Michigan cancels Arkansas series to renew Notre DAME rivalry

[Inhogswetrust]

One home and home series won't make any difference in recruiting, anyway.

Exactly. Have we signed tons of players out of New Jersey lately, nope.

[Dr. Starcs]

Wasnt Vin Ascolese from New Jersey

[Wildhog]

Wasnt Vin Ascolese from New Jersey

Yeah, but that was before the Rutgers series.

[EastexHawg]

Either way, I want us to schedule the worst team possible. 

Do you like playing golf against eight year olds?  Get them to tee if up for money and you might be able to get into their piggy banks and score some serious allowance dinero.  I'd try to play girls...or midgets...if I were you.

[rzrbackramsfan]

Add me to the group who doesn't like this. That was a game of the week typ game. Game day would've been there and all the hype. CBB would've had a blast taking down Harbough both on the field and in the press.
College football fans across the nation lose out on this.

Wow I finally agree with allvol

[hogcard1964]

So is this official, or not?  Have they "pulled out"? 

What has Long said or what is he planning to do about it?

[Wildhog]

Do you like playing golf against eight year olds?  Get them to tee if up for money and you might be able to get into their piggy banks and score some serious allowance dinero.  I'd try to play girls...or midgets...if I were you.

Or you? 

But seriously, I don't care if we play Incarnate Word.  I just want us to be 4-0 going into conference play.  Don't care who we have to schedule to get there.

[ricepig]

So is this official, or not?  Have they "pulled out"? 

What has Long said or what is he planning to do about it?

Yes, didn't you read the response I posted?

[ricepig]

Or you? 

But seriously, I don't care if we play Incarnate Word.  I just want us to be 4-0 going into conference play.  Don't care who we have to schedule to get there.

Probably be 3-0, I think we'll always play a conference game before week 4.

[EastexHawg]

Or you? 

But seriously, I don't care if we play Incarnate Word.  I just want us to be 4-0 going into conference play.  Don't care who we have to schedule to get there.

At least you're honest about it.  I'm finding all the "let's schedule Kansas, Wake Forest, or Memphis" talk interspersed with the occasional "Harbaugh is a coward who runs from competition and has a gaping hole between his legs" commentary to be pretty entertaining.

[oldhawg]

Then there is this headline from April 2008:
"Arkansas cancels '09 game with Texas to add Aggies to schedule."

And Jeff Long's accompanying statement,
"While it is unfortunate that we will have to postpone the return game in the Texas series, we felt that it was important to seize the window of opportunity to secure a long-term series with Texas A&M," Long said.

What goes around comes around.

[Wildhog]

At least you're honest about it.  I'm finding all the "let's schedule Kansas, Wake Forest, or Memphis" talk interspersed with the occasional "Harbaugh is a coward who runs from competition and has a gaping hole between his legs" commentary to be pretty entertaining.

4-0 > 3-1

You play to win the game.  With a conference schedule as brutal as ours, I just don't see the allure in wanting to schedule another big time program.  In the current system, you just aren't rewarded for it.  There are no moral victories.

[Cinco de Hogo]

Yes, didn't you read the response I posted?

What
Was
He
Thinking

[ricepig]

Then there is this headline from April 2008:
"Arkansas cancels '09 game with Texas to add Aggies to schedule."

And Jeff Long's accompanying statement,
"While it is unfortunate that we will have to postpone the return game in the Texas series, we felt that it was important to seize the window of opportunity to secure a long-term series with Texas A&M," Long said.

What goes around comes around.

Postpone>cancelled, haha

[RazorPiggie]

Exactly.  We need a program in a recruiting hot bed.  Good TV buzz, and lots of 'possibilities'.

Miami
Houston
Baylor
SMU
Penn State
Pitt
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
Arizona State
UCLA
San Diego State
UNLV
Colorado
To name some off top of my head...

[Wildhog]

Probably be 3-0, I think we'll always play a conference game before week 4.

I guess that's true.  I should say, "4-0 out of conference"

[Adam Stokes]

Probably around 125k Mormons within 5 hours of Fayetteville.  You could probably expect a good 10k or so if the game were to go down.  Of course most Arkansas Mormons are bigger Arkansas fans than BYU fans (like me.)

[SamBuckhart]

Is there a penalty for canceling? Should be.

[ricepig]

Is there a penalty for canceling? Should be.

$2M

[rzrbackramsfan]

How about Rutgers, Texas tech, Louisiana Monroe, or Toledo. I'd love Another match against either of those problems.

