Season opener on a Thursday

[HamSammich]

People will just take off thirstday and Friday... tailgating will be robust. Good move.

[factchecker]

I'm happy that the game is at night.  Might help a little (tiny bit) with the temps.

[Sivad]

It's a great idea. I like the move

Agree.

[go hogues]

Kills the tailgate atmosphere.

[mhsbc59]

I'm sad it's on Thursday. I live in Memphis and I am a high school coach. So the only games I can usually attend are little rock games and late season games if I'm not coaching in the playoffs. Now I am also going to be missing possibly the last game in Little Rock. :-(

[younghog]

GOOD ..

Great exposure .. even better move.

GO HOGS

[3kgthog]

People will just take off thirstday and Friday... tailgating will be robust. Good move.

Assuming that those people have a job they can just take off two days during the week. My wife doesn't have that luxury, so for the first time in 17 years my seats will be empty. Jeff finally found a way to get me to give up my Little Rock seats like my wife wants me to. Maybe that's his plan to help bolster his argument for ending the contract.

As of last night, only about 2 of 46 comments on the official Hog Facebook page were positive. Make of that what you will.

[LRHawg]

Another thing to consider, traffic is already bad enough at evening rush hour in Little Rock, with the Broadway bridge down for construction. It will be an absolute nightmare that Thursday trying to get in town for the game. If you're coming, better plan on getting there extra early. 

[elksnort]

Good lord, some Razorback fans will make excuses for anything.

How can anyone think that this is not a good move?

If we are going to be critical about Jeff Long, then let's praise him when it is time.

This is a good thing. The place will be packed.

[ricepig]

I'm sad it's on Thursday. I live in Memphis and I am a high school coach. So the only games I can usually attend are little rock games and late season games if I'm not coaching in the playoffs. Now I am also going to be missing possibly the last game in Little Rock. :-(

The contract has one more game in 2018.

[factchecker]

As of last night, only about 2 of 46 comments on the official Hog Facebook page were positive. Make of that what you will.

Facebook comments are the special ed section of Razorback fandom.  I've seen dipchits blame the stadium expansion for poor Wal-Mart salaries on Facebook. Another good portion of the idiotic Facebook fans think we raise tuition to fund our athletic department.  It doesn't matter how many times you show them the proof that :WE ARE THE ONLY TEAM IN STATE WHO DOESN'T OPERATE OFF OF STUDENT FEES. I saw an idiot argue that we need to QUIT selling alcohol at the stadium.  The majority of the people are Facebook don't attend games.   FACEBOOK = LOWEST SEGMENT OF OUR FANBASE.

Citing Facebook as a source is pretty stupid.

If you want a better judgement then vote and look at the results of polls like this:

http://arkansas.247sports.com/Bolt/POLL-What-do-you-think-about-Arkansas-playing-on-a-Thursday-51317690

[holeinthewall]

I expect this game played on Saturday would be an afterthought Nationally, played on Thursday, will be seen by many dying for football, any football.

LMAO there are always good match ups on the opening Thursday night. This is an awful match up.   Why would anyone outside of Arkansas fans want to watch this?

[factchecker]

LMAO there are always good match ups on the opening Thursday night. This is an awful match up.   Why would anyone outside of Arkansas fans want to watch this?

As of right now these are the other Thursday night (August 31st) games:

Austin Peay Governors vs. Cincinnati Bearcats
Holy Cross Crusaders vs. Connecticut Huskies
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Indiana Hoosiers
Presbyterian Blue Hose vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Elon Phoenix vs. Toledo Rockets
Tennessee State Tigers vs. Georgia State Panthers
Buffalo Bulls vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks vs. Memphis Tigers
North Dakota Fighting Hawks vs. Utah Utes
New Mexico State Aggies vs. Arizona State Sun Devils


We will draw attention for simply being the only SEC team playing that day.

[Hog Fan...DOH!]

