Time for Pittman to Steal from Nebraska

Matt Rhule idea can be done better at Arkansas, benefit both Razorbacks football, basketball

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Feb 26, 2024 3:18 PM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Not since the days of the option has Nebraska been a place for anyone to consider for ideas in regard to football.

However, in his first year, new Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule began to turn the culture last season by being four 3-point losses and an overtime game away from being 10-2. That's some squinting hard to make a playoff team out of a 5-7 season only Arkansas Razorbacks fans can truly appreciate.

Rhule has a history of success at the college level and appears to be headed in the right direction at his latest stop. His most recent move is one Arkansas should consider adopting.

Last night during Nebraska's win over Minnesota in basketball, he sent out several of his football players to take part in a halftime dunk contest. It was well received and has been all over social media. Long story short, it was a highly successful idea that can easily translate to Arkansas.

Razorback football is in need of every possible public relations win it can get right now. There's also a big need to make players something more than a number and a helmet so fans see them as young men and not basically a video game avatar.

One of the best ways to do that is to get them in front of a large group of fans with no football equipment and let them show a bit of their personalities and athleticism. Obviously, the Vanderbilt game is too short of notice, but the LSU game at Bud Walton on March 6 would be the perfect opportunity.

For those who don't have a calendar handy, that's the night before spring practices begin, so it would almost serve similar to the old Midnight Madness events from back in the day except this time for football. That's a great way to build anticipation and good will.

The other thing it does is help the basketball team. For years, Eric Musselman's men have done a lot to help the football team with recruiting. Sam Pittman showing up with recruits to a packed Bud Walton for a premiere game and atmosphere has gone a long way in getting potential Razorbacks excited about coming to school in Fayetteville and being part of the athletics department.

For those who haven't seen, and judging by how things look lately that's a lot of you, the stands during Arkansas basketball games have been really empty. The team's playing a lot better, but it's definitely not the result of avid fan support.

A win over LSU may be the difference in securing an NIT bid while also keeping momentum going in the right direction to steal an NCAA berth in the SEC Tournament. Selling fans on a football based dunk contest at halftime will draw a much larger crowd and keep them hot coming out of the break to maintain energy to start the second half.

Consider it an audition for potential NIL deals because the video will be seen over and over. Players can try to get sponsors as far as shirts to be worn during the event, and the face and name recognition gained afterward will make them more marketable also.

If somehow a big lineman were able to pull off a quality dunk, that would be instant money for a young man who wouldn't normally get such attention. It would also make him a ton of fans.

Some will turn their nose up because Nebraska did it already. However, with Arkansas being a top tier basketball school, there's got to be a path for the Hogs' to do it better.

Plus, the Razorbacks aren't in a position to turn away a good idea just because some troll might try to say something on social media. There will be too many people enjoying the resulting video to hear those grumps groaning anyway.