FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas has sold more than 50,000 season tickets for its six 2012 football games at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, with more than 45,000 of those renewals coming after Bobby Petrino’s firing as head coach April 10.
The Razorbacks’ Fayetteville schedule includes games against defending national champion Alabama on Sept. 15 and defending SEC champion LSU on Nov. 23, and Arkansas returns several key players from last season’s 11-2 Cotton Bowl champions, led by quarterback Tyler Wilson and tailback Knile Davis.
But Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long said he believes the renewal rate is about more than having a team expected to be ranked in the top 10 nationally in preseason polls and marquee opponents.
Long said he senses fans want to rally around the Razorbacks’ players and coaches in wake of Petrino’s firing for cause because of off-the-field issues
“I think it’s had a positive effect,” Long said Friday of the reaction. “I think the fans are coming to support the young men in the program. ... And even bigger than that, they want this state and this country to know that they’re behind their program.”
Arkansas had 45,663 season tickets renewed between April15 and May 15, the deadline for renewals, according to figures from the UA. There were 4,265 season-ticket renewals before April 15, though it’s not uncommon for fans to wait until closer to the deadline before renewing tickets.
Long said Arkansas is going to set a record for season-ticket sales at Razorback Stadium.
“We’re anticipating sitting here today that the only way to get an Alabama or LSU ticket will be through buying a season ticket,” Long said. “We think we’ll be sold out for those games.”
Long fired Petrino when it became known - following Petrino’s motorcycle accident April 1 - that he lied about being alone during the accident. The state police investigation revealed Jessica Dorrell, whom Petrino hired to work in an administrative role on the football staff, was riding with him. Petrino later admitted the two had an inappropriate relationship, but he didn’t tell Long about that until a few minutes before the police report was released to the public.
“I don’t ever feel like I have to defend the decision,” said Long, who conducted an investigation for several days before firing Petrino. “I don’t regret the decision, and I won’t.
“The University of Arkansas and our athletic program, it’s more than one person. ... It’s a team of people pulling together. It can’t be about one person. It’s got to be about the student-athletes in the program.
Sports, Pages 22 on 06/30/2012