FAYETTEVILLE — Some pointed to Arkansas' 17-7 loss to Arkansas-Little Rock two weeks ago to justify the Razorbacks' decades-long ban on playing in-state teams.
Such a loss never occurred on Frank Broyles' or Jeff Long's watch. They never entertained the idea of playing teams from Arkansas, no matter how convenient it might be.
Arkansas baseball coach Dave Van Horn pushed the idea to both of his former bosses. Van Horn reasoned that the games would make it easier to schedule in April when teams didn't want to travel during the middle of the week. Plus, he said, the games would promote baseball within the state.