Facebook comments are the special ed section of Razorback fandom.  I've seen dipchits blame the stadium expansion for poor Wal-Mart salaries on Facebook. Another good portion of the idiotic Facebook fans think we raise tuition to fund our athletic department.  It doesn't matter how many times you show them the proof that :WE ARE THE ONLY TEAM IN STATE WHO DOESN'T OPERATE OFF OF STUDENT FEES. I saw an idiot argue that we need to QUIT selling alcohol at the stadium.  The majority of the people are Facebook don't attend games.   FACEBOOK = LOWEST SEGMENT OF OUR FANBASE.

Citing Facebook as a source is pretty stupid.

If you want a better judgement then vote and look at the results of polls like this:

http://arkansas.247sports.com/Bolt/POLL-What-do-you-think-about-Arkansas-playing-on-a-Thursday-51317690

The "information era" has wrought a new "Age of Misery".  The thing is, it's pretty unclear why so many people are miserable. 

[factchecker]

The "information era" has wrought a new "Age of Misery".  The thing is, it's pretty unclear why so many people are miserable.

Politics is a major contributor.

I'm apolitical as you can get.  I have family members who won't talk to each-other because of political statements made on social media.  STUPID.

[TrueBlue]

Another thing to consider, traffic is already bad enough at evening rush hour in Little Rock, with the Broadway bridge down for construction. It will be an absolute nightmare that Thursday trying to get in town for the game. If you're coming, better plan on getting there extra early. 

Broadway bridge will be opening up in March.

[ricepig]

Broadway bridge will be opening up in March.

Well...........something else will be wrong!!!!

[hawganatic]

Was the game originally scheduled for LR, or was it put in LR because we wanted the Thurs night time slot?  Fayetteville would probably be half full for a Thurs night game, since less people would be able to travel for it, and NWA can't come close to filling the stadium by itself.

In my opinion this is a great move.  There will be a lot of people either burning PTO for it, or just sliding out of work early when the boss isn't looking (boss won't be looking because he'll be sliding out the other back door).  Will be a lot of good energy in the stadium with people slightly to moderately buzzed, but not beligerently drunk from being on the golf course all day.  And everybody will still be excited for the season since we will be undefeated at that point.

I'm looking forward to it and will be a good time.

[ricepig]

Was the game originally scheduled for LR, or was it put in LR because we wanted the Thurs night time slot?  Fayetteville would probably be half full for a Thurs night game, since less people would be able to travel for it, and NWA can't come close to filling the stadium by itself.

In my opinion this is a great move.  There will be a lot of people either burning PTO for it, or just sliding out of work early when the boss isn't looking (boss won't be looking because he'll be sliding out the other back door).  Will be a lot of good energy in the stadium with people slightly to moderately buzzed, but not beligerently drunk from being on the golf course all day.  And everybody will still be excited for the season since we will be undefeated at that point.

I'm looking forward to it and will be a good time.

The game was always scheduled for LR.

[lutherheggs]

I'm sad it's on Thursday. I live in Memphis and I am a high school coach. So the only games I can usually attend are little rock games and late season games if I'm not coaching in the playoffs. Now I am also going to be missing possibly the last game in Little Rock. :-(

My condolences on living in Memphis. The current saying for that city is: "Come to Memphis for the barbecue. Stay because you got murdered!". And while that is an embellishment, Memphis is a dangerous place.

[rhames]

Assuming that those people have a job they can just take off two days during the week. My wife doesn't have that luxury, so for the first time in 17 years my seats will be empty. Jeff finally found a way to get me to give up my Little Rock seats like my wife wants me to. Maybe that's his plan to help bolster his argument for ending the contract.

As of last night, only about 2 of 46 comments on the official Hog Facebook page were positive. Make of that what you will.

Your wife must have a crapy job if she can't take off 2 to 3 days with a 7 month notice

[Hogfan46]

Kills the tailgate atmosphere.

So we are not going to get a batch of new YouTube videos of the drunken brawl idiotfest from the golf course. That's a good thing.

[rhames]

This is a good move. Better than noon Saturday. Adds a little more excitement.

[colbs]

It's funny that more people are complaining about the game being on Thursday than actually attend the Saturday games in WMS.  I think some people just like to complain.  Most people if they want can get off early on Thursday.  I imagine there are people who work weekends that will be able to go now. 

