The University of Arkansas Board of Trustees has directed UA System President Jay B. Silveria to lead a review of Razorback Athletics, including ways to increase resources available to the football program.
The board unanimously approved the resolution, proposed by Trustee Ashley Caldwell and seconded by Trustee Steve Cox, at its Sept. 18 meeting at the Don Tyson Center for Agriculture in Fayetteville.
The review will examine the overall competitiveness of Razorback Athletics and identify potential steps and resources needed to strengthen the programs, with a particular focus on football.
“Like all passionate Razorback fans, the Board of Trustees is united in the goal to ensure the competitiveness of all Razorback sports and specifically to restore the rich tradition of Razorback football,” said Randy Lawson, chairman of the Board. “We expect this review to be comprehensive, and we trust President Silveria to lead this effort to identify how we can improve our position, including identifying the necessary resources and empowering key people to be successful.”
Several trustees spoke in support of the resolution.
“When you look at how important football is in terms of finances to an athletic department, I think we need to take a hard look at it, and that’s what this motion is all about,” said Trustee Ed Fryar.
Trustee Scott Ford pointed to collaboration among the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, the UA System office and UAMS as a potential model for addressing challenges.
“When you look at the great cooperation that UAF, the (UA) system office and UAMS have exhibited as an example of sitting down and trying to come up with new approaches to old problems, I’m actually very encouraged that there will be ways both internally and externally that we could advance this cause and do that in a reasonably short period of time,” Ford said.
Trustee Kevin Crass said improving the program will require a collective effort.
“It’s going to take a collective effort to put the university in a position where we can have the level of success that our fans so desperately want,” Crass said. “It’s a challenge that’s daunting, but I think we have the people and the fans to meet the challenge. We all should rally around the cause here to solve this problem. I appreciate the resolution and the effort that is reflected, and hope that we’ll all work together to accomplish what it’s meant to accomplish.”
Cox added, “Failure is not an option. This has to succeed and I believe it will.”
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