ADLongingtoBetterUAAthletics

ByLoganWilsonPublished:07/22/2013UATVonline

WhenArkansasathleticsdirectorJeffLongagreedtoreplacelongtimedirectorofathletics
FrankBroyles,theexpectationswerehigh,tosaytheleast.
Broyles,alsoanational
championfootballcoachforthe
Razorbacks,notonlyhired
numerouscoaches,including
JohnMcDonnell,wholedthe
Arkansastrackandfield
programto40national
championshipsandNolan
Richardson,whoguidedthe
Razorbacksbasketballteamto
itsonlynationaltitle,butBroyles
alsobroughtsomeofthe
nationsbeststadiumsand
arenastoFayetteville,aswell.

HehelpedleadtheexpansionofDonaldW.ReynoldsRazorbackStadiumfrom51,000seatsto
72,000andaddeda30footby107footSMARTVISIONLEDscreenatoptheBroylesAthletic
Centerin2001.Additionally,BudWaltonArenaopenedin1993,replacinglongtimebasketball
arenaBarnhillArena,andBaumStadiumdebutedin1996withBroylesatthehelmofthe
Arkansasathleticsprogram.
ArkansasassociateathleticsdirectorKevinTrainorsaidLongpickedupwhereBroylesleftoff
andhasalsobroughtanotherimportantfocustotheathleticsprogram,however.
Wecertainlyhadatremendoussetofcompetitionfacilities,nodoubtaboutit,includingsomeof
thebestrankedinthecountry,Trainorsaid.Wherewelaggedalittlebehindwereinsomeof
thebehindthescenesareasandpreparationareas.Now,withtheopeningofthefootballcenter
andtheopeningofothervenues,yourestartingtoseetheinfrastructureoftheathleticprogram
begintobuild.
Forthestudentathletes,wheretheytrain,wheretheyworkeverydayandgotostudyhalland
thatsortofthingisreallybuildingup.Wereveryproud,certainly,andwhatCoachBroylesdid
withthecompetitionfacilitieswasoutstanding.Ithinkthisisjustanotherchapterwiththat,
anothersteptobringtheotherfacilitiesandjoiningfacilitiesuptothestandardthatwehave
alreadysetwithourcompetitionfacilitiesandatthesametime,recognizingthatwecontinueto
makechanges.Youcontinuetomakechangesandcontinuetoimprovethingstokeepitoneof
thebestfacilitiesinthecountry.Itsnotjustamatterofbuildingitandthenlettingitsit.Youre
alwayslookingfornewways.
IthinkJeff,sincehehasbeenhere,hascertainlydoneatremendousjobofevaluatingthe
needsofacombinedprogram,evaluatingtheneedsofwhatareasweneededtodealwithfirst
andwhenyoutalkaboutanathleticsfacilitiesmasterplan,notjustwhatweneedtoday,butwhat
weneed10,15,30yearsdowntheline,settinguptheprogramtoidentifyhowyoucanhave
successandkeepthesegreatfacilitiesnotjustforthenextdecade,butforevenmoreyearsto
come.Ithinktheexcitingthingwhenyoustartthinkingaboutalongrangeplanisbeginningto
thinkaboutwhatweneedtodotostaystrongasaprogramandcompeteinthemost
competitiveconferenceinthecountry.
KikkoHaydar,aseniorguardandcocaptainontheArkansasbasketballteam,saidLongs
commitmenttostudentathleteshaspropelledtheRazorbackstobeingoneofthemostoverall
competitiveathleticsprogramsinthenation.
JeffLonghasdoneatremendousjobhelpingArkansasrisetothetop,Haydarsaid.The
fundraisingforthenewfacilitiesandthemoveshehasmadeasfarashiringcoacheshasbeen
exceptional.
LongbecametheArkansasathleticsdirectorin2008,followingBroylesretirement,andhas
hiredchampionshipcoaches,asBroylesdid,andgivenlengthycontractextensionstocoaches,

