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‘The Boot’ shares interest in baseball, laws | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

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‘The Boot’ shares interest in baseball, laws | Arkansas Democrat Gazette


It always seemed like the path to the championship series of the College World Series was going to pass through “The Boot.”

“The Boot” is the trophy annually presented to the winner of the football game between the University of Arkansas and LSU — an idea, now a tradition, founded by David Bazzel.

The Razorbacks and the Tigers were the top two seeded teams to make it to the College World Series. Of course, the bracket had them playing in the first game, won by LSU 4-1 on Saturday.

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With strong pitching and 10-hit games the Razorbacks got by Murray State and UCLA set up a Wednesday rematch with LSU.

After Saturday’s win the Tigers had an all-time record of 80-45 against the Razorbacks, However, the team that has an overall CWS record of 47-29 and seven championship trophies has not owned Arkansas the last six seasons.

They didn’t play in 2020 when the world of sports was canceled due to covid-19, but Arkansas is 12-6 in regular-season play against LSU and 1-1 in NCAA Tournament games since 2019.

Even in the years when LSU’s football team was having an off season — not that often really — the Tiger fans always had baseball. Not so much basketball though.

Arkansas is similar to LSU in that way, and it’s why the “Omahogs” have such a great following. Success breeds loyalty.

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The Razorback football team needs a competitive season this fall. Basketball will be fine, maybe even better than that.

So, on the subject of football, while the LSU baseball team is trying to bring some athletic glory home, back home legislation is pending that would raise the sports betting tax from from 15% to 21.5%.

That would produce an additional $24.3 million for the state’s 11 public universities that compete on the Division I level.

All the money, every cent, would go to the football programs to help fund benefits of student athletes. It won’t directly go to name, image and likeness, which remains separate for athletes despite going on the payroll next month.

With the House v. NCAA settlement’s approval, schools next year will be allowed to directly pay athletes up to $20.5 million.

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Earlier this year, Arkansas was the first state to do away with state income tax on NIL money. Others quickly followed suit.

I couldn’t find any direct breakdown of the $24.3 million for football, but the guess here it will not be divided equally.

In Louisiana, LSU is the tail that wags the dog. The straw that stirs the drink. What turns fans into fanatics.

There is a reason no team wants to play football on a Saturday night in Baton Rouge as tens of thousands of fans tailgate and hydrate all day.

It is a semi-controlled frenzy by kickoff in the evening and something every college football fan should experience at least once.

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It is interesting to say the least. Walk by one tailgate and they’ll offer you gumbo, stop at the next and they’ll offer you a tail whipping — do not accept, walk on by.

Superstition says if Mike the Tiger is outside his caged cave, you might as well go home, your team has no chance.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry is expected to sign off on the tax cut because it is a wildly popular idea in the state.

So back home the talk is football, but in Omaha we have the baseball Tigers, second in CWS championships behind only Southern Cal’s 12. Its last was in 1998. Since then LSU has won three championships.

This was a spectacular baseball season for most of the SEC, which has added basketball to its national athletic resume, and two of the best were going at it Wednesday with everything on the line.

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Get to know: Arkansas DB commitment John Catlin | Whole Hog Sports

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Get to know: Arkansas DB commitment John Catlin | Whole Hog Sports





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Arkansas basketball stars Meleek Thomas, Trevon Brazile selected in NBA Draft second round | Whole Hog Sports

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Arkansas basketball stars Meleek Thomas, Trevon Brazile selected in NBA Draft second round | Whole Hog Sports





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Arkansas Athletics, CommunityAmerica Credit Union launch multi-year partnership including Razorback Stadium naming rights

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Arkansas Athletics, CommunityAmerica Credit Union launch multi-year partnership including Razorback Stadium naming rights


FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Department of Athletics has signed a long-term partnership with CommunityAmerica Credit Union, marking a significant step in the credit union’s growing commitment to Northwest Arkansas. Facilitated by Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties, Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium will become CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium beginning with the 2027 football season.

Rooted in more than 85 years of helping individuals and families achieve financial peace of mind and building on a 65-year legacy of service in Arkansas, CommunityAmerica is excited to engage with Razorback fans and support the communities they call home.

