Jeff Reed: Reports from The Dons of Arkansas State

The “dons” of the Arkansas State “Mafia” got together for lunch last week. Not so much to discuss anything of importance (was there something creating a buzz last week?) but just to get together since it had been a while since the last meeting. After all, spring practice was in process and the Arkansas State Red Wolves needed to find a new quarterback.

And yes, that little talk about playing a football game against the other FBS team in the state came up.

I mention this because it is the first time it has come up.

This group, ranging in age from late 30s to early 50s and all ASU alums, never brings up the game.

Oh, we all think it should be played and that the UA and Hog fans’ excuses for not for not playing it make no sense, but it is not an obsession. Never has been and never will be.

And couple of the “dons” even mentioned they didn’t want to play the game because “we have too much to lose.”

“We are winning conference titles right now,” they said. “We don’t need to play that game.”

Last week did create quite a stir when Rep. Andy Mayberry, a Republican from East End, introduced a bill that would set up a one-time benefit football meeting between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Arkansas State Red Wolves with the proceeds going to one of five possible non-profits.

The original wording called for the proceeds to go to “a worthy cause in the state.” Some of the options aren’t for what we would call a worthy cause, but we didn’t write the bill.

At the website arkansasasubenefit.com you could vote on if the game should be played and the beneficiary of the contest. Voting closed at last weekend, with those in favor of the game pulling out a 51.8 to 48.2 percent victory and more than 25,000 folks voting in one week.

Oh, and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, with 71 percent, was the runaway winner on the other vote.

It was an interesting week. Those on the ASU side who are obsessed had their adrenaline flowing and the main Red Wolves message board had life. And I am told, it create conversation on the many Razorbacks website. A lot of shots were fired on each side.

In fact, in my duties on the nightly talk show Sports Night on the Arkansas Radio Network, I said something a caller from Fayetteville did not like and was labeled “a rabid idiot.”

As I explained to my co-hosts, “I thought I was being the voice was reason.”

I guess it is a sensitive issue for some.

There has always been this talk about the two schools playing. And for the most part it has been A-State making the loudest scream.

But a few years ago at the Little Rock Touchdown Club, University of Central Arkansas coach Clint Conque suggested if the Hogs were gonna play other FCS (formerly I-AA) schools the UCA Bears would be interested.

And two years ago at the Downtown Tip-Off Club, ASU basketball coach John Brady suggested all the schools in the state should play in basketball and in the back of the room, clapping loudly was UALR athletic director Chris Peterson.

And this latest salvo – the front man is a Razorback fan who graduated from Henderson State – did not come from ASU, or another other school in the state.

Since Saturday’s online voting deadline, there has been little talk.

The feeling from my seat is it will never get out of committee and the vote will never take place.

And in a few weeks, or a few years we will do it again.

And we will have the same rhetoric from the Hog Callers, although we will be surprised if the Razorback Foundation enters the fray again, saying things people who wear cardinal will believe and leaving those who wear red and back shaking their heads.

We have seen this game before.