Editor’s note: Jay Bir, who works for KARK/KLRT in Little Rock and is a graduate of Arkansas State University has provided a counterpoint in response to a column published by Sporting Life Arkansas from a Razorback fan, University of Arkansas alum and regular contributor to our site, Wade McCune.
If you haven’t noticed, the Arkansas Legislature stirred up quite a buzz this past week with HB 2274. A game that would finally give the people what they wanted… THE game. Arkansas vs. Arkansas State. The matchup that many would turnout to see regardless of what side of the argument you’re on and turn out in droves.
Sporting Life Arkansas asked me my opinion from the ASU perspective on this and with all due respect to @PorkShankRedemption, I’m here to respond to this East-Coast/West-Coast type beef.
I’m not exactly sure where you figure a lot of the anger is coming from. From the ASU fanbase? If anything the vitriol has quieted down significantly in recent years and much more so since the Red Wolves’ recent success.
Now sure, there is still a vocal, angry minority, but that is the minority. Many have moved on from wanting the game.
Sure, they’d love to see it, but frankly, most are more worried about winning the Sun Belt year in and year out and improving on the basketball court and the baseball diamond. Many have moved on from demanding THE game of Razorbacks vs Red Wolves and getting into the constant arguments. Although there are still plenty who do.
Stop being so needy. You’ve killed a lot of the argument in this passage. THE game won’t kill the Razorback brand, but yet it seems to be why a lot of the Hogs’ fanbase is not for playing THE game.
We’re into the spring portion of football, and I don’t think I can recall many people (on either side) bringing up the ULM loss. I think this would be the same of ASU. For such a large, dominant, monopolized entity as the University of Arkansas, it sure is dumbfounding to see the Razorbacks avoid a team that so many claim ”can’t compete.”
If the brand of the UA is as in good of shape as it is claimed to be (which I believe the brand is strong and I think Forbes can back that up), then what’s the big deal if Razorbacks did lose to the Red Wolves?
Reynolds Razorback Stadium won’t come crashing down like the Tower of Sauron. Sure ASU fans would be giddy for a minute, but remember when ASU beat Texas A&M? That didn’t mean much since they didn’t back it up by winning the conference, going to a bowl, having a successful season. It’s just one game in 12, and I’m sure it would be reveled in a little more, but then next week rolls around.
Stop being so mean. Get held back by your counterpart for decades with back-handed compliments or being bullied around and see how cheery you are about it. There’s a lot more to this than football to a lot of the older generations, such as the fight for university status for ASU.
How about not referring to Arkansas as the “only” D-1 school in the state? I’m pretty sure I’ve seen that in a school program a time or two. Little brother gets mad when big brother keeps poking him, naturally. And if Bobby Petrino landed at ASU, I think it’s safe to say many a Hog fan wouldn’t necessarily root against ASU, but certainly they wouldn’t hope for super success either.
Stop being so unrealistic. There are plenty of ASU folks out there who understand ASU’s place in the world. It’s second-banana in the state. As an ASU grad myself, I’m aware of this. ASU is not the big-dog; ASU is not the flagship, and ASU won’t be. Nobody is claiming that ASU would “own” the UA in any sort of competition (although hoops right now, both men’s and women’s, would be a good game).
Sure ASU has finally gotten serious about athletic competition and those who are running the show. President Dr. Chuck Welch has put people in charge that care and want to to see ASU grow, and hiring Terry Mohajir as athletic director is one of the finest employment moves during Welch’s tenure. So while ASU surely won’t take a backseat to anybody, ASU supporters understand the dynamic in the state.
My take. Look I UNDERSTAND the policy. I really do – in the 60s and 70s.
It was put in place to separate the University of Arkansas within the confines of its own borders; it was created to establish itself as the dominant force of Arkansas. Mission accomplished.
Just this past week the Razorback Foundation sent out a letter encouraging its members to vote against HB 2274 and maintain, once again, the party line of ‘the policy.’ Even with the letter from the Razorback Foundation, the vote still ended up being 52-48 in favor of THE game.
I do find it interesting that an SEC-level school keeps avoiding a Sun Belt-level school. Imagine Texas sending out letters to avoid playing North Texas, or that Ohio State would tip-toe around Ohio, or that Tennessee not play Memphis or Middle Tennessee. Switch out the names in the same situation and it seems silly, doesn’t it?
