LR Hogs: No place like home

Growing up in North Little Rock, Martrell Spaight understood the statewide fan base for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

“It’s pretty much like an NFL team,” Spaight said, “and when we come down to Little Rock it’s like the Super Bowl.”

The Razorbacks will make their only Little Rock appearance this season when they play Georgia at 3 p.m. today in War Memorial Stadium.

Spaight, a senior linebacker, will represent Arkansas as a captain during the pregame coin toss, taking the place of junior quarterback Brandon Allen.

Razorbacks Coach Bret Bielema said Thursday night on his radio show that Allen approached him Tuesday and said he wanted to give his captain’s spot to Spaight so he could have the honor playing in his home area.

“A pretty cool thing,” Bielema said.

Spaight, a guest on Bielema’s show, didn’t know about Allen’s gesture until his coach announced it.

“That almost brought a tear to my eye,” Spaight said. “Knowing I’ll be able to go out there as a captain, it’s special to me. I thank you, Brandon.”

Spaight is one of four Razorbacks from central

Arkansas on the Razorbacks’ depth chart along with sophomore tight end Hunter Henry (Little Rock), senior linebacker Braylon Mitchell (North Little Rock) and redshirt freshman cornerback Kevin Richardson (Jacksonville).

“I always get the chills going back to Little Rock because I know I’ve got a lot of family and friends out there in the stands,” said Spaight, who leads the Razorbacks and ranks fourth in the SEC with 53 tackles.

Henry was born in Georgia but moved to Little Rock with his family and played at Pulaski Academy High School. His father, Mark, was an All-Southwest Conference offensive lineman for the Razorbacks.

“For guys that are from central Arkansas, I think Little Rock is just a special place to play,” said Henry, who has 11 catches for 129 yards. “A lot of friends and family from back home can’t always come up to Fayetteville, so this is a good chance for them to be able to go to a game.

“The fans are tailgating all day and having fun. They come in ready, and I think that’s going to be especially true for Georgia. This is a chance for us to get a big win.”

Arkansas junior safety Rohan Gaines from Bainbridge, Ga., said there is a unique feel to playing in bowl-shaped War Memorial Stadium.

“Everybody is just all around you,” Gaines said. “You can hear everything. It’s just a wonderful feeling.”

Mitchell said he expects as many as 200 family members and friends at today’s game.

“We definitely feed off the fans’ energy,” Mitchell said. “That gets us ready and pumped up for the game.”

The Razorbacks’ two Little Rock games last season drew 47,348 for Samford and 45,198 for Mississippi State.

Arkansas tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr., who played quarterback for the Razorbacks from 1992-1995, said he’s excited for coaches to experience a more lively crowd today.

“The first game last year it was hot and it was Samford, and the crowd was good, but it wasn’t one of those special atmospheres,” Lunney said. “Then the second game against Mississippi State it was bitter- ly cold and neither team was doing well.

“I think the dynamics for this Georgia game are significantly different, so I’m excited for our guys on the team and the staff to experience a packed house and a buzz around the game.

“The people down there like to make a statement about their support for the Razorbacks, and hopefully they’ll make one for us [today]. We’ve got to do enough to get them excited.”

Bielema said he has developed an understanding for the significance of games in Little Rock, where Arkansas has played annually since 1948 when the stadium opened.

“There’s some history that’s pretty special,” Bielema said. “Now that we only have one game there, I told our guys we need to honor that opportunity. Embrace the opportunity that we’ve been given, and good things will happen.”

Arkansas’ contract to play games in War Memorial Stadium expires after the 2018 season.

“From my perspective, I feel like it’s very important for the people down in Little Rock to see us play,” Spaight said. “It’s a big deal for everyone there. I feel like we should keep playing there, at least one game of the season.”

War Memorial Stadium’s capacity (54,120) is small by SEC standards, but it has a rowdy reputation.

In 1999, when Kentucky Coach Hal Mumme was asked if Florida Field was as loud a stadium as he had experienced, he brought up the Razorbacks’ 27-20 victory over the No. 22 Wildcats and quarterback Tim Couch in 1998 at War Memorial Stadium before a crowd of 55,782. Arkansas rallied from a 20-7 deficit.

“I think the loudest place we’ve played is Arkansas,” Mumme said. “I think the fans really got into the game in the second half. They beat on bleachers, and it’s a real tight field, and they come over there ready to make a lot of noise.”

Lunney was a graduate assistant in 1998, when Arkansas finished 9-3 in its first season under Coach Houston Nutt after enduring 4-7 records the previous two seasons.

“That night we beat Kentucky was pretty magical,” Lunney said. “That was kind of a rebirth of Arkansas football.”

A victory over Georgia could signal another rebirth for the Razorbacks.

Spaight