Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

The sky is gray. There's a 30-percent chance of an isolated thundershower. Best yet, as of 9:45 Monday morning, the temperature had actually dropped below 80 during daylight hours. It means one thing: football season is close at hand.

The first games of the Arkansas high school season take place tonight at the venerable War Memorial Stadium in the First Security Bank 2010 Arkansas High School Kickoff Classic. (Perhaps you've heard us mention this a time or two before.) Four football teams from central Arkansas compete in Part One tonight with four more taking the field on Tuesday.

Thursday night, UCA plays host to Elizabeth City in its first game as an officially sanctioned (and post-season eligible) member of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. UA-Monticello and Ouachita Baptist also play host to Thursday games.

Friday, most high school football teams will finally compete after a long, hot summer of practice and workouts. Then on Saturday, the Arkansas Razorbacks put their reputations on the line and go after an SEC title and possible BCS berth. Bobby Petrino and the Hogs haven't retreated from the high expectations placed on the team, and though Tennessee Tech is nothing more than a cupcake nonconference opponent, it will give many fans their first taste of what's to come from the Razorbacks in 2010.

We fully expect the tempertaure to go back over 90, possibly by the time we're finished typing this. However, it can't be denied that there's been a subtle change in the atmosphere and football season is here at last.