Arkansas will host a Fan Day and then a scrimmage on Saturday night in Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Davyon McKinney is excited to sign autographs for fans.
The Fan Day will allow fans to get autographs of the football players and coaching staff and will begin at noon at Bud Walton Arena and will end at 2 p.m. Fans should enter Bud Walton Arena using the South and North entrances for the autograph session. The first 1,000 fans at the autograph signing will receive a free t-shirt from Pepsi, and the students who purchased the Razorback Access Pass will be able to pick up their free t-shirt on the East concourse.
Arkansas' players are also looking forward to this event. Redshirt freshman cornerback Davyon McKinney said the players enjoy it as much as the fans attending the event.
“We love to see how big a difference we make to the public,” McKinney said. “See the fans and how they love us. Their facial expression and how they look at us, that's a good thing. I like to see a kid happy. It's a big thing for us.”
Junior Razorbacks who have registered for the 2012-13 season can pick up their membership packets at the North Entrance beginning at 11:15 a.m. And will have the opportunity to enter the arena shortly before the general public. UA staff will be on hand to register new members for the Junior Razorbacks, which is open to fans in the 8th grade or below, near the South concourse.
Senior safety Ross Rasner is also excited about the chance to sign autographs for fans and meet them. Rasner feels this is a way to pay back the fans for their loyalty and support.
“We're really excited,” Rasner said. “Our fanbase is just incredible. Those guys come out and support us every year. We're going to have to go and treat the fans right and then get ready for the scrimmage later that afternoon.”
For autographs, only one item per person will be permitted. The offensive players will be located on the main concourse and the defense will be on the arena floor. Coach John L. Smith will be set up in the Bud Walton Arena Museum.
For the scrimmage, which also is free to the public, Gates 1, 10, 12 and 16 will be open beginning at 6 p.m. In order to prepare for the new digital ticket policy at football games in place for the 2012 season, season ticket holders are encouraged to bring the special event ticket provided in their season ticket booklet. Fans without season tickets can print a free ticket at ArkansasRazorbacks.com. There will be no reserved parking for the scrimmage, and fans will be asked to sit in the lower bowl of the stadium regardless of where their season tickets are located.
Arkansas assistant Taver Johnson, who is in charge of the linebackers, is looking forward to the scrimmage.
“Effort, always starting with effort,” Johnson said when asked what he was looking for on Saturday. “The first scrimmage it was OK at best. We also need to see some more execution. This will be the 19th practice so we need to see some execution so guys just being disciplined and doing their job.”
Saturday night's scrimmage will be the last chance for fans to see the Razorbacks practice before the season opener on Saturday, Sept. 1.