aswell.Longhasalsopushedforthseveralconstructionandrenovationprojects,whichareall
partofamultidecade,approximately$320millionmasterplanthatheintroducedin2011,
includingthefootballoperationscenter,whichtheteamtouredonFriday,andthreeprojectsthat
areatthefocusoftheNeverYieldcampaignthatwasintroducedatthebeginningofJuly.
Footballoperationscentercomplete
ThefirstaspectofLongsmasterplanwasthefootballoperationscenter,whichtheteambegan
usingMonday,July22.
TheFredW.Smithfootball
center,whichisnamedafterthe
chairmanoftheDonaldW.
ReynoldsFoundation,cost
approximately$40million.The
ReynoldsFoundationgavea
$10millionleadgiftasa
challengegrant.
Hisgenerosityhasonceagain
demonstratedastrongdevotion
toourmissionofwinning
championships,Arkansas
footballcoachBretBielemasaid
ofSmithwhenhisnamehadbeenrecommendedforthenamingofthefootballcenter.Iama
bigbelieverinpreparingstudentathletesforfootballandforlifeandIampleasedtoassociate
FredW.Smithsnamewiththefacilitythatwillamplifyourfocusintheseareasforcountless
futureRazorbacks.
TheFredW.Smithfootballcenterfeatureslocker,meeting,trainingandequipmentrooms,
coachesoffices,aplayerslounge,arecruitingreceptionroomandafootballmuseumarea.
Ibelieveinplayerdevelopment,Bielemasaid.Ibelievethataplayerinyearoneisgoingtobea
goodplayerbutinyearfourhecanbegreatifheisdeveloped.Notonlydevelopedphysically,but
mentallyandsocially.Thosearethreethings
thatgotogetherinabig,bigway.Thatfacility
isgoingtoallowustodothosethings.
Inadditiontothefootballoperationscenter,
theArkansasfootballteamreceivednew
practicefieldspriortothe2012season,

whicharelocatedsouthoftheWillard
andPatWalkerPavilion,wherethe
indoorpracticefieldislocated.Arkansas
alsoupgradeditsvideoscreen,whichis
locatedinthenorthendzoneofDonald
W.ReynoldsRazorbackStadium.
Beforethe2012seasonbegan,the
displaywasupdatedintoa16mmvideo
display,whichachievedthehighest
definitionstandardsbasedonitssize.
Thehighdefinitionscreenmeasures
167feetwideand38feettallandisthesecondlargestoncampusvideodisplayinthecountry.
NewLEDstadiumidentificationsignsandgameclocksandplayclocksonthenorthandsouth
endofthestadiumwerealsoincludedinthe$4.6millionproject.
DonaldW.ReynoldsRazorbackStadiumcouldbeexpanding,too.Partofthe2011masterplan
wastheadditionofseatsinthenorthendzone.Longestimatedtheexpansionwouldaddas
manyas5,000seatsandwouldlikelycost$7895million.Asurveywasemailedtoseasonticket
holdersaspartofacostanalysisforthepotentialproject.
#NeverYield
Thefootballoperationscenterhasbeenfullyfundedfornearlyayearanduponitscompletion,
theArkansasathleticprogramwillmoveontoitsnextprojectswithinthemasterplan.
OnJuly1,theUofAofficiallyintroducedtheNeverYieldcampaign,whichincludesafundraising
initiativeforthreespecificconstructionprojects,thestudentathletesuccesscenter,the
basketballpracticefacilityandthebaseballandtrackindoorfacility.
NeverYieldisanopportunitytoshowtherestofthecountryourdesiretocompeteandwininall
aspectsofintercollegiateathletics,Longsaidwhenthecampaignwasintroduced.Ourfight
songproclaimsthatArkansaswillneveryield,andthatembodiesourapproachtoachieving
successontheathleticfields,intheclassroomandinourcommunity.
NeverYieldalsorepresentsourprogramsunwaveringcommitmenttoprovidingour
studentathleteswiththefacilitiesandresourcestheyneedtoreachtheirfullestpotentialthrough
intercollegiateathletics.Appropriately,thefirstinitiativeofNeverYieldistargetedatsecuringthat
support.
Inadditiontothepushforfundraising,NeverYieldoffersachanceforfanstounitewiththisbattle
cryonsocialmediaandincludesapushfortheinclusionofstudentsaswell.Studentswiththe
allaccesspass,servingasmembersof
theHogTrough,willreceiveaNever