“This is so much more than a name on a stadium. It’s about becoming part of the Razorback Nation experience and helping fans, students, student-athletes and the communities we and the university serve,” said Lisa Ginter, Chief Executive Officer of CommunityAmerica Credit Union. “Our members are at the heart of everything we do and when we evaluate partnerships like this, it starts with what matters most to them. The University of Arkansas is a powerful source of pride and connection for people across the state and in many of our markets. This partnership underscores our long-term commitment to Northwest Arkansas, where we look forward to growing our presence and helping more families achieve financial peace of mind. We’re already deepening our roots with plans for a campus location and several new branches throughout the region.”

The multi-phased partnership extends beyond naming rights and designates CommunityAmerica as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics. CommunityAmerica will also serve as an official sponsor of Arkansas Athletics, supporting student-athletes and fans alike. The comprehensive partnership will also include the rebranding of the SEC Club inside Razorback Stadium as the CommunityAmerica Club, where fans enjoy premium amenities on gameday. As part of the agreement, CommunityAmerica will engage directly with Razorback student-athletes providing Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, valuable financial education and programs to help them succeed both on and off the field.

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“We are thrilled to welcome CommunityAmerica Credit Union as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics as one piece of a partnership that will benefit our student-athletes, fans and the state of Arkansas for years to come,” said Hunter Yurachek, Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics at the University of Arkansas. “Our vision in the Department of Athletics is to be our best and CommunityAmerica’s commitment to excellence as a trusted, people-driven financial institution mirrors that same vision. This partnership is just getting started but its impact will help shape our future.”
Beginning with the 2027 football season, the partnership will expand into its second phase with the naming of CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium and the launch of CommunityAmerica Razorback Checking, Debit and Credit Cards.

With a legacy of serving members across Arkansas and nationwide, CommunityAmerica is ranked among the most trusted and innovative credit unions in the country and among the largest in the Midwest. CommunityAmerica is excited to engage and serve Razorback fans and members more deeply with a variety of financial products and services that align to their passion for the University.

“Our members are proud of where they live and what they stand behind, and for so many in Arkansas and across our shared communities, that means being part of Razorback Nation,” Ginter said. “As we look ahead to launching Razorback-branded products in 2027, we’re excited to offer experiences that celebrate that pride, strengthen relationships and deliver meaningful value for the people and communities we serve.”

“This is a historic partnership featuring an innovative brand with a passion and proven track record of supporting their community, paired with one of the leading college athletics programs in the country,” said Allison Fillmore, Senior Vice President, Business Development at Learfield. “Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties are excited to collaborate with Arkansas Athletics, which will enhance fan and student-athlete experiences for years to come.”

Razorback Sports Properties is the locally based Learfield team that is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Arkansas Athletics and oversees all sponsorship agreements on behalf of the Razorbacks.

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About the University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
The University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics pursues its vision to “Be Our Best” while developing 465+ student-athletes into Razorbacks and Champions for Life. As members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Razorbacks consistently compete at the nation’s highest levels while proudly representing the University of Arkansas and the entire state. Arkansas has established itself as one of the most competitive programs in the nation, winning nine NCAA titles and over 50 SEC Championships in recent years.

About CommunityAmerica Credit Union
CommunityAmerica Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution committed to helping members get on a path to thrive and achieve financial peace of mind. Founded in 1940, and with Arkansas roots dating back to 1968, CommunityAmerica has grown to meet the evolving financial needs of its members. With nearly $10 billion in assets and more than 600,000 members, the credit union is ranked among the nation’s 50 largest credit unions. It is the largest credit union in Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri, and one of the largest financial institutions with expanding operations in Northwest Arkansas. CommunityAmerica offers a full suite of financial products and services for individuals and businesses, including checking and savings, mortgages, loans, commercial banking, wealth management, retirement planning, and insurance. Federally chartered, CommunityAmerica serves members across multiple markets nationwide with branch locations in Arkansas, California, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, Tennessee, and Texas. Learn more at CommunityAmerica.com.

About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.



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