FAYETTEVILLE - While conference administrators continue to laud their expanded leagues following the latest batch of expansion, football officials across the country are scrambling to piece together makeshift schedules for 2012.
Arkansas is one of many schools in that boat, looking to replace Texas A&M with another nonconference opponent. The Razorbacks and Aggies had been scheduled to be the other’s marquee nonconference game for several more years before Texas A&M made the move to the Southeastern Conference in the fall.
“It’s disappointing to myself that we’re not talking about a 12-game schedule and we only have 11 (games) scheduled,” Arkansas athletics director Jeff Long said Wednesday. “It is a scheduling puzzle and there is a lot of uncertainty out there in the scheduling arena with Big 12, ACC and Big East games. There are a lot of things that are holding things up.”
VIDEO: Jeff Long – 2012 Football Schedule
Making things more difficult for the Razorbacks is the fact the program is contractually obligated to play a predetermined amount of games each year in three different venues – at least five on-campus at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, two in Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium and one at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Arkansas and Texas A&M are scheduled to play at the neutral site just outside Dallas through the 2018 season, but the future of that game is in doubt because of the teams’ impending dual conference affiliation. The Houston Chronicle cited two sources earlier this week in saying the Aggies don’t want to play the Razorbacks at a neutral site anymore, but instead would like to move the game to the schools’ campuses.
Long said Wednesday he was unaware “of those sentiments” and would like to continue playing on a neutral field, which has offered a hefty payout since the teams signed on to play there beginning in 2009.
“Two schools, from our perspective, owe Cowboys Stadium a game,” Long said.
“We’re hoping it will resolve at any time. Any time could be days, it could be weeks or it could be after the bowl season, but that’s an important piece to what we’re doing.”
If Arkansas can keep the game against Texas A&M in Arlington, it will look to schedule a marquee home-and-home nonconference series. If the Aggies opt out of the agreement, the Razorbacks could attempt to schedule another nonconference team in Cowboys Stadium or scrap playing there altogether.
Either way presents a challenge this late in the year. Most teams have their schedule for the next season released by the time the bowl games are finished, though several teams are finding scheduling to be a dilemma this year.
A fourth nonconference opponent next year could range from a team in a BCS conference to a team in a conference outside of the BCS, Long said, with the worst-case scenario being the Razorbacks would have to schedule a second Football Championship Subdivision opponent.
Schools can count one FCS opponent toward its win total for postseason purposes and Arkansas is already scheduled to begin the 2012 season with Jacksonville State. The Razorbacks are also scheduled to play Louisiana-Monroe and Tulsa in nonconference action next year, leaving the need for a name opponent to boost strength of schedule and fan satisfaction.
Several schools are in limbo about future series because of the number of changes in conference affiliation, Long said, so some schools could have unexpected schedule openings in the near future. There is a risk in waiting for that happen, though.
“I’m not sure I can gamble and wait that long to see if an opponent will fall out of that,” Long said. “We might be faced with the task of, ‘Here is the opponent you can get.’ It might not be the most desirable, but you want to fill your schedule with 12.”
Finding that last nonconference opponent will also allow the school to designate which home games will be played in Fayetteville and Little Rock, Long said. Those locations were not specified with the release of Arkansas’ partial schedule on Wednesday.
There is a growing belief the Razorbacks’ home game against LSU, which has been played in Little Rock nine consecutive times, could be moved on-campus because of its national popularity and growing ticket demand.
Getting the word out quickly about such a move will be pivotal as the promise of LSU coming to town keeps several buying season tickets in Little Rock. While Little Rock ticket sales might fall without the post-Thanksgiving game against the Tigers, Fayetteville ticket sales could soar with a schedule including both Alabama and LSU.
“Who that 12th game is could affect that decision,” Long said.
One final factor in scheduling an attention-grabbing nonconference series is the SEC schedule will be reevaluated with a possible format change following the 2012 season. With 14 teams, a nine-game conference schedule seems more likely going forward than the eight games scheduled for next season.
With so many constraints as it is and more potentially on the way from the SEC, being locked into another contract right away could make scheduling even more difficult in coming years.
“These are unusual times,” Long said. “We’re used to being able to have games scheduled eight and nine years out. Hopefully we will get some stability back into these conferences and schedules so we can plan that far out.”
You can follow Matt Jones on Twitter @NWAMatt.
The first thing to do is forget about the Little Rock deal. What are they going to do? Sue the University? Doubt it. It’s the dumbest thing any NCAA program does. It hurts the team, both recruiting and attendance. Play on campus in the fantastic stadium you have! Would really boost the whole football experience.
I agree it is much better in Fayetteville mohogg, but the fact remains that we have a ton of alumni and boosters in Little Rock, not to mention the fans of South Arkansas. I think stopping the games in Little Rock, especially with the Malzahn, hiring could jeoperdize our fan base in that part of the state with less fans getting to see the Hogs play.
I’m from Missouri as well, and let’s face it, the Hogs will not get the support from Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma, even bieng the closest major college to alot of areas in those states. It is a screwy deal, but I think we should still play in LR, just rotate what games we play there so Fayetteville fans get to see LSU once in a while lol.
