The return of a rivalry game is great for everybody, especially the fans.
Ever since Arkansas visited Austin in 2008, the Razorback faithful have been waiting for Texas’ return trip. Thirteen years later and first-year head coach Steve Sarkisian will lead his squad into a ruckus Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium crowd.
Arkansas announced Saturday’s matchup is sold out and will have nearly 80,000 fans in attendance. It’s the football program’s first sell-out since the 2017 season against TCU.
76,808 is Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium’s attendance record back in 2010 when No. 1 Alabama came to town. With standing room only tickets still available, there is a good chance Arkansas’ record is broken by a couple thousand.
The Texas-Arkansas game is sold out, per Arkansas athletics. That’s not all that surprising. But this will be Arky’s first sellout since 2017?! That’s eye-opening.
— Brian Davis (@BDavisAAS) September 6, 2021
Sarkisian knows the type of environment Texas is walking into. While appreciating the moment is important for players, making sure the crowd is not intimidating and causing roadblocks will be a key aspect of preparation this week.
An experienced defense will have an easier time getting signals in. But with a redshirt freshman making his first-ever true road start, handling the sold-out crowd is important for Sarkisian.
“We know it’s going to be a hostile environment,” said Sarkisian. “I think one of the keys for us in handling that crowd noise and what we do from a communication standpoint.”
Texas will try to silence 80,000 Hog fans Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. Getting a win could be crucial for the program, creating a significant amount of momentum heading into conference play.
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