Strong faces tough challenge in league opener
STRONG - Fresh off of picking up their first win of the season, Strong heads into conference play with plenty of momentum.
On Friday night, the Bulldogs will try to build off of their success from a week ago by hosting Harmony Grove in the 8-2A opener for both schools.
Game time is set for 7 p.m. from Jerry Burson Field.
After rolling to a season-opening win at Smackover, the Hornets (1-2) have fallen to 3A powers Prescott and Glen Rose in the last two weeks, and Strong coach Greg Anthony has advised his team not to judge the Hornets on their record.
“They’ve played a really tough non-conference schedule,” Anthony said. “Prescott beat them pretty good, but eight of their starters went down with injuries. They came back and played Glen Rose, and it was 35-27. Glen Rose and Prescott are almost always there at the end, so they had a pretty challenging non-conference schedule to get ready for conference. They’re better than 1-2 for sure.”
So what makes the Hornets such a tough matchup?
“Athletic-wise, they’re going to match up with you at the skill positions,” Anthony said. “Size-wise, they’re probably down a little bit from what they have been over the last couple of years, but they fight hard up front. They
compete in the world’s finest stadium,” Long said. “It’s a big win for us.”
Though resigning his chairmanship after two years, Long remains on the College Football Playoff Committee.
So with Bobby Petrino leading the 3-0 Louisville Cardinals, who are ranked third by the Associated Press after a huge win over then No. 2 AP-ranked Florida State, might Long have to recuse from committee discussions about the team coached by the coach he fired at Arkansas.
Petrino was fired for violating UA hiring policy after his motorcycle crash revealed it was his mistress that he put on the UA payroll as an administrator in the football program.
“No,” Long said. “Bobby has always been an outstanding football coach.
“He proved that here and he’s proven that at Western Kentucky in his short stay there and he’s proving it again at Louisville.
“I don’t think there has ever been a question about his football coaching ability and Louisville has a fine football program.
“We have got six more weeks before we rank a group of teams.
“But there is no reason to recuse.”
With an estimated $160 million enhancement project for Reynolds Razorback Stadium to close the north end zone with luxury seating and a video board for those fans to see looking south, Long was asked how tough the “tough decision” actually will be for Arkansas to end its one game per year at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium once their contract with War Memorial expires.
“Because of the history and tradition,” Long said. “That makes it a tough decision. Absolutely.”
However, the tradition of the Broyles Center takes a hit after this football’s season end.
The building will be torn down to make room for the north end zone project, though it is scheduled to be rebuilt to house the athletic administration.
Barnhill Arena, the former storied home of Razorbacks and Lady Razorbacks basketball and still used to house the Razorbacks women’s volleyball team and some administration, might eventually be razed, Long said Wednesday.
“At some point down the road, we need to think about Barnhill Arena and whether it’s usefulness has passed,” Long said.
“Any time you get a large, dated facility it’s very expensive to keep it up.”
Long also talked long range plans to enhance Walton Arena where the Razorbacks men and women basketball teams have played since 19931994.
Regarding the 3-0 football 17th-ranked Razorbacks, Long praised coach Bret Bielema and staff for their undefeated start, but more so for “building it the right way taking no shortcuts” since inheriting in 2013 a football program at low ebb.