As football season draws near, the state of Arkansas begins the yearly debate of an in-state rivalry. However, this year is different with news that the Big 12 is looking at Arkansas State.
Each year, in the state of Arkansas, sports fans will argue two things. The first being should games be taken out of Little Rock and the second being should the Razorbacks play a yearly game with Arkansas State. Being born and bred as a Razorback fan, I’ve heard both of these arguments my entire life.
What if we could finally put an end to both of these discussions once and for all? Today some interesting news broke that could very well set up a situation that might change the landscape of in-state athletics. It came out yesterday, via ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, that the Big 12 had eighteen schools in consideration for expansion.
Big 12’s 17 school expansion list: ArkState Boise BYU Cincinnati CSU UConn ECU Houston Memphis NIU NM SDSU SMU Temple Tulane UCF USF
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 12, 2016
Before we lose our minds in the natural state, let’s realize that there is no telling how this is all going to actually play out. That being said, let’s play the what-if game for just a bit. What if Arkansas State does get into the Big 12?
Firstly, the U of A has avoided this game as adamantly as Kansas avoids winning games. The biggest reason the university has shied away from this, is the division of fans in the state. So what this basically boils down to is losing money in tickets and merchandise to the Red Wolves.
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Secondly, let’s just say every wolf has its day. One year A-State would hand the hogs a nice embarrassing loss which could begin a division of sorts. Clemson and South Carolina didn’t just wake up one day hating each other. They have years of close games, heartbreaking losses and monster wins between them.
Though it may take years to happen, eventually it would. There would be a division to some extent but as for right now, there isn’t. Most hog fans pull for the Red Wolves and vice versa. To a large extent, this would probably be the case for a long while.
So how could this game put the Little Rock debate to rest? Instead of playing Alcorn State or Toledo in War Memorial, imagine that being the yearly site of the natural state rivalry. The trophy could be a large crystal shaped like a diamond. David Bazzle take note, we don’t want another state shaped trophy.
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That game would be sold out every year, unlike the bare showing of fans now, because it’s what a lot of fans, myself included, have wanted for so long. But until the Big 12 announces their picks, we can only fantasise.