[hoggusamoungus]

Is there a penalty for canceling? Should be.

Didn't read the thread, did you?

[AirWarren]

The obvious choice of opponent.



The red wolves.

[AirWarren]

.

[oldhawg]

Postpone>cancelled, haha

It creates the same scheduling problems for the team left with a game.

[ricepig]

It creates the same scheduling problems for the team left with a game.

Well, if you remember correctly, Texass cancelled a time or two, also.

[Inhogswetrust]

$2M

I wonder what David Pryor thinks the athletic department should do with it....................

[ricepig]

I wonder what David Pryor thinks the athletic department should do with it....................

Yeah, I started to post that, but I just lowered the bond issue to $118M, haha.

[ricepig]

The obvious choice of opponent.



The red wolves.

As soon as they join a P5!

[Inhogswetrust]

Yeah, I started to post that, but I just lowered the bond issue to $118M, haha.

So that leaves only 59 more cancels till it's paid for!

[ricepig]

So that leaves only 59 more cancels till it's paid for!

Yep, I think we've got a plan, take that Pryor!

[FANONTHEHILL]

With Jeff Long's reputation, I'm not worried about getting another P5 team scheduled.  He will find another team that can cancel on someone else and put us in that slot.  That's why the $2M breech of contract is there.  So a team has resources to use to entice another opponent.  All that being said, I was really looking forward to watching the Hogs in the Big House.  A shame it won't happen.

[Inhogswetrust]

With Jeff Long's reputation, I'm not worried about getting another P5 team scheduled.  He will find another team that can cancel on someone else and put us in that slot.  That's why the $2M breech of contract is there.  So a team has resources to use to entice another opponent.  All that being said, I was really looking forward to watching the Hogs in the Big House.  A shame it won't happen.

So if we really want to get back at michigan lets schedule Ohio State, then cancel and then endorse that michigan check over to the Buckeyes! THEN turn around and sign a new contract to play against the Buckeyes at Ford Field!

[FraggleHog]

I trust Long and Bielema will figure something out.  May be able to do one of those season opening neutral site games now in 2018 as we wouldn't be giving up a scheduled home game.

Arkansas already plays a "neutral" game vs aTm... I'd rather have a home and home vs 2 straight years of 2 neutral site games, but that's just my humble opinion.

[hogman99]

BYU would make the most sense at this point.  I'd be pissed, too.

Didn't realize BYU was in a P5 conference. 

[FraggleHog]

With Jeff Long's reputation, I'm not worried about getting another P5 team scheduled.  He will find another team that can cancel on someone else and put us in that slot.  That's why the $2M breech of contract is there.  So a team has resources to use to entice another opponent.  All that being said, I was really looking forward to watching the Hogs in the Big House.  A shame it won't happen.

Well we have a big fat $2MM check... Seems like some team of a higher caliber would be interested.

[Wildhog]

Didn't realize BYU was in a P5 conference. 

We can also schedule independents.

[HoopS]

Somebody said Michigan St had openings...

[Wildhog]

Somebody said Michigan St had openings...

Noooooooooooo...  Let's schedule Army.

[RME]

You don't reach that level without playing at a high level. S.H.I.T. and the sisters of the poor do not get you to that level. Why? Several reasons but here are just a few...players have to play their best the entire game no matter what. Losing to Michigan or losing to Toledo. You choose. Also who do you think recruits want to play against? Crap schools? No way. They are competitors and want to be the best and in order to be the best you have to play and beat the best. Always makes me sick hearing the "we already play in the SEC" crap. All that means is you are not a real competitor except you like to win the awards in your co-ed softball rec league. To say you'd rather play a weaker, almost guaranteed win of an opponent tells alot about how afraid of competition you really are.

Just to clarify, I am speaking about everyone who feels this same way. These are the type of people who would brag about going undefeated as 25 year olds against 6 year olds. If it isn't difficult, that means it probably wasn't worth it.

You're right, man. Let's schedule Ohio State, Clemson, Michigan State, and Oklahoma as our 4 non-confs year in and year out. According to your logic we'll be playing the best so that can only help us, right?

I'd rather go 15-0 against mediocre competition and win an SEC Championship and a National Championship rather than go 6-6 but say, "You know man, we really competed this season."

That's just me. I don't shy away from competition, but I like championships more than "being competitive and still losing."

[Inhogswetrust]

Noooooooooooo...  Let's schedule Army.

I like that idea or playing the Air Force Academy.