YieldtshirtandfanscanbuytheshirtatHogHeavenoronline.Trainorsaidthephraseasa
wholerepresentsthehistoryoftheArkansasathleticsprogramandhethinksfanswillembrace
it.
Thereareotherbrandsacrossthecountry,butagain,WooPigSooieandGoHogsGowill
alwaysbeapartofwhatwearedoing.Butthiswasuniquetofitthesocialmediacontextof
todaysworldandalsotobringthetraditionofwhatourprogramhasbeenandkindofbringus
intoanewchapterinourprogram,notonlyathletically,butfacilitywiseandthatsortofthing,
Trainorsaid.Itjustseemedtoreallyembodywhatourprogramisallaboutandthecommitment
ourfanshavetomakingthisprogramsuccessful.
Youlookanditreallyrepresentsourexpectationandourcommitmentinalotofdifferentareas,
sowethinkitssomethingthatcanbeamultipurposecampaigntoencompassalotofdifferent
thingswearedoingaswellassomethingpeoplecanlatchonto,takeprideinandknowthatwe
aretalkingabouttheUniversityofArkansas.
Studentathletesuccesscenter
Unlikemostoftheathleticsfacilitiesincludedinthemasterplanoreventhenewlylaunched
NeverYieldcampaign,thestudentathletesuccesscenterwillbeusedbyall19teamswithinthe
Arkansasathleticsprogram.
Thestudentathletesuccess
centerisestimatedtocost
$1823millionandwillbe
locatedeastofJohnMcDonnell
FieldandnorthofPomfretHall.
ItwillreplacethecurrentBogle
AcademicCenter,whichis
locatedinDonaldW.Reynolds
RazorbackStadium,and
Trainorsaidthischangeof
venuesfortheBogleAcademic
Centerhasbeenanecessary
oneforalongtime.
Whentheexistingacademiccenterthatweareinnowwasbuilt,itwasbuiltforoneprogram
themensprogramatthetime,Trainorsaid.Andnowwehave460studentathletes,sowe
donthavethespaceortheresourcestoaccommodatethelargenumberofstudentathletesfor
acombinedprogram.
Thestudentathletesuccesscenterissomethingthatwillnottouchjustoneortwo,butwill
touchall19sportsandall460studentathletes.Itwillreallybeacornerstoneofourprogramand
willtoucheveryareaandissomethingthatwehaveneededforquitesometimeandwill

continuetoenhancewhatwecandoacademicallyandstudentathletedevelopmentwise.
Thenewstudentathletesuccesscenterwilloffermultiplelearningenvironmentsandan
academicsupportprogramfocusedonthedevelopmentoftheentirestudentathlete,including
academicadvising,tutoring,characterdevelopmentandfinancialliteracy,accordingtotheNever
Yieldcampaignswebsite.
Basketballpracticefacility
Anotherfacilityincludedinthe
NeverYieldcampaignisthe
basketballpracticefacility.
WhileArkansasisthelast
memberoftheSoutheastern
Conferencetobuildabasketball
practicefacility,Trainorsaid
boththebasketballpractice
facilityandthestudentathlete
successcentergivethe
Razorbacksachancetoremainonthesamelevelwithitscompetitionwithintheleagueand
nationally.
Theadditionofthebasketballfacilitywouldgiveourstudentathletesaplacetoreallydevelop
andrefinetheirskilllevel,saidMikeAnderson,theArkansasmensbasketballcoach.Notonly
dowehaveoneofthetop
arenasinthecountry,butwithall
theamenitiesofapractice
facility,ourstudentathletes
wouldhaveaccesstooneofthe
besttrainingfacilities.This
complexwouldalsogiveusthe
flexibilitytoscheduleourtraining
timesaroundour
studentathletesclass
schedulesandnothavetoworry
aboutarenaconflicts.
Thebasketballpracticefacilityisestimatedtocost$2025millionandwillbelocatedacross
fromBudWaltonArena,southofLeroyPondRoadandbetweenBogleParkandtheGardens.It
willfeaturetwofullcourtgymnasiums,lockerroomsforboththemensandwomensteams,
weightroomsandtrainingrooms,coachesoffices,meetingroomsandateamlounge.
ScottyThurman,thedirectorofstudentathletedevelopmentfortheArkansasmensbasketball

team,playedfortheRazorbacksforthreeyearsinthe1990sandhitagoahead3pointbasket
withlessthanaminuteleftintheRazorbacks7672victoryoverDukeinthe1994national
championshipgame.Hesaidthebasketballpracticefacilitywillhelpboththemensand
womensprogramsaccomplishmorethantheyalreadydoonadailybasis.
Ithinkthatthepracticefacilitywillallowthecoachingstafffrombothwomenandmensathletics
tobebetterpreparedfortheflowofbasketballcamps,moreefficientwithpracticesand
workouts,flexibilitywithrecruiting,anditshouldenhancerecruiting,Thurmansaid.Itwillalso
allowourstudentathletestobeabletoworkthemselvesout,withoutacoach,whichisbeneficial
whenastudentathletewantstoshootorworkonballhandling.
Baseballandtrackindoortrainingfacility
ThethirdandfinalfacilityatthefocalpointoftheNeverYieldcampaignisthebaseballandtrack
indoortrainingfacility.KinkoConstructorsInc.,thegeneralcontractorforthefacility,begansite
workonitMonday.
Ithinkthebaseballandindoor
trackfacilitywillreallyputusastep
aheadofourcompetition,Trainor
said.Therearesomefacilitiesout
there,whetherabaseballteam
mayuseafootballfacilityor
anotherexistingfacility,butImnot
surethereisanyplaceinthe
countrythatwillcombinebaseball
andindoortrackinthewaythatthis
willdo.
Itwillallowustohostalloftheeventsfortrackandfieldonthesamecampus,whereasright
now,wehostthethrowingeventsintheWalkerPavilion.Butbaseballwise,tobeabletogo
insideandtakeafullinfield,tobeabletoworkinthosemonthsleadinguptothebaseball
season.Obviouslytheweatherisnotalwaysidealthattimeofyear.Sotobeabletodothatwill
beatremendousstepforwardfor,frankly,threeofourmostnationallycompetitiveprograms,
whenyoutalkaboutbaseballandmensandwomenstrack.
Theyrealreadysomeofthehigherachievingprogramswehave,butthiswillallowthemto
maybetakeastepaheadoftheircompetitioninthatarea.
InadditiontotheArkansastrackandfieldprograms41totalNationalChampionships,the
Arkansasbaseballteamhashaditsfairshareofsuccess.TheDiamondHogshavemade
sevenCollegeWorldSeriesappearances,includingthreeundercurrentheadcoachDaveVan
Horn.Hehasalsoledthe
Razorbacksto11consecutive
NCAARegionalappearances.

