KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas: Sully Says (Stadium Debate)

War Memorial Stadium manager, Charlie Staggs, fired a warning shot on Tuesday , when he said the old stadium was looking at the possibility of expansion.  Why expand ? Charlie says they are willing to do just about anything to ensure the Razorbacks keep playing two games a season at War Memorial.

The current contract runs through 2016. All Athletic Director Jeff Long will say is that it all comes down to what gives Bobby Petrino's Razorbacks the best chance to win.  If that means playing all home games in Fayetteville, they seem ready to schedule 7 or 8 home games a season at Reynolds-Razorback stadium. Staggs, who is not one to cry wolf, says they couldn't survive without two Razorback games a year.

I've learned a few things during my 30 years covering sports in the state, when fans are united, the state's flagship university can be a powerhouse.  On the flip side, if Hog fans are divided over a coach ( see Houston Nutt) , or a stadium ( see 2000 Stadium debate), things can get ugly....real ugly.

Times have changed, and Jeff Long is not the polarizing figure that Frank Broyles was, but I still think moving all the games is a risky move that could fracture the fan base. 

Why keep playing in Little Rock ?  Ask any player who has suited up for the Hogs, from Bruce James ( Moss Point, Miss  1970)  to Tyler Wilson ( Greenwood 2012) , and they'll tell you that there is something special about War Memorial.  Some will point to the tailgating on the golf course, or the drive to the stadium, and what about the noise factor in that small stadium. When Bobby Petrino's Hogs come to central Arkansas it's more than a game, it's a major event.  Another plus for War Memorial, it's located in the capitol city.

Then there's the history. War Memorial has played host to Razorback games since 1948. Many still regard the stadium as a living tribute to all Arkansans who have served and paid the ultimate price for their country.  The stadium is a big part of the fabric of Central Arkansas. 

I go back to unifying the state. How will longtime supporters in South and Northeast Arkansas, who face a 5  hour drive to Fayetteville, respond to the move ?  I don't know.

To this point, Jeff Long and Coach Petrino, have made all the right moves when it comes to servicing fans in this part of the state.   Will that continue ? Only time will tell. 

Are the potential rewards of moving the games worth the risk of dividing a fan base, again ?