[26.2Hog]

So if we really want to get back at michigan lets schedule Ohio State, then cancel and then endorse that michigan check over to the Buckeyes! THEN turn around and sign a new contract to play against the Buckeyes at Ford Field!

Brilliant!

[Atlhogfan1]

Arkansas already plays a "neutral" game vs aTm... I'd rather have a home and home vs 2 straight years of 2 neutral site games, but that's just my humble opinion.

A reason why I am not a proponent of the A&M series. 

I understand the desire for the home and home and it is probably where we will lean.  Was suggesting just as an option since the Michigan game was opening the season. I like the idea for 2018 with the right venue and opponent but not for 2019.

[Pig in the Pokey]

Well we have a big fat $2MM check... Seems like some team of a higher caliber would be interested.

big? fat? dont we usually pay 1million for a rent a win? and we have to buy two of them. i was wondering why we signed off on such a low penalty figure. maybe im trippin.

[factchecker]

What P5 conference is SMU in?

https://twitter.com/wholehogsports/status/751125497153785856

The SEC requires its teams to play at least one Power Five opponent each season, or against independents Notre Dame, BYU or Army. Sankey said Arkansas can request a scheduling exemption if it is unable to find a suitable nonconference opponent for one or both of the seasons in which Michigan was previously scheduled.

"Given that an executed contract has been in place and considering the lateness of this cancellation, we will certainly work with Arkansas on this issue as it relates to the SEC's nonconference scheduling requirement," Sankey wrote. "Institutions are permitted to seek a waiver from the conference office when extenuating circumstances exist."

http://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2016/jul/07/sec-will-work-razorbacks-after-michigan-cancellati/

[FraggleHog]

A reason why I am not a proponent of the A&M series. 

I understand the desire for the home and home and it is probably where we will lean.  Was suggesting just as an option since the Michigan game was opening the season. I like the idea for 2018 with the right venue and opponent but not for 2019.

I know this is going off on a tangent, but I get the aTm series. It's an incredible recruiting tool to walk into a kids living room and tell him and his parents that he will get to play in the biggest and baddest football stadium in the universe, but on the other hand, we already lose out on a true (on campus) home game playing in Central Arkansas... but that's opening up a huge can of worms. Should be interesting to see where Long and Bielema go with this... Tough to recover with such little lead time when teams typically have their "Marquee" games locked out a minimum of 5 or 6 years in advance. 

[FraggleHog]

big? fat? dont we usually pay 1million for a rent a win? and we have to buy two of them. i was wondering why we signed off on such a low penalty figure. maybe im trippin.

I see your side of it and I can't speak to the contract agreements. Agree that the contract buyout is quite low, but feel that a check of that size would catch someone's attention.

[Wildhog]

I know this is going off on a tangent, but I get the aTm series. It's an incredible recruiting tool to walk into a kids living room and tell him and his parents that he will get to play in the biggest and baddest football stadium in the universe, but on the other hand, we already lose out on a true (on campus) home game playing in Central Arkansas... but that's opening up a huge can of worms. Should be interesting to see where Long and Bielema go with this... Tough to recover with such little lead time when teams typically have their "Marquee" games locked out a minimum of 5 or 6 years in advance. 

Playing in Jerry's World hasn't done us much good in Texas so far, and it's one less home game where we can host official visitors. 

[Atlhogfan1]

I know this is going off on a tangent, but I get the aTm series. It's an incredible recruiting tool to walk into a kids living room and tell him and his parents that he will get to play in the biggest and baddest football stadium in the universe, but on the other hand, we already lose out on a true (on campus) home game playing in Central Arkansas... but that's opening up a huge can of worms. Should be interesting to see where Long and Bielema go with this... Tough to recover with such little lead time when teams typically have their "Marquee" games locked out a minimum of 5 or 6 years in advance.

I'm not against playing a game in Dallas many seasons.  Not against playing A&M in something like a rotating 3 seasons of home-away-Dallas.  Just don't like being locked into it every season over a long period as it limits versatility.  And I'm not sure how much it has truly affected recruiting. 

Short notice is a reason I suggested a neutral site option.  Some of these neutral games like OM - FSU were put together within the time window we are looking. 
http://www.olemisssports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/111914aaa.html

[Inhogswetrust]

Playing in Jerry's World hasn't done us much good in Texas so far, and it's one less home game where we can host official visitors. 

That might change when we quit playing in LR.

[Wildhog]

That might change when we quit playing in LR.

That'd be nice, too.