One might wonder why the Arkansas State Legislature modified its own recently-passed legislation allowing concealed carry on college campuses in Arkansas to exclude sporting events and sports stadiums from the on-campus places where concealed-carry permit holders with additional training are allowed to carry their weapons. And, perhaps, J. Brent Clark's "Sooner Century," published by Quality Sports Publications in 1995, has the answer.
The book tells the stories of Oklahoma University games from 1895 to 1995, including some stories about games against the University of Arkansas.
It seems, according to the football history, there was a fierce rivalry between the Sooners and the Razorbacks and not all was necessarily kept above board when the two teams met. Razorback fans, according to the book, also had a habit of throwing rocks at their rivals.
It tells the story of a 1908 game at Boyd Field at Norman, Okla., in which the Sooners emerged victorious but adds the note that this was the first game the two rivals had played since a 1903 game at Fayetteville at which the Razorback fans pelted the Sooners with rocks.
The book then tells of a 1909 game in Fayetteville between the two rivals. According to the history, the Sooners arrived in Fayetteville to find piles of rocks "at the ready along the sidelines of the craggy Fayetteville field."
It also says two Razorback alumni were appointed game officials over the objections of visiting Sooner coach Bennie Owen. Two Sooner touchdowns were, according to the history, called back by the Razorback officials.
Then, in the third quarter of the game, the football history claims, "a drunken spectator stumbled out of the crowd and, standing on the Arkansas goal line, drew two six-shooters. Firing two shots into the ground, he yelled, 'That Oklahoma bunch won't cross this goal, I'll see to that!'"
"The final score was Arkansas 21, Oklahoma 5," Clark writes; but "an indignant Owen told his hosts, 'We'll never play Arkansas another football game as long as you have this kind of set-up.' True to Owen's words, the two teams did not meet again for five years," the book states.
So, it could be that Arkansas legislators made the correction to prevent a similar incident from occurring again at a future University of Arkansas game. Or, it could be the amendment was made to alleviate the fears of visiting teams and not keep them away from Arkansas for years to come.
But what I am wondering, since I've heard talk of metal detectors being added to the checks at stadium entrances, will officials scan for bags or pockets full of rocks? Since there are always a few fans who arrive drunk or stoned, you'd think officials would realize that being stoned and carrying stones are not a good mix.
Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer. He may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Sports on 04/12/2017