It’s July, it’s hotter than a gorilla’s armpit, and quite frankly, I’m more concerned with finding an excuse not to mow my yard than I am buying football tickets to a game in September. However, the purchasing of Red Wolves football tickets appears top of mind for some people – most of which aren’t likely to have purchased Arkansas State football tickets in recent history.
I’ve met Jim. We actually did attend a Red Wolves football game together in Jonesboro many years ago. He’s a great writer and a nice guy; a gracious guest.I wish him only positive waves. But to put the onus on Arkansas State fans to fill War Memorial – while giving Arkansas fans a pass – is probably the highest form of hog arrogance I’ve ever seen.
Neither Arkansas or Arkansas State has sold out its allotment of tickets. Why? Who knows? Maybe it’s because it’s July. Maybe it’s because War Memorial has taken too many publicity hits. Perhaps everybody is waiting until after they’ve seen Fantastic Four, or they’re too busy blasting country music on a Gulf of Mexico beach. Maybe the same reasons Arkansas hasn’t sold their allotment are the same reasons A-State hasn’t: It’s a long drive, it’s not a conference game, and both teams haven’t played particularly good football in several years. Maybe everyone should just relax.
Michael Main of Best of Arkansas Sports couldn’t relax, though. I don’t know Main. I don’t know Best of Arkansas Sports. But he included a tweet of mine in his article, so here I am quoting him in mine. According to Main, there are many great reasons why Arkansas hasn’t sold it’s share of tickets to the Razorbacks vs red Wolves game. It’s a long drive from Fayetteville. War Memorial ran out of water last time the Hogs visited Little Rock. Oh yeah, and the Red Wolves jsut aren’t the premium opponent Arkansas fans deserve, which is some pretty bold talk considering SEC media just picked Arkansas to finish 14th in the conference and has endured recent losses to ULM, North Texas, Colorado State and Toledo. Slow your roll, buddy.
Main doesn’t extend this insightful reasoning for lagging tickets sales to Arkansas State, who according to him is “bailing on the game they begged for.” For the record, nobody begged for this game; it was merely pointed out that one athletic program in the state was acting like a selfish douche canoe. Main goes on with even better observations:
Neither side has sold out their ticket allotment, which was to be expected for Arkansas fans. A-State is the second-worst opponent the Hogs will face all year, and there’s no point for Northwest Arkansas residents to drive to the state capital when there’s six true home games they can attend instead.
A-State Star Fires Shot at Razorbacks after Red Wolves Supporters are Taken to Task
You see what I mean? The arrogance! It doesn’t occur to Main that Northeast residents also have six true home games to attend, and that the Hogs really struggle playing football. Pittman (who claimed that the game is fine so long has its played in Fayetteville for now on) has yet to deliver a winning conference record in five years at Fayetteville. Vanderbilt is projected to finish ahead of the Razorbacks this year. What makes you think fans in the Delta find Arkansas an attractive opponent? Red Wolves host Iowa State in Jonesboro the next week. That’s actually a bigger game for us. These facts aren’t variables in the calculous because the only variables that matter to Arkansas fans is Arkansas fans, who can’t imagine any other variable.
I can’t speak for Razorbacks fans. I can’t even speak for Red Wolves fans. But I do know we’ll buy tickets when we’re good and ready. Cool your jets. Maybe focus on your own ticket sales. Perhaps Arkansas, with its enormous media capacity, could pitch in with some publicity. Meanwhile, rest assured that we will be in Little Rock on September 6th, and we’ll bring our own water.
IMAGE: AI generated monstrosity
Howlraiser 