Itwouldbehugeforus,VanHornsaid.Whenevertheytalkaboutthefacility,theytalkabout
inclementweatherandallthat,butwewouldusethatfacilityeveryday.
Theworkandpracticewedbeabletogetdoneintherewouldbesecondtonone.Then,
obviously,theabilitytobringrecruitsinthereandshowthemthatfacilitywouldreallyproveto
themhowimportantbaseballishereatArkansas.
Thebaseballandindoortracktrainingfacilityisestimatedtohavea$7.759.625millionpricetag
andwillbeonthenorthsideoftheexistingRandalTysonTrackCenter.
Whatsnext?
Inadditiontotheproposedchangesforthefootballprogramsfacilitiesandthethreefacilitiesthat
arepartoftheNeverYieldcampaign,Longsmasterplanfeaturesseveralotherprojects
pertainingtoall19sports.
AnexpansionatBaumStadium,
whichwouldincludeacenter
fieldentranceasportrayedin
thisartistsrendering,ispartof
themultidecademasterplan.
Otherproposalswithinthe$320
millionmasterplaninclude
expansionsofBoglePark
(softball),BaumStadium
(baseball),JohnMcDonnellField
(outdoortrack),theBillingsley
TennisCenter,indoorandoutdoorswimming,theSmithgolfcenter,improvementstoBud
WaltonArenaandthebuildingofa5,000seatcompetitionvenueforgymnasticsandvolleyball.
Duringthe2011pressconferenceinwhichherevealedthemultidecademasterplan,Longsaid
thedetailsoftheplanaretentative,butitshouldhelpguidetheathleticsprogramforthefuture.
Wehaveanobligationtoplanforthefutureandtheathleticfacilitiesmasterplanenablesusto
moveforwardinthebestinterestsofmeetingtheneedsofourstudentathletes,coaches,
donorsandfans,hesaid.Theplanisanambitiouswishlisttoaddressfacilityneedsforall19
ofoursportsoverthenextfive,15and30years.Itisthenextsteptobuildourprogramand
maintaincompetitivenessintheSoutheasternConferenceandnationally.
Arkansasinnovatingbeyondconstruction
Alongwithembracingconstructiontoremaincompetitivewithintheconferenceandnationally,
theArkansasathleticsdepartmenthasadapted
totheworldwidesocialmediaphenomenon.

TheArkansasfootballmediaguidecoverwasthefirsttoincludeTwitterhandlesforitshead
coachandplayers.
PartoftheNeverYieldcampaignistheuseofthehashtag#NeverYield,buttheRazorbacks
havelookedtopromotefaninvolvementinotherways,aswell.
TheArkansasfootballteamreleasedthecoverofitsmediaguideonJuly10,announcingitwas
thefirsttoeverfeatureTwitterhandlesofitscoachandplayers.Bielema(@BretBielema),
fullbackKieroSmall(@KieroSmall36),centerTravisSwanson(@Tswan64)anddefensiveend
ChrisSmith(@42Arkansas)appearonthecoverwiththeirTwitterhandles.
Whenyouaretalkingaboutgeneratinginterestaroundthecountryandofnewgenerationsof
fans,socialmediaplayssuchahugepartinthat,Trainorsaid.Ithinkifyoulookatsomeofthe
thingsthatwearedoing,itistoengagenewfansandbringnewfanstotheprogram.Justas
peoplethatgrewupinourstatelearnedabouttheRazorbacksthroughcoachesshowsor
newspapersorothermeans,nowsocialmediaisahugepartofthatindeliveringnewsand
content,sowewantpeopletobeabletoconnecttoourprogramthroughsocialmedia.So
havingastrongsocialmediapresenceforourcoachesandourprogramandour
studentathletesisveryimportantaswebegintobrandourprogram,notjuststatewideand
regionally,butnationallyaswell.