Red-White game in Little Rock makes political sense

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.”

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.