Is there more to “gain” for ASU in this potential matchup? I guess.
I don’t believe that the benefits are as such as Hog fans make them out to be. ASU won’t snatch up every recruit in the state or suddenly be a powerhouse. Heck they can barely get coverage in the statewide newspaper.
Surely if ASU won THE game, they’d be ignored even more right?!
And for being in a conference that prints its own money, especially now with the soon-to-be-announced SEC Cable Network, the Razorback fans concern themselves with “splitting the resources of Arkansas.”
Play the game, maybe see a little going to the other side, but not enough for UA to even notice.
In fact this game could be a better financial game for UA anyway. The current going rate for most rent-a-wins is about $900,000. Surely ASU knocks that down a little since travel won’t be a problem – let’s say the payout is $750,000.
Scheduling a gridiron matchup between the Razorbacks and Red Wolves creates a high-demand game. C’mon, you’re going to see this game over the likes of UA vs Troy, New Mexico, WIU, ULM, ULL, etc. So you’ve got a sellout for a game that may not normally sellout, plus the UA can take some liberties with the ticket prices. That makes $ense to me.
For some reason UA bills this as some ‘high-stakes game’ when, for them, it’s really not. Chances are they can explain a loss away as ‘early season jitters’ or ‘an inexperienced team.” I’m sure plenty in the media would oblige in helping to explain away the loss too.
Play the game and maybe more people will actually come together to support the state as a whole. I have heard from a lot of ASU people they won’t ‘hate’ the Hogs if the two teams played. In fact, the people I talk to say they would respect the UA for doing so.
The bottom line is this – the sun will come up the next day regardless of the outcome of a football game between the two schools, and should the UA lose, it won’t fall into an abyss of despair filled with scarlet and black.
And it sure wouldn’t kill the UA to put UCA and UAPB on the schedules either. I mean if the school is going to add one FCS team a year for football, why not?
Surely the UA is not worried about those schools either. It’s only natural for the UA to add these other in-state schools to every other sport too. Heck, UCA baseball might boost the Razorback baseball team’s SOS and RPI this year on the diamond.
Why not bring up the GAC schools for basketball exhibitions? Those games don’t even count! Now I know UA isn’t concerned about Arkansas Tech splitting the state or Henderson State out recruiting them, so what would the harm be in those? See how crazy that sounds now?
About Jay Bir: Jay has worked at KARK/KLRT 4/16 since 2006. He began as a photographer and has now added reporter to his title, albeit unofficially.
Jay was was born in Stillwater, OK, and then took his talents to South Beach in 1992 and then moved to North Little Rock in 1998. He attended Sylvan Hills High School and went from there to Arkansas State University. Jay graduated from ASU’s vaunted radio/tv program in 2006 and after a short stint with AT&T (a guy needs a job out of college right?) found his only tv home with KARK.
It was during his time in South Florida that Jay developed a passion for sports, especially the professional teams down there – hey it’s not often you’re around for the founding of two professional sports teams, the Marlins and Panthers. It was the Stanley Cup and World Series runs of 1996 and 1997 that really cemented Jay’s fervor for not only his teams but sports in general. It was that same passion that he brought to ASU, and he has had the privelege of covering both of ASU’s recent bowl games and three recent head coaching changes.
Jay is an ACTIVE tweeter and encourages exchange both on there and his facebook page. He enjoys the debate of sports (just check into a #slachat if you want to see that first hand) and watching sports and reporting sports – pretty much anything to do with sports.
Jay currently lives in Sherwood with his wife, Kat, and their dog Doc. They have one son, Ace, and are expecting another child, a baby girl, Avi, in May 2013.
Completely agree Jay. This much more accurately sums up my view on the game. I really don’t think the column by Wade explains the way most Red Wolves fans feel about the University of Arkansas. My goal is not to hurt their program. I only want to promote my school, and point our when a statewide culture or policy is in place that diminishes the success of my school.
As I pointed out in my response to Wade’s comments, I don’t care if THE GAME ever happens, but I do believe that it’s ridiculous that it doesn’t. You just summed that up better than I’ve ever seen it before when you wrote:
“Imagine Texas sending out letters to avoid playing North Texas, or that Ohio State would tip-toe around Ohio, or that Tennessee not play Memphis or Middle Tennessee. Switch out the names in the same situation and it seems silly, doesn’t it?”