Does Arkansas want A.D. Long to schedule a “Big Name” BCS opponent for say the next 8 years?
By “Big Name” BCS opponent do you mean a “Top 20 Program” that Arkansas can win the game approximately half the time? That’s what big name means…….unless you’re ALABAMA or LSU (AL or LSU can win 7 out of 10 times against BCS biggies).
Our Razorback program is almost there.
Baylor has an open date on 10/20 and needs a BCS OOC.
OKST has both dates open but already plays AZ
Texas Tech has both dates open and needs to schedule a BCS OOC.
I’d be happy with Baylor or Texas Tech if we have to give up the southwest classic.
Don’t think it’s desirable to play on Oct 20th; that would mean playing 9 straight weeks to end the regular season (10 counting the SEC Championship Game); better to play on Sep 22nd and save the open date for mid-October.
Looks like Nebraska has an opening on 22 SEPT 2011. If the A&M game goes to Kyle Field this would be a big draw in Jerry World. This would give them a bye date right in the middle of their schedule and move ours to week 8.
Ditto that, DFW. Bring on the Huskers. Jamrox is right on, as well. From a strategic standpoint, October 22 would be much better for a break, open date wise.
Jacob, Jeopardize the fan base that is trying to hold the program hostage by forcing them play away from their home stadium in a run down, crummy, obsolete old hunk of crumbling cement. How about have the baseball team play in Ray Winder stadium while you’re at it? And play golf on that tailgating area west of the stadium they call a golf course. It’s all a huge joke on the Razorbacks! Or maybe have the basketball team go play some games in the gym at Dumas? That would probably satisfy the “fan base”.
I hate to say this, but the LR & Central Ark themes are gleeming old and tiring. The UA is not looking at threats but merely the big picture for the UA & State. This is akin to when UA left SWC and the strong Dallas Razorback Club in the dust. I was here in Dallas then and we had no threats of consequencies when hogs left. We knew SEC was best and now the games in LR are in the cross hairs. Nothing personal about Little Rock or a question about passion of the same. It is about a stadium that damn near was built what seems like 1800s? I wish I could see the same passion about new venue in LR versus acceptance of status quo as the way it is because it has always been and to change is a how dare you because we will take our money and run. LR is the biggest city in the State and State capitol, act like it, go make it happen, build the Wonder Dome so 100,000 fans can participate in the Rock.
the teasips in dallas would be the perfect match.
they have the opening after dumping the ags.
they just don’t have the guts to play us, just as they didn’t have the guts to come to the SEC with the aggies.
I doubt we can schedule a Big 12 team because of the uncertainty of the WVU situation. Will they be Big 12 or Big East next year? I think our best bet is a PAC-12 team, probably Arizona. We recruit Arizona and Arizona recruits Texas. Let’s play them in Arlington.
I agree with getting rid of the Little Rock games. I enjoy the games too much in Razorback Stadium to downgrade 2-3 games a year in that stadium. Living in Nebraska, the boosters/fans in the far west end of the state don’t cry about the Huskers not playing 2-3 games in Grand Island every year!!! They drive, just like true Southern Arkansas fans would, 7-8hrs plus to cheer on their team.
Imagine the LSU game in Fayetteville this year…
Go Hogs!
here we go again, I am to the point where I just say…..go, go ,go…….to the hill then.
We have a different view here in LR. We still feel we are the reason we have a competitive FB
program……we were the main supporters for what 100 years…….now since the transplants have become the main stay in NWA, we have to hear this S***there is UALR and there is ASU…….we will find a game IMO and a Team that appreciates what we bring to the proverbial table…..Imo
yeah, I like stirring the Soup…..as they say
No doubt that all success is due to Little Rock! Go watch UALR. Or better yet go watch somebody get mugged in your town.
Stvjas, you are not stirring the soup, you are just wasting your jungle juice in it. lol
So if Long moved all the games to War Memorial we would be #1 and flat broke?
Until I hear people in Little Rock acknowleging the dump and demanding for a new stadium, you just dreaming of yesterday. We have to be looking at the future and War Memorial is not part of it.
Who piad to build War Memorial during a war? Find them, or their great,great,great,great,great grandchildren to have them help build a Wonder Dome in LR. ASU can play Bama and LSU there and make all the money they want.
I’ve been to games in LR and I’ve been to games in Fayetteville. Razorback Stadium is awesome, state-of-the-art, beautiful, and should just get better with more seats added in a few years. The fans at those games in Fayetteville are also snobby, there to be seen, and are not nearly as loud and rowdy as the fans in The Rock. The last time I went to a game there this little old lady told me to sit down because she couldn’t see. Are you freakin kidding me?! No way a fan in The Rock would ever say some crap like that! I told her to get off her duff and call the Hogs!
