Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

FAYETTEVILLE - Scotty MacPherson doesn't run track for the attention. He doesn't put in mile after mile and hour after hour of work for validation from fans.

But every once in a while the senior distance runner will attend another sporting event at the University of Arkansas and find himself thinking ‘What if...'

What if the track and field athletes could perform with a capacity crowd looking on at a regular season meet? What if the cheerleaders and mascot showed up?

MacPherson will find out on Saturday.

Arkansas is pulling out all the stops as it hosts a unique track and field meet this weekend to kick off the indoor season. Defending Big 12 champ Texas will be on hand for a dual meet that begins Saturday at 3 p.m.

"I'm really pumped to see how it goes," MacPherson said. "This has a chance to be a real special event."

Razorbacks track and field coach Chris Bucknam sure thinks so. Saturday's meet with Texas is something he's been dreaming up for a while.

What better opponent than the Longhorns? Both programs are strong nationally and Bucknam quickly learned that nothing gets Razorback fans fired up quite like Texas.

Bucknam got his first real understanding of that not long after being hired in 2008. Bucknam's daughter left his office for a training run one September afternoon wearing a Texas Relays shirt. She returned after 30 minutes with a confused look on her face.

"Katie came back and told me, ‘The run was Ok, but dad, I sure don't think they like Texas around here.' Apparently people were yelling out their windows and giving her a hard time for that shirt."

It was equal parts education and inspiration for Bucknam.

If people dislike Texas that much...

Arkansas had to get Texas in Fayetteville for a dual track meet, Bucknam thought. It would be a great way to generate additional interest and keep the rivalry going with the Longhorns.