How many years is it now that the question has lingered?
No solid evidence supports a claim the Frenchman René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, who first met Quapaw Indians at the Mississippi River near where he eventually established Arkansas Post, was witnessed asking "So, when is the University of Arkansas going to play Arkansas State?" But the inquiry almost seems to date back that far. And if you told us Frank Broyles showed up in a canoe to do some recruiting, call the Hogs at the Arkansas Post Razorback Club luncheon and put the kibosh on talk of an in-state game, we might just believe it.
What’s the point?
The head football coaches at the University of Arkansas and Arkansas State University have a great idea that will create opportunity for the state’s high school student-athletes.
(OK, kids. Sure, the dates don't match up. It's just a joke. Broyles was actually scheduled to be at the Masters tournament in Augusta that week. #revisionisthistory)
Regardless of exactly when it all began, the wisdom or lack thereof involved in pitting the Hogs (originally the Cardinals) against the Red Wolves (originally the Aggies/Gorillas/Warriors/Indians) has been a hotly -- OK, maybe luke warmly -- debated topic every now and then in the Natural State.
The National Invitational Tournament did pair the schools up in a first-round basketball contest back in 1987 -- the Hogs won 67-64 in overtime after overcoming a 21-point deficit. The wooo pig sooiee became just a simple "whew!" that day.
But most of the dreamers envision a football game between the two schools, something the UA has flatly denied any interest in. A-State has also suggested it's not willing to devote time or energy to pushing for such a game, although we sure bet they'd take the phone call. And for some (mostly Hog) fans, the notion of the two playing is idiocy.
With that history, it might be surprising to some that coaches at the two schools would even communicate with each other, but just the other day, Razorbacks football Coach Bret Bielema and Red Wolves Coach Blake Anderson revealed a cooperative effort.
"Hogs, Red Wolves to meet" said the headline, followed by a well-placed "... for camp."
The state's two NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision programs have agreed to hold a players camp June 5 at Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium. Coaches from every college football program in the state are invited. High school players will pay $30 for their chance to learn from and, perhaps, create an impression with collegiate coaches always looking for talent.
"I just thought if there's something that we can do to promote the state of Arkansas and promote football and promote Little Rock and War Memorial and the history, why not do this?" Bielema said. "So we'll jump into it with them. ... You're doing all the things that are good for our state. I don't know why you'd limit it."
Anderson said the idea made sense. "We just said, 'Man, why don't we hook up and do this?'" "Anderson said. "We'll invite every college in the state and have one camp there, and any kid that thinks he might want to play in the state of Arkansas needs to show up."
Show up, they will.
These coaches, who also talked with Ouachita Baptist University Coach Todd Knight about the plans, deserve commendation for looking past the more contentious issue of playing each other. As good coaches do, they have kept their focus on the student-athletes through an idea that will create outstanding opportunities for players to learn and to show their stuff.
"To me," Anderson said," it just makes sense. It's good for the state of Arkansas."
It does, and it is.
Commentary on 05/16/2016