The results of a new study show that this might not be the best time for a Trojan football team. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock released the football and marching band feasibility study Tuesday and will now begin analyzing the results.
The study recommends improving existing UA Little Rock facilities and devoting more attention to other athletics programs before shifting its focus to football. The study, conducted over the past nine months by consulting firm Convention Sports & Leisure, reached out to central Arkansas stakeholders and community members to determine if a football team would be a meaningful addition to UA Little Rock programs and the community.
"CSL has completed their comprehensive analysis of the feasibility of a UA Little Rock football program," Chancellor Andrew Rogerson said in a press release. "The study data will enable stakeholders and the university to generate a collaborative data-based decision."
The executive summary of the study recommended that the university expand its existing athletics programs and secure a sustainable funding method, with or without football.
Sports columnist Wally Hall of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette shares a similar view.
"They need to be focused on their students and increasing enrollment and getting their students more involved with basketball, baseball, track and swimming – the sports they already have. They should try to build those up and get the community behind those, then you can take on football,” Hall said in an interview.
The university plans to form a committee made up of school faculty and city officials to further analyze the results of the study. There is currently no timetable for the final decision on whether football or a marching band program would be added to the UA Little Rock Athletic Department.
KUAR is licensed to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, but has editorial independence.