Well done.
I’m all for any in-state team playing the Hogs…as long as they make it worth our while. Currently Arkansas pays out for these sorts of ‘games’. So: any team in Arkansas that just has to play the Hogs can pony up, let say, a half mil for the privilege.
Hell, in that case, I might even be persuaded to actually watch. But not otherwise.
Til then, I’ll go back to ignoring y’all (note: ignoring someone is not the same as avoiding that someone).
And y’all can go back to whining.
Is that you at 500 pounds taking up the entire aisle on a struggling electric scooter at Wal-Mart buying “Hawg” T-shirts for you and your Momma?
Nope. Now, back to whining and rattling that can on the sidewalk.
Half a mil? That’s all it takes? We’ll pay $700,000 and play them in Jonesboro. We could use a good non-conference tune-up game.
Well, I’d raised the price below to 750k but since that’s too low for your ego, let’s make it an even 2 mil.
Everyone should be satisfied now.
I like the part about playing Arkansas being a “privilege.” Your lack of self-awareness is truly hysterical.
Completely self-aware and playing the hands-down best program in the state is a privilege.
Get used to it.
Why do we neede a game like this??
Why is it the Uof A is expected to promote ASU for the fans inthat area??
This is a stupid bill that tries to leverage a school for personal intrest.
I will vote against anyone supporting this bill by trying to take the U of A hostage.
I would not go to the game if it was free.
Why do you need a game like Mizz State, or Monroe? how come this argument along with promoting their schools never comes up when you see these Sun Belt and FCS teams on the schedule? quite hypocritical.
“Why is it the Uof A is expected to promote ASU for the fans inthat area??”
Why did Arkansas help prop up Louisiana-Monroe by letting them count games in Little Rock as home games? Way to look out for your own state.
They were willing to take quite a bit less money in exchange for that. It was a smart business move.
If a game ever happens between UA and ASU, I expect you’d be able to broker a similar arrangement.
I’ll add this: There is NO REASON that Arkansas should not be playing other state schools in the non-revenue sports. NONE.
UA should be playing ASU, UCA, UAPB, etc., in volleyball, women’s hoops, baseball, track, golf, tennis, bowling, whatever. These teams and sports have limited budgets that could be stretched MUCH further if these schools were suddenly opened up to them as opponents.
Plus, the games would actually be attractive to casual sports fans and would increase the attendance for the average volleyball game.
Why in the blue hell would Arkansas pay Arkansas State for this game? ASU is the one that desperately wants the game.
What would happen if Arkansas offers a game to ASU but offers to pay nothing? Would ASU refuse? How does that change this entire conversation?
The irony of both demanding a game and demanding a huge payout for the game is not lost on everyone.
Again, we’ll gladly pay the Hogs to come play us in Jonesboro. Just name the date.
Scooter, I am sure you speak for ASU when you offer to give the $ away.
Nope. This is a home game for the Hogs and y’all pay for the privilege.
Period.
ASU would never agree to that. They should be paid the going rate paid to a Sun Belt opponent if UA keeps all the gate. ASU doesnt’”need” this game. We already play higher profile BCS opponents.
UA isn’t interested in scheduling a game. According to their fans, ASU doesn’t need it. Looks like there’s no reason to play the game, then.
UA im sure wasn’t interested in scheduling the countless Sun Belt and FCS teams they have played…
“Why in the blue hell would Arkansas pay Arkansas State for this game”
Why the blue hell do Arkansas pay other Sun Belt and FCS teams for a game?
Because that’s the way it’s done.
With ASU, it gets done a different way.
I think Arkansas pays because that’s the way it goes, nobody is coming for free…ASU I’m sure would give a discount since its around the corner. If Arkansas DOESN’T pay than make it a H&H and make ASU the designated home team at WMS..y’know, like they did for ULM.
Use some sense about the economics of collegiate football here…Arkansas isn’t going to pony up $2 million if somebody asks for it..so it makes 0 sense to throw out the fact if they offered a freebie that ASU what would they do!