Now we can make this a battle between the fans of NW Ark and Central Ark, or we can all just admit that the Hogs playing a couple of games at War Memorial every fall is a good thing. WMS has been renovated, new scoreboard, new paint, improved press box, etc, etc, and eventually they will expand the stadium seating. If Jeff Long removes the games from LR he’ll regret it, at least for the short term. Is it worth pissing off over half of your in-state fan base just to play one extra cream puff team in Razorback Stadium, and LSU every other year? NO! For crying out loud NO!
Also, lots of rumors swirling around the internet that Arkansas and Boise St and trying to finalize a deal to play in either Dallas or Fayetteville in 2012. No confirmation yet.
Win, you are singing the same song comparing fans and passion, I will not touch that because all the fans are great, the point is unless you have 75000 + seats in War memorial you are actually impacting a larger fan base. If they move out, it will be due to economics. Folks in LR dont seem to get that. The renovations you speak up now are a joke and has done nothing to change the opinions of the masses. What you say they intend to do inthe future is of more interest to me. I want games there but not in that venue as it is. Serious renovations or new stadium is called for.
Boise would be good. We need some rumors other hearing about A&M crying to play at home because too many pig people are in Dallas
One more point, when I was in school, we played 3 or 4 games in LR? Why was that? At the time Razorback Stadium only held 44,000. So they went to LR and made more money. Is economics folks, nothing personal. If venue was nice to attract recruits, hogs would be staying there with marquee games. Build it and they will come.
Scheduling for next year
Nebraska or Oklahoma-ST or Oklahoma will do just fine,you couldn,t walk through the Exits there would be so many people.
Would you agree to think that OU should be eliminated for the guesses?
OU has game in Dallas 10/6/12; so not likely to come two earlier or later for Razorbacks. Plus OU has Notre Dame as Non Conference game in 2012.
Nebraska would be interesting because they have 9/22 open for scheduling, but they have UCLA in the Rose Bowl and they play Arkansas State on 9/15!!! Can you see Nebraska playing A State and Hogs back to back?
I an still banking that Jerry Jones & Long gets it done with A&M to stay in Dallas; but if not OkieSU and Boise State are two good guesses.
Saying Little Rock has better fans is stupid, inaccurate and divisive. It is not about better people, it’s about money and facilities and playing on the campus. No other college team has to mess with this crap.
When Fayetteville sells out all it’s games AND fills the stadium each week, we should definitely talk about moving all games there.
Seriously folks, we all know the next time the Hogs come in to the LSU gave with 2-3 losses the folks in Fayetteville will stay home.
Guarantee they would have more than 55,000 at RRS! A lot more.
I agree with Win and Jacob’s comments. I’ll say it’s tradition to play in Little Rock and is essential to the state and region’s support of not just football but the University itself. If people would step up and expand War Memorial stadium, LR games would sell more tickets than any game in Fayetteville hands down. Until War Memorial is expanded why not just charge a significantly higher price for the Little Rock games to make up or even surpass Fayetteville games’ revenues?!
Obvious the game atmosphere in Little Rock is better crowd wise and spirit wise (tailgating sucks in Fayetteville- in part thanks to the geography and campus layout), the weather’s better (who wants to play in rainy, cold Fayetteville Thanksgiving weekend (potential LSU game)and often crappy weather starting as early as October. Facilities wise- modest Arkansawyers – you’re there to watch a game, not visit a shiny new shopping mall. So what if the stadium’s newer and looks fancier, it doesn’t deliver better atmosphere or food and drink, and some of RRS is enclosed behind windows (why not just watch at home)? I’ll also add, the UA campus is beautiful but not in late November with a barren, leafless brown landscape and crappy weather. Has anyone been to LSU’s campus? It is beautiful. Hate to say it but the UA could learn a little about campus beautification from LSU. I don’t think the LSU fans will be overly impressed with a poor tailgating and poor weather venue in Fayetteville in late November.. Sorry… That’s just how it is. Please don’t move the LSU game or any others to Fayetteville -doing so will disengage and alienate countless fans from across Arkansas and neighboring southern states and ruin a near perfect thing. The plentiful 5 home games in Fayetteville now- with the “marquis” SEC matchups can’t sell out at 72,000 seat venue- usually it’s in upper 60′s or low 70′s. Fayetteville and NWA’s lack of reasonably priced hotels, long miserable drives because NWA isn’t the end of the earth but you’ll always be able to see it from there (overpriced airport access and long road drives too from most places) – C’mon, who thinks 7 games up there’s gonna make it better let alone sell out? It’s not going to increase or improve the program’s competiveness. Moving games will eventually lead to a lower awareness and affiliation with the UA from the rest of the state, and eventually lead to a stagnation or even decrease in enrollment to the UA- count on it.
Please, powers that be, think of the bigger picture rather than 2 extra home games in Fayetteville that will hardly exceed upper 60 thousands in attendance. This is the state’s premier public institution of higher learning- it’s ok if we do things slightly different than the rest of the country. The Fayetteville campus does not need 7 home games to make it better or ensure it’s survival. We’ve survived and excelled with the current arrangement in place. Sincerely, Arkie first, UA and Razorback fan and alumni second.
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