FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. –- Arkansas closes spring football practice with Saturday’s 6 p.m. Red-White Spring Game in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Activities at the stadium actually begin at noon with the Fifth Annual Abbott Nutrition RazorFest.
Admission is free to the game and RazorFest. Donations for the support of Tusk, who is going to be at the stadium, and the live mascot program are encouraged and going to be collected at gates entering the stadium.
Activities get underway with the Energizer Pep Rally at noon, featuring members of the Razorback spirit groups, giveaways and spirit competitions all in the parking lot north of the football stadium and the Broyles Athletic Center.
Family activities are scheduled from 12:30-5:30 in the parking lot, below the east concourse of the stadium and along the south end zone concourse of the stadium.
Other attractions include the Wal-Mart and Disney Zone featuring autograph sessions with former Razorback All-American and current Dallas Cowboy Felix Jones, and NFL Hall of Famer Dick Butkus. Other features include concerts, a Tyson Olympic Village, a Nickelodeon Zone with SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer, junior sportscasters hosted by members of KHOG 40/29, a Wheaties Autograph Zone including head coach Bobby Petrino and Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long, Dial for Men Zone, PDA Bug, Abbott Nutrition Zone, Heinz Hospitality Suite, the Pig Rig and the Energizer Power Zone.
Abbott Nutrition RazorFest benefits and showcases youth organizations serving Northwest Arkansas. The event is put on by Champions for Kids as its premier fundraiser. Champions for Kids is a support center which strengthens non-profits to better serve more kids by providing investment grants and training. 2009 non-profit participants include: Arkansas Support Network, Camp Barnabas, Camp Harvest, Community Clinic at St. Francis House, The Elizabeth Richardson Center and LifeSource International, Inc.
For the game, Petrino is splitting his team into two groups. The first team offense and defense are squaring off against the second and third team offense and defense.
The spring game is going to resemble an actual regular season contest with the exception of no contact on punts and kickoffs. The first half is going to be played under regular clock operations, but the second half is going to be played with a running clock.
The team is scheduled to arrive around 3:15 p.m. for the player walk through Lot 44 to the Broyles Athletic Center. The Razorback Marching Band is going to be on the field for pre-game and will form an “A” for the team to run through.
In the stadium, all gates in the lower bowl are going to open for the game at 4:30 p.m.
The first 7,000 fans entering are going to receive a 2009 Razorback Football Schedule Poster, which is sponsored by Chick-fil-A and Cox. Posters are going to be available when gates open at 4:30 p.m.
Outside the stadium, shuttles are going to run from Baum Stadium to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium from 2 p.m. until two hours after the game ends. A handicap shuttle, which is also open to everyone, is going to run from Lot 56 on the corner of Razorback Road and Martin Luther King Blvd. (Sixth Street) to the stadium. The Gold route shuttle is unloading at gates 1, 8, 13 and 16 while the Silver route shuttle is unloading at gates 1 and 8 only.
Public parking is available in lots 56, 56B, 56D, 46, Stadium Drive Parking Garage, Harmon Avenue Parking Garage and at Baum Stadium. The Markham Hill area and streets without designated spaces are not available for public parking.
The post-game traffic flow is the same as a regular game. Fans parked in Lot 44 and north of that position are going to exit to the north. Everyone on the west side of Razorback Road is going to exit to the south. Stadium Drive, Meadow Street and Leroy Pond are going to be open to two-way traffic.
Razorback Transit is offering regular Saturday reduced service from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. The Red, Tan and Blue Reduced routes should operate as usual, but there may be delays in service on the Green Reduced route.
A schedule and listing of RazorFest activities follows:
2009 Abbott Nutrition RazorFest
Family Pavilion - North parking lot
Old Spice Main Stage/Area
Old Spice Main Stage
Noon Energizer Pep Rally, Giveaways • cheerleaders • spirit competitions
12:30 – 1 Oreo Blue Concert
1 – 1:20 Dick Butkus interview with Rick Schaeffer
1:20 – 2 Clear Channel MUSIC set (activity and/or station music)
2 – 3 Oreo Blue Concert
3:15 UA Football Team arrives by bus
3:20 Jeff Long interview with Rick Schaeffer (TBD-Matt Shanklin confirming)
3:30 Felix Jones interview with Rick Schaeffer
4 – 5 Oreo Blue Concert
5 – 5:30 Clear Channel MUSIC set (activity and/or station music)
Old Spice Fun Zone Tent
Bean bag toss game
Photo ops with cardboard cutout of the Old Spice Centaur - Polaroid photos with sleeves
24 ft. X 100 ft. Astro Turf Football Field (in front of stage area)
Giveaways -Old Spice Body Wash, inflated balloons, re-usable water bottles
Clear Channel Stations tent with live on-air music and giveaways
Tyson Olympic Village
Animal Farm Inflatable
Tyson Trailers (2)
CEB Inflatables (Basketball Goal and Doll House Bouncy)
Coca-Cola Chill Zone
Games and giveaways
Sports Zone
Wheaties Autograph Area - Various former/current Razorback athletes/coaches
(Nature Valley Granola Bars and other snack items to be given away while fans are waiting in line)
General Mills Characters (1-2, TBD)
Jack Wills Play Areas (2), Trampoline (1), Basketball Goal (1)
Northeast Sidewalk Area
The Pig Rig – Clear Channel Stations live feed truck with giveaways
PDA Bug – Giveaways
Tusk the live Razorback
Energizer Power Zone – East Concourse
Champions for Kids – game-day maps/info booth and giveaways
Arkansas Support Network Booth, giveaways and game
Camp Barnabas Booth, giveaways and game
Camp Harvest Booth, giveaways and game
Community Clinic at St. Francis House Booth, giveaways and game
The Elizabeth Richardson Center Booth, giveaways and game
LifeSource International, Inc. Booth, giveaways and game
Energizer Booth – Bunny Ear giveaways
40/29 Booth – giveaways
Kids Directory – face painting
3W Magazine - giveaways
360NWA.com - stress ball's and glow arm band giveaways
Walmart Health & Fitness Zone – South Concourse
Heinz VIP Hospitality Suite Hosted by Jennie-O Turkey and Signature Bank
Food and drink for sponsors and special guests – VIP pass required
Nickelodeon Zone
Games and giveaways
Appearances by SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer
Dial for Men Zone
Video games
Giveaway - Dial Soap
Abbott Nutrition End Zone
Football agility game and passing course
Photo area with green screen where visitors have picture taken and printed with custom EAS background
Dick Butkus will be in booth from 3 - 4:30
Giveaways - EAS eye black stickers, temporary tattoos and EAS purple wrist bands
Wal-Mart and Disney Zone
Free eye exam area
Felix Jones autographs from 1-3, presented by Prilosec OTC
Obstacle Course
Giveaways - balloons and a photo
Petrino Tabs Mallett As Starting QB