You pay for rent-a-wins because those teams have no other reason to take the game. ASU has made it clear they want to play this game, and not for the money. As you said, ASU would make more money by charging another team more. So why should Arkansas pay ASU?
If ASU is only willing to play the game if Arkansas pays them, that changes the conversation entirely.
Jay,
Great article…funny to watch the “Walmart hog fans” chime in in the comment section…so predictable. Either they can’t comprehend or they can’t read or most likely are in denial of the imminent.
Go Red Wolves!
Remember: have ASU make that check out to ‘Arkansas Athletics Dept. c/o Jeff Long’. (if you can’t find someone at ASU who can write, I’m sure one of those ‘Wal-Mart Fans’ would be more than happy to help y’all out).
Oh, and the price just went up another 250k.
Every major sports program in the country has so-called “sidewalk fans.” It’s the natural result of being at least somewhat successful over a long period of time. The only people who try to denigrate sidewalk fans are fans of programs who don’t have any… And, let’s face it, there’s a reason why they don’t have any.
The people on the sidewalk I’m referring to are panhandlers, not fans per se.
Biast on every level, the idea of the teams playing is only ever proposed by ASU grads. ASU is the only one to gain anything from the game and UofA would be a laughing stock if they ever lost to ASU. As a UofA fan I’m not for it. No hate towards ASu but UofA just has nothing to gain and nothing to prove, UofA will never agree to this. Its also none of the state governments buisness who football teams do or do not play. All around a stupid argument that pops up every few years from some ASU grad. State gov should keep on worrying about our right to have guns in churchs or making more strict abortion laws and keep their stupidity out of the one good thing our state has going, the razorbacks.
“ASU is the only one to gain anything from the game and UofA would be a laughing stock if they ever lost to ASU….UofA just has nothing to gain”
Where is this problem about an opponent being the only one to gain and this “nothing to gain” convo when you see other Sun Belt and FCS teams every year? Its always a normal thing when when you see monroe or southwest pentecostal A&T college on the schedule, but its funny how its a problem when ASU gets brought into the equation.
Arkansas was a laughing stock when they lost to the citadel and Monroe recently. Every school has there embarassing moments. If you’re scared of embarassing moments, then you aren’t fit to be a true program.
Funny thing about sports fans. The more I talk to them the more I discover how few know very much outside their team of interest. Very few sports fans have a realistic vision of where their program stands in the eyes of those who really pay attention to sports on a national basis.
When you look at the scheduling of the University of Arkansas, it doesn’t look much different from from the rest of the SEC for the most part. Load up on home games against teams fans don’t know. Except most will play an in-state especially in sports other than football.
The brilliance of the UA policy is that it takes advantage of that lack of knowledge. Would Pelphrey, Heath, even the last days of Nolan have gone on so long if UALR had gone into Bud Walton and walked out with a win? 2011 was a great year for Razorback football but it included a 10 point win over a Troy team that Arkansas State pounded.
Playing ASU, UCA, UALR, UAPB in the various sports would be Memento mori, Remember you are mortal.
The Razorback Foundation of course encouraged members to go vote no on the bill (and frankly I find no compelling reason for such a bill except to open discussion) because you can sell people on things are going to be OK after losing to Morgan State, or East Tennessee State, or South Alabama more easily than if it is UALR or UCA that has come to Fayetteville and won. You can sell a loss to UAB who got knocked out of the First Four more easily than a loss to Arkansas State.
Playing in-state would hold the UA athletic program to a level of accountability that the Foundation doesn’t want.
Why cant ASU move on. ASU asks for this game, Arkansas says no. So here we are. You think UofA should be forced to do what you want just because you want it. Thats totally biast. If ASU wants more respect instate then maby they shouldnt be in the fun belt.
B-I-A-S-E-D
It’s not that hard of a word.
I wasn’t aware Arkansas State had declined invitations to leagues other than the Sun Belt.
Funny thing about conference affiliation is that it doesn’t have a lot to do with quality of play. North Texas (loser of last 8 vs ASU), Middle Tennessee (loser of last three vs ASU and two of those total routs), FAU (loser of last two vs ASU lucky for them we didn’t meet this year) and FIU (loser of last two vs. ASU) all got picked for CUSA not because of their play but where they play (Dallas, Miami, Nashville).