http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/9611344/OTUS-THE-HEAD-CAT-UA%27s-Sugg-to-replace-football-with-expense-trimming-soccer-Dear Otus, I can't believe all the whining over the University of Arkansas dropping football for soccer. I play in the Express Soccer Club and far more kids play soccer than football.
Soccer is the No. 1 sport in the world. About 3 billion people play or follow the game and it's time the U.S. wised up. A bouquet of flowers to the Razorbacks for taking the lead.
- Corey Opsis, Fort Smith
Dear Corey,
I admire your enthusiasm, but you're young and need to learn compassion for your elders. Some oldsters have said you'll have to pry their Scott Bull autographed Hog hat from their cold dead fingers.
Just don't be disappointed when you come up against recalcitrant and obstreperous Razorback football fans. Some traditions die hard.
In his defense, it wasn't an easy decision for University of Arkansas President B. Alan Sugg. He really had no choice other than to announce the school was phasing out football in favor of soccer. Blame it on the economy, sagging game attendance and a string of disappointing season records with no real hope in sight.
There were lots of charts and graphs at Sugg's news conference but it all boiled down to the bottom line.
Outfitting a major college football team in equipment, facilities, travel expenses and scholarships costs more than the annual gross national products of Eritrea and Kiribati combined.
Add up salary and perks, and Oklahoma pays head Coach Bob Stoops $6.5 million a year. Although Arkansas' Bobby Petrino has to squeak by with only $2.85 million, it's still a hefty amount. By comparison, a UA assistant professor of biology makes $28,000.
In opting for soccer, Sugg pointed out the staggering costper-player factor.
A quality football helmet costs about $300. Shoulder pads go for $60 and cleated shoes for $125. Team jerseys that get torn up every game cost about $70. Add tape, jockstraps, that black stuff they smear under their eyes and everything else, and the total layout to suit up one Razorback football player is $1,753.22.
A soccer player can take the field in a pair of $49.95 shoes, long gym shorts and a T-shirt.
Sugg pointed with pride to the fact that the 5A high school state soccer championships were held on campus earlier this month. They demonstrated the growing popularity of the sport.
Tiny Razorback Field (capacity 1,500) was overwhelmed for the title game between the Little Rock Christian Warriors and the Central Arkansas Christian Mustangs. The Christian Warriors put on a textbook defensive showcase and ended up schooling the Christian Mustangs in a thrilling 1-0 contest, much to the delight of 54,000 screaming fans crowded around the field in folding chairs.
Next year the championship will move up the hill to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Soccer Stadium and be simulcast in Spanish on the 30-by-107-foot Smartvision LED PigScreen.
The stadium can hold an overflow crowd of 78,000.
The good news for soccer fans is that the majority of the players on the champion Christian Warriors and Lady Warriors teams have signed on to play for the Razorbacks. Additional top players from the Pulaski Academy Non-Sectarians will ensure the Hogs' soccer team will be competitive from the start.
Disgruntled fans of Razorback football will have three years to wean themselves from the team. That's how long it will take to get out of current contractual agreements.
The Razorbacks will play all 12 of their scheduled games this fall, then cut that to seven for 2010. The fall of 2011 will only see the five conference games and they will all be on the road. Meanwhile, Athletic Director Jeff Long has announced that women's soccer coach Erin Aubry will take over the coaching duties for the nascent men's team. Assistant coaches Tim Nowak and Christine Liberto will handle the Lady Razorbacks.
Football season ticket holders will be relieved to know that their tickets will be honored for all future soccer games in Razorback Stadium. In addition, coveted RV parking spaces will still be assigned as they have been in the past.
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