I love the move.  I can go to the game Thursday and still watch some great match ups on Saturday. 

[rhames]

It's funny that more people are complaining about the game being on Thursday than actually attend the Saturday games in WMS.  I think some people just like to complain.  Most people if they want can get off early on Thursday.  I imagine there are people who work weekends that will be able to go now. 

I love the move.  I can go to the game Thursday and still watch some great match ups on Saturday. 

Bingo.

[code red]

Talk about sticking it to LR. Work and no time for tailgate. Last game ever at LR

There is not such thing as LR fans.  There is only Hog Fans.

[code red]

Assuming that those people have a job they can just take off two days during the week. My wife doesn't have that luxury, so for the first time in 17 years my seats will be empty. Jeff finally found a way to get me to give up my Little Rock seats like my wife wants me to. Maybe that's his plan to help bolster his argument for ending the contract.

As of last night, only about 2 of 46 comments on the official Hog Facebook page were positive. Make of that what you will.

News flash.....LR is being phased out...I thought we had been through this??

[Sed76]

Of the people I actually know the only ones who are upset are the ones who only care about spending hours on the golf course and getting drunk. The ones who are actual football fans say that yes, it's a minor inconvenience but will free up the weekend to watch other games. 

[Deep Shoat]

Kills the tailgate atmosphere.

I hope it kills the number of stupid drunks.  I'd like my kids to see a WMS game before we are done.  But I stopped taking them to LR before they were old enough to remember because I don't want them exposed to the "tailgaters"...

[LZH]

Your wife must have a crapy job if she can't take off 2 to 3 days with a 7 month notice

Huh? mhsbc59 can't take off either...because he's a coach. Does he have a crappy job, too?

[FANONTHEHILL]

If this were announced at the end of the summer, I might understand some people's complaints.  But it's February 16th and people have 196 days to make their arrangements. 

[colbs]

Kills the tailgate atmosphere.

I wonder how many of the tailgaters actually go in the games at WMS. 

[ricepig]

Huh? mhsbc59 can't take off either...because he's a coach. Does he have a crappy job, too?

If you don't fly in from Florida, you have a crappy job!!

[hogsanity]

As of right now these are the other Thursday night (August 31st) games:

Austin Peay Governors vs. Cincinnati Bearcats
Holy Cross Crusaders vs. Connecticut Huskies
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Indiana Hoosiers
Presbyterian Blue Hose vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Elon Phoenix vs. Toledo Rockets
Tennessee State Tigers vs. Georgia State Panthers
Buffalo Bulls vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks vs. Memphis Tigers
North Dakota Fighting Hawks vs. Utah Utes
New Mexico State Aggies vs. Arizona State Sun Devils


We will draw attention for simply being the only SEC team playing that day.

Plus they can make it a evening kickoff instead of the 2:30 or 3pm it was likely to draw on Sat Sept 2.

[HF#1]

Terrible move. Terrible for the fans and anyone watching on TV. Will likely be the worst attended game at WMS in Razorback history.

[LZH]

If you don't fly in from Florida, you have a crappy job!!

Amen to that. Any job I have is crappy...because I'd really prefer not to even have one. This working for a living bullspit totally screws up a good life. I miss the old days.

[bennyl08]

Plus they can make it a evening kickoff instead of the 2:30 or 3pm it was likely to draw on Sat Sept 2.

It is in fact a 7pm central time kickoff. So, even people who work can still go to the game.

For people who can't take a half day off work, they won't be able to tailgate. The people that applies to is largely canceled out by the people who would have had to work weekends and can now go to the game on thursday. Vast majority will be able to take off work if they want to.

For the HS coach, it's a 2.5 hour drive from memphis to LR. You could leave at 4:30 and still make it. School typically ends at 3:30 or so, teachers usually have to stay til 4. That gives you 30 min to account for traffic as well. Traffic is bad leaving LR at rush hour, but going into LR is not as bad on a typical work day. Hog game traffic is going to be worse, but coming from memphis, it'll be slightly less than if you were coming from the north side.

