Hog Calls

Pryor's questions need to be answered

Former Sen. David Pryor speaks Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, during a celebration for the Center for Excellence for Poultry Science's 20th anniversary on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- As a U.S. senator, Arkansas' David Pryor asked questions on behalf of the aging that others didn't.

Now as a member of the University of Arkansas board of trustees, Pryor asks questions on behalf of UA students and Razorbacks fans that his fellow trustees don't.

He questioned Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long on the whys, hows and costs of Long's proposed north end zone expansion of Reynolds Razorback Stadium rather than approve it in unison.

It's a fine line between a chancellor and board of trustees micromanaging athletics vs. always obediently acquiescing to athletics.

An athletic director wannabe, which was Arkansas' plight several chancellors back, reaps more drawbacks than rewards. That's nearly always the case with micromanagers who presume they know more than experts who have been hired in specific fields.

But even experts should answer to inquisitive bosses, particularly when their expertise proposes spending massive amounts of money with the potential return vs. potential repercussions meriting healthy debate.

"We're not trying to blow the train up," Pryor said. "We're just trying to slow it down a little bit so that we can get toward the right answer."

Going against the grain, Pryor asked about the wisdom of a $160 million expenditure to add 3,200 seats, including 2,297 club seats, 384 suite seats and 368 box seats in an expanded north end zone. Among other amenities proposed are a new video board on the south end and a new game day locker room and training room.

The Razorbacks use those stadium facilities only on game days. During the week, they are in the Fred Smith Football Center.

The projected $160 million cost raised Pryor's eyebrows. In 2001, under retired Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles, the UA enclosed the south end zone adding 21,000 seats, including club seating, spending $110 million.

Pryor's questions and abstention when the rest of the board voted approval Jan. 27 became particularly relevant Feb. 2.

On Groundhog Day, Razorbacks fans were hit by significant increases in football ticket prices for several sections of Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Significantly raising ticket prices always seems risky with every game televised.

Pryor's concern is if Razorbacks fans balk at paying more in ticket prices and donations, while a project raises $140 million of the $160 million on a bond issue, will the debt fall on UA students?

"Will they also be engaged in assuming a debt and debt load that is possibly precarious in our overall debt load at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville?" Pryor asked. "I think we need to know what that debt load is."

With the success of the stadium's previous renovations and the success of stadium renovations throughout the SEC, there is some history to believe this project can benefit the UA.

But it's best if all trustees remove their Hog hats and ask hard questions before continuing.

Sports on 02/13/2016