Joining the Facebook and Twitter Age, Arkansas Also Invests Thousands in Web Technology

Nearly 2,100 miles separate Fayetteville and Seattle. That’s 31 hours by car. Hop on a plane, and you’re looking at between six and 10 hours of travel time.

Social media sites reduce the time between the two cities to seconds. That’s why Sarah Pfeifer, a former