Students Praise LSU Move to Fayetteville
Many UA students said they prefer the football games played in Fayetteville to those played in Little Rock.
“I prefer Fayetteville, definitely, because it’s bigger and closer and there is more tailgating,” said Grace Colly, freshman apparel studies major.
“I think bringing the LSU game to Fayetteville next year will get more students involved,” said Ryan Thurman, graduate biochemistry student. “No one wants to miss it.”
“If it’s in Fayetteville, I would actually be able to go,” said Brittany Alsup, junior industrial engineering major.
Former students also preferred Fayetteville games to the ones in Little Rock.
A 1999 Traveler poll showed that 76 percent of students polled preferred the games played in Fayetteville because of convenience, home field advantage, increased school spirit and lower cost of traveling.
But the Little Rock games are an important factor in the unity of the state, some said.
“I like playing the two games in Little Rock. I think it creates more memories and keeps the state together,” Alsup said. “We’re all Razorbacks.”
“I’d think the fans are more comfortable in Reynolds Stadium,” said Nikki Baynes, freshman childhood education major. “But Little Rock isn’t that far away and it’s nice to get out of town. I know the Little Rock fans are pretty hardcore.”
For freshman Kate Ross, a Spanish major from Little Rock, games in the War Memorial Stadium are actually more convenient for her.
“It gave me an excuse to go home,” Ross said.
Few students support splitting the games evenly between the two cities.
“I think splitting the games evenly between Fayetteville and Little Rock would be too much,” Baynes said. “I think there should definitely be more games here, because the students live here, so it’s easier.”
Some former students agreed that Little Rock games were preferable. One-fifth of students said they liked Little Rock games more than the Fayetteville games because the atmosphere was more exciting and they give students a chance to get away from campus.
Students expect attendance to increase for the LSU game in Fayetteville and said Little Rock fans will probably still attend.
Because Reynolds Stadium can accommodate more people than the War Memorial Stadium and because the Razorbacks are one of the best football teams in the country, fans won’t want to miss this game, Thurman said.
“I think there will be a lot more students,” he said.
“Knowing the Hog fans, everyone will still be there,” Ross said.
“I can’t wait to see how crazy Fayetteville gets during the LSU game,” Baynes said.
