FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas will wear all-white uniforms Saturday in its season opener against Eastern Illinois.
Razorbacks coach Chad Morris confirmed the news during a meeting with reporters before practice Wednesday. It will be the first time in memory that Arkansas has worn all-white at home, and the first time the Razorbacks have worn the all-white look since a 2014 game at Mississippi State.
Morris said the Razorbacks had to notify Eastern Illinois of the look prior to June 1, in accordance with NCAA rules pertaining to uniforms. Home teams traditionally wear dark-colored jerseys at home, but have the option to wear white if they give their opponents enough advance notice.
The move had been expected since last weekend when Arkansas wore its white jerseys and helmets for a mock scrimmage, and the Razorbacks had used a white helmet to promote the opener in social media postings.
"We kind of broke it out in the Beanie Bowl (mock scrimmage) and let the guys wear them," Morris said. "So yeah, it’ll be fun to run out of the 'A' with these guys.
"It’ll be a great way to start this season off."
The Razorbacks have worn white helmets in eight games since 2012 - including a 2012 home game against Rutgers - but in none since 2014. Former Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said the helmets had been repurposed in recent years when the Razorbacks wore chrome helmets in games against Kansas State, Florida and Auburn.
Injuries
Tight ends Jeremy Patton and Grayson Gunter wore green limited-contact jerseys during the open portion of practice for the second straight day. Both are expected to play Saturday after suffering ankle injuries during the preseason.
Defensive end Randy Ramsey was not dressed out for practice Wednesday and had his right knee wrapped. Ramsey has been limited in practice in recent weeks with what has been thought to be a hamstring injury.
Defensive end Jamario Bell left practice during the open portion with what appeared to be a right foot injury.
In-State Teams
With Arkansas announcing it would play a pair of baseball games against in-state teams on Wednesday, Morris was asked if he had any thoughts about playing in-state teams in football.
"Right now I'm focused on Eastern Illinois," Morris said. "That's my total focus. I have not - there is a lot of time after the season to sit and talk about all of that."
Arkansas has had a policy not to play in-state opponents in all sports dating to John Barnhill's time as athletics director between 1946-71. The Razorbacks have not played an in-state opponent in a football game since 1944 when it defeated Arkansas A&M - now Arkansas-Monticello - 41-0 in the season finale.
In a statement announcing the baseball games, Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek said the exception was being made only for programs within the University of Arkansas system, and games against in-state teams could expand to other sports in the future. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, a member of the Football Championship Subdivision, is the only other school in the UA system that fields a Division I football team.
The Razorbacks have an FCS opponent scheduled in 2019 (Portland State) and 2021 (Missouri State). Eastern Illinois, Saturday's opponent, also plays in the FCS.
At SMU, Morris' teams played 12 games against five teams from the state of Texas. He also was member of coaching staffs at Clemson and Tulsa that played in-state competition.