Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Arkansas and Texas A&M are opponents on the field. They often compete for recruits in a variety of sports.

But the Aggies and Razorbacks put competition aside and teamed up to sponsor a rule change that allows SEC schools to host recruits for games off-campus. New legislation was passed by what was described as a “super majority” of SEC officials at the league’s recent spring meetings.

Athletic Director Jeff Long said the Razorbacks began working to get the rule changed last fall. Arkansas was unable to offer tickets to recruits at Cowboys Stadium or the SEC game in Little Rock and wanted to see that rule changed. Long said the two schools worked toether for the change, something that should benefit the Razorbacks.

“Obviously [the rule is] beneficial in recruiting to allow us to offer tickets to games as part of an unofficial visits,” Long said.

Arkansas and A&M will not play a neutral site game this year after spending the last three meeting as non-conference opponents in Arlington, Texas. They’ll meet at home sites in 2012 and 2013, but could be back at Cowboys Stadium in 2015.

Florida, Georgia and Arkansas are the only schools that traditionally play an off-campus conference game every year.

Now teams can host unofficial visits in years they are the home team. Florida and Georgia meet off campus annually and the home team in that game is allowed to provide tickets for recruits. Same goes for the Razorbacks in War Memorial Stadium.

Razorback recruiting coordinator Tim Horton said the rule is also beneficial in cutting down on travel for prospective athletes. Recruits in Tennessee, Louisiana and Mississippi could have less travel to see Arkansas play after they finish Friday night football games.

Horton had hoped for several years the SEC rule could be tweaked. NCAA Rules provide teams the opportunity to host off campus, but the SEC did not.

“I think it’s a fair rule,” Horton said. “It’s something that will obviously help us in Little Rock. Obviously with the support we have in Little Rock it’s a great to sell to recruits.”

Long said he was "pleased" at the change.

“We will now be able to host prospective student-athletes on unofficial visits at any one of our home venues," Long said.