Gov. SARAH SANDERS GUEST COLUMN: A tradition worth starting

Guest column by Governor Sarah Sanders

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette published “Gov. SARAH SANDERS GUEST COLUMN: A tradition worth starting,” an op-ed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders on why the University of Arkansas Razorbacks and Arkansas State University Red Wolves football game should become an annual event at War Memorial Stadium:

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War Memorial Stadium has seen its fair share of history: President Harry Truman spoke there, as did Billy Graham and Bob Hope; the Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, and George Strait have all performed to tens of thousands of fans; and of course, the Razorbacks have had some of their most iconic moments on its field. This past weekend, though, War Memorial had the rare opportunity to make history again as the site of the first-ever matchup between the University of Arkansas Razorbacks and the Arkansas State University Red Wolves.

We can’t let the first time these two great teams meet be the last.

That’s why I am calling on these universities’ leadership to make the Razorbacks-Red Wolves game an annual tradition, hosted in the heart of Arkansas at War Memorial Stadium.

I love going to games in Fayetteville as much as every other Razorbacks fan and am old enough to have fond memories of taking the Pig Trail up to Northwest Arkansas. My family and I drove up for this year’s season opener and celebrated our crushing 52-7 win over Alabama A&M.

But I also grew up in Pine Bluff, Texarkana, and Little Rock – all of which are a multi-hour drive from the University of Arkansas campus. For fans in South Arkansas or the Delta, going to a game in Fayetteville means spending more money on gas and likely having to book a room for an overnight stay. The War Memorial Game is often the one easily accessible game all year.

What’s more, though the Red Wolves have long shared the spotlight and played games at War Memorial, it’s rare that our friends in Jonesboro can play in front of as many cheering fans as they did this past weekend. There’s nothing like a little friendly competition to bring together supporters of our state’s two largest universities.

Both the Razorbacks and Red Wolves play basketball and baseball games in Little Rock, using it as an opportunity to grow their fan bases outside Northwest and Northeast Arkansas. We should keep up that momentum during football season too.

The capital city lights up for the weekend the Razorbacks are in town. Bars and restaurants are as busy as ever. Neighbors can earn some extra cash by renting out spare rooms or parking spaces. We want to revitalize our state’s largest downtown; weekends like this are a great way to start.

War Memorial Stadium may be over 75 years old, but that doesn’t mean it’s the same facility it was in 1948. Since the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism took over management of the stadium, we’ve invested more than $6.3 million in improvements, from replacing turf to renovating locker rooms to upgrading sound and light systems. It’s a historic stadium, fitting two world-class teams.

Imagine an annual event: Razorbacks vs Red Wolves at War Memorial Stadium celebrating the best of Arkansas – our people, great football, tailgating, live music, and food – and bringing us all together in our Capital City to reinforce that as Arkansans, there is far more that unites us than divides us.

College football is all about traditions: “Woo Pig” or “Wolves Up,” calling the Hogs or yelling “Howl Yes.” Let’s add one more tradition to the list and make the Razorbacks-Red Wolves game an annual event at War Memorial Stadium. Whether you’re from Fayetteville or Jonesboro, Texarkana or Lake Village, or live right down Markham in Little Rock, I think it’s a tradition our whole state can get behind.