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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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2024 Razorbacks Football

Thu, Aug 29vs UAPB (Little Rock)W, 70-0
Sat, Sep 7@ Oklahoma StateL, 31-39 2OT
Sat, Sep 14vs UABW, 37-27
Sat, Sep 21@ AuburnW, 24-14
Sat, Sep 28vs Texas A&M (Arl)L, 21-17
Sat, Oct 5vs TennesseeW, 19-14
Sat, Oct 19vs LSUL, 34-10
Sat, Oct 26@ Mississippi StateW, 58-25
Sat, Nov 2vs Ole MissL, 63-35
Sat, Nov 16vs Texas11:00 AM
Sat, Nov 23vs Louisiana TechTBD
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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 (18)8-02521
2.Conway (6)8-02302
3.Greenwood (2)8-02103
4.Little Rock Parkview7-11714
5.Bentonville5-31416
6.Benton7-11265
7.Fayetteville6-21008
8.Pulaski Academy6-2757
9.Rogers5-3459
10.Shiloh Christian6-24010
Others receiving votes: Marion 13, Valley View 9, Joe T Robinson 8, Mountain Home 4, Cabot 3, Elkins 3.
CLASS 7A
1.Bryant (20)8-01241
2.Conway (6)8-01052
3.Bentonville5-3753
4.Fayetteville6-2455
5.Pulaski Academy6-2354
Others receiving votes: Rogers 5.
CLASS 6A
1.Greenwood (26)8-01301
2.Benton7-11022
3.Shiloh Christian6-2713
4.Marion7-1524
5.Mountain Home7-131
Others receiving votes: Little Rock Catholic 4.
CLASS 5A
1.Little Rock Parkview (23)7-11271
2.Joe T Robinson7-1902
3.Valley View (3)8-0803
4.Hot Springs Lakeside7-1484
5.Farmington7-130
Others receiving votes: Camden Fairview 4, Maumelle 4, Morrilton 3, Greenbrier 2, Harding Academy 1.
CLASS 4A
1.Elkins (19)8-01161
2.Arkadelphia (5)6-2792
3.Little Rock Mills (1)8-0703
4.Warren6-2404
5.Malvern (1)8-0315
Others receiving votes: Dardanelle 22, Southside Batesville 11, Mena 8, Bauxite 7, DeWitt 4, Highland 2.
CLASS 3A
4.Bismarck (15)8-01054
5.Fordyce (4)8-0765
Prescott (3)7-1531t
1.Osceola (2)6-149
3.Mayflower (1)8-036
Others receiving votes: Booneville (1) 31, Rivercrest 19, Mansfield 14, Charleston 4, Rison 3.
CLASS 2A
1.Carlisle (21)8-01211
2.Conway Christian (4)8-01042
3.Des Arc7-1663
4.Bigelow (1)6-2455
5.Murfreesboro6-230
Others receiving votes: Marked Tree 10, Mineral Springs 6, Junction City 5, Cross County 1, Mount Ida 1, Poyen 1
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Strong-Huttig (25)5-0761
2.Midland (1)7-0502
3.Cedar Ridge7-1253
Others receiving votes: Rector 5.

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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.