To the person whose wife couldn't make it, you sounded sad that you wouldn't get to see the game, not that your wife couldn't. If you wanted to, you do realize your wife doesn't have to go with you, right? If she is a big hog fan, she'd respect your wishes to see the game live and maybe bring a friend with you. If she isn't, she might look forward to having the house to herself for a few hours.

There are exceptions of course, but I find that if you really want to do something, you will find a way and find time to do it. Chances are, if you can't find time to do something, it's because the inconvenience of making time is stronger than your desire to actually do it.

[hogsanity]

Terrible move. Terrible for the fans and anyone watching on TV. Will likely be the worst attended game at WMS in Razorback history.

Likely would have been that anyway.

[hogsanity]

It is in fact a 7pm central time kickoff. So, even people who work can still go to the game.

For people who can't take a half day off work, they won't be able to tailgate. The people that applies to is largely canceled out by the people who would have had to work weekends and can now go to the game on thursday. Vast majority will be able to take off work if they want to.

For the HS coach, it's a 2.5 hour drive from memphis to LR. You could leave at 4:30 and still make it. School typically ends at 3:30 or so, teachers usually have to stay til 4. That gives you 30 min to account for traffic as well. Traffic is bad leaving LR at rush hour, but going into LR is not as bad on a typical work day. Hog game traffic is going to be worse, but coming from memphis, it'll be slightly less than if you were coming from the north side.

To the person whose wife couldn't make it, you sounded sad that you wouldn't get to see the game, not that your wife couldn't. If you wanted to, you do realize your wife doesn't have to go with you, right? If she is a big hog fan, she'd respect your wishes to see the game live and maybe bring a friend with you. If she isn't, she might look forward to having the house to herself for a few hours.

There are exceptions of course, but I find that if you really want to do something, you will find a way and find time to do it. Chances are, if you can't find time to do something, it's because the inconvenience of making time is stronger than your desire to actually do it.

RUT ROH - Benny & I agree on something.

[ricepig]

It is in fact a 7pm central time kickoff. So, even people who work can still go to the game.

For people who can't take a half day off work, they won't be able to tailgate. The people that applies to is largely canceled out by the people who would have had to work weekends and can now go to the game on thursday. Vast majority will be able to take off work if they want to.

For the HS coach, it's a 2.5 hour drive from memphis to LR. You could leave at 4:30 and still make it. School typically ends at 3:30 or so, teachers usually have to stay til 4. That gives you 30 min to account for traffic as well. Traffic is bad leaving LR at rush hour, but going into LR is not as bad on a typical work day. Hog game traffic is going to be worse, but coming from memphis, it'll be slightly less than if you were coming from the north side.

To the person whose wife couldn't make it, you sounded sad that you wouldn't get to see the game, not that your wife couldn't. If you wanted to, you do realize your wife doesn't have to go with you, right? If she is a big hog fan, she'd respect your wishes to see the game live and maybe bring a friend with you. If she isn't, she might look forward to having the house to herself for a few hours.

There are exceptions of course, but I find that if you really want to do something, you will find a way and find time to do it. Chances are, if you can't find time to do something, it's because the inconvenience of making time is stronger than your desire to actually do it.

Maybe he coaches Jr high, too. And expecting to leave Memphis at 4 and arrive to WMS at 7 are based on traffic facts you obviously aren't aware of, lol. It's unfortunate that he can't make the game, but there are numerous other games in Fayetteville, and surely some will be at a time he can make it on a Saturday.

[bennyl08]

Terrible move. Terrible for the fans and anyone watching on TV. Will likely be the worst attended game at WMS in Razorback history.

You are telling me that in all of central arkansas, there are not 22,329 fans that can take the day off, take half the day off, or just straight up head to the game after work? Not to mention fans in the rest of the state?

[factchecker]

Terrible move. Terrible for the fans and anyone watching on TV. Will likely be the worst attended game at WMS in Razorback history.

There have been some pretty bad ones:

Here is a look at some of the smallest attendances at War Memorial Stadium since 1992.

