10-0793
4.Farmington9-1484
5.Hot Springs Lakeside8-2205
Others receiving votes: Camden Fairview 7, Harding Academy 7, Morrilton 3.
CLASS 4A
1.Elkins (20)10-01261
3.Arkadelphia (5)8-2913
2.Little Rock Mills (1)10-0682
4.Warren8-2554
5.Dardanell (1)9-123
Southside Batesville10-023
Others receiving votes: Malvern 12, Gravette 5, Highland 2.
CLASS 3A
1.Bismarck (12)10-01051t
2.Fordyce (10)10-0961t
3.Prescott (1)9-1704
4.Osceola (2)8-1543
5.Booneville (1)9-1395
Others receiving votes: Mansfield (1) 23, Rivercrest 10, Rison 4, Salem 4.
CLASS 2A
1.Carlisle (20)10-01271
2.Conway Christian (7)10-01152
3.Des Arc8-2595
4.East Poinsett Co.7-352
5.Bigelow6-4183
Murfreesboro7-3184
Others receiving votes: Mount Ida 6, Junction City 4, Cross County 3, Poyen 3.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Strong-Huttig (27)5-0811
2.Midland9-0532
3.Cedar Ridge8-1253
Others receiving votes: Woodlawn 3.

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ESPN ARKANSAS 99.5 IN FAYETTEVILLE, 95.3 IN THE RIVER VALLEY, 96.3 IN HOT SPRINGS, 104.3 IN HARRISON-MOUNTAIN HOME.