Arkansas players share the meaning of playing at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock
By Sean Labar
Published:
Arkansas will open the 2023 season paying homage to the program’s history, hosting Western Carolina at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock instead of their regular home in Fayetteville.
This has become a home away from home for the Razorbacks, giving fans from other parts of the state a unique opportunity to watch their favorite team live.
On May 17, 2018, an agreement was announced whereby the Razorbacks would continue to play at War Memorial every other year from 2019 to 2024
On Thursday, the Razorbacks official football social media account released a video asking players the meaning of playing in Little Rock.
What it means to play in Little Rock ? pic.twitter.com/twl4Cf0DOD
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) August 31, 2023
“It means everything coming from Fayetteville to play in War Memorial,” senior defensive back Malik Chavis said. “I live in Southeast Arkansas so lot of my family and friends don’t get the chance to make the trip up here.”
Senior defensive end Zach Williams — a Little Rock native — says the stadium has a special feeling of nostalgia for him.
“You know I have played there since I was a real little kid and every time you step on that field in a different jersey, it still means the same. It might sound weird but War Memorial, it just has a different smell to it, I don’t know if it’s the locker room or what.”
Considering the stadium was originally constructed in 1947, it’s fair to assume the locker rooms have a distinct odor as Williams alluded to.
Both Chavis and Williams said they associated War Memorial Stadium as the home for Arkansas football throughout their youth.
“You see the War Memorial Stadium and you know it means business,” Chavis continued. “Everyone in that town, or that city will be at that game. I remember as a kid, I really didn’t know about Donald B. Reynolds, it was all War Memorial.”
Williams shared a similar sentiment.
“Living in Little Rock, I know that I went to all the games in Little Rock instead of Fayetteville.”
Chavis described the scene ahead of Saturday’s opener and it’s clear these players — even in 2023 — understand the meaning of playing in the historical venue.
“You see all Arkansas red, all the fans, all of that, it’s just a live environment,” he said. “It means everything to us players, and the fans of Arkansas, for us to come down to War Memorial and put on a show for our fans.”
Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. on Saturday and the game can be streamed through ESPN +.
Sean Labar is an SEC football contributor for Saturday Down South.