22,329 - LSU, 1996
42,214 - Troy State, 2002
43,982 - LSU, 2000
45,633 - LSU, 1994
46,080 - SMU, 1992
46,341 - Louisiana Tech, 1996
46,998 - Alcorn State, 2016
47,348 - Samford, 2013
48,816 - Northeast Louisiana, 1997
49,178 - South Carolina, 1997
50,075 - Mississippi State, 1993

[bennyl08]

Maybe he coaches Jr high, too. And expecting to leave Memphis at 4 and arrive to WMS at 7 are based on traffic facts you obviously aren't aware of, lol. It's unfortunate that he can't make the game, but there are numerous other games in Fayetteville, and surely some will be at a time he can make it on a Saturday.

It used to be a 90 min drive without speeding. Google maps listed it as a 2:15 minute drive. I know there's a fair amount of construction between the two, so I figure that is being accounted for in the extra 45 minutes google is saying.

Again, depends on how bad you want it. Do you want to watch the hogs bad enough you'd miss the entire first quarter and get home at midnight or later?

Do you try and schedule practice after school for a different day or simply cancel practice? If those aren't options, can you get another coach to cover for you? Odds are high that one of those would work. If not, I mentioned there are always exceptions, but in general, if you really want it, you can do it.

[bennyl08]

There have been some pretty bad ones:

Here is a look at the 10 smallest attendances at War Memorial Stadium since 1992.
22,329 - LSU, 1996
42,214 - Troy State, 2002
43,982 - LSU, 2000
45,633 - LSU, 1994
46,080 - SMU, 1992
46,341 - Louisiana Tech, 1996
47,348 - Samford, 2013
49,178 - South Carolina, 1997
48,816 - Northeast Louisiana, 1997
50,075 - Mississippi State, 1993

I beat the fact checker! Pretty sure we both found the same website, I just went with the smallest since 92 seeing as that was what was in question.

[LRRandy]

Great for TV. Not so great for those that were planning on going all out tailgating the last LR game. I'm old enough to not care about that so I don't mind. Going to be a lot of angry millennials though.

If we lose EVERYONE will see it. Could really kill our season.

well, I don't think they will be losing to FCS Florida A&M. The rattlers have no venom.

[factchecker]

I beat the fact checker! Pretty sure we both found the same website, I just went with the smallest since 92 seeing as that was what was in question.

My source is out of date. I had to add Alcorn.

Here is the link:

http://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2013/sep/08/samford-attendance-lowest-11-years/

[ricepig]

It used to be a 90 min drive without speeding. Google maps listed it as a 2:15 minute drive. I know there's a fair amount of construction between the two, so I figure that is being accounted for in the extra 45 minutes google is saying.

Again, depends on how bad you want it. Do you want to watch the hogs bad enough you'd miss the entire first quarter and get home at midnight or later?

Do you try and schedule practice after school for a different day or simply cancel practice? If those aren't options, can you get another coach to cover for you? Odds are high that one of those would work. If not, I mentioned there are always exceptions, but in general, if you really want it, you can do it.

Not really, if you have a game that night, lots of schools play on Thursday night's due to multiple schools using the same stadium, or have your pre-game practice, you don't change up the routine over one person's wants. He can't make it, not the end of the world, but not as simple as you make it to be. I guess he can a quit his job, right?

[colbs]

Terrible move. Terrible for the fans and anyone watching on TV. Will likely be the worst attended game at WMS in Razorback history.

It's not like WMS has been attended well the last few years.  When fans can't fill it up against GA then they really don't deserve much of a say.  By the way I was at that game.

[HF#1]

You are telling me that in all of central arkansas, there are not 22,329 fans that can take the day off, take half the day off, or just straight up head to the game after work? Not to mention fans in the rest of the state?

That can? Yes. That will? no

I will take the day off so I don't have to deal with the traffic.

[hogsanity]

Maybe he coaches Jr high, too. And expecting to leave Memphis at 4 and arrive to WMS at 7 are based on traffic facts you obviously aren't aware of, lol. It's unfortunate that he can't make the game, but there are numerous other games in Fayetteville, and surely some will be at a time he can make it on a Saturday.

HS & jrhs coaches have to give up alot of things for their job. For every coach that cant make Thursday but could make Sat, I can find someone that can make Thursday but could not make Sat. That is just life.