By Brice Helms
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.— Baum-Walker stadium is quiet today. There are no fans, no lines at the concession stands, no team to cheer on. But this week is the last week that will be true for the next three months. Razorback baseball starts tomorrow.
The razorbacks are coming off back to back college world series runs and come into the season as the number six team on the usa today’s coaches pull.
Ryne Hayworth has been a razorback fan since he was born and he’s been to hundreds of games over his life. Like a lot of razorback fans, his favorite arkansas sport is baseball.
“People are excited for baseball because we’re so good at it,” Hayworth said. “Every year, year in year out, the goal is Omaha. We’ve done a great job of it recently and just to be elite at something is very exciting for Hogs fans,” Hayworth added.
The new season brings some new changes to baum-walker stadium. In accordance with a change in SEC guidelines, beer and wine will now be sold in the stadium.
“My favorite thing to do at a game is probably crush beers,” Hayworth said with a slight grin. “The cooler rule at the Hog Pen is the best thing they’ve ever done athletic department wise. Ever. Now they’re selling beer and wine in the stadium so all of the people who can afford the nice tickets can get in on the fun.
We really are blessed with Baum-Walker. We have one of the best, if not the best facilities in the country. Beautiful stadium, we got a nice backdrop.”
Like most razorback fans, Hayworth wants one thing this season.
“I think everyone wants to see them win a college World Series. It’s more special when you’re in school. We’ve obviously gone, we’ve been close. If I could ask for anything, I would want a ring,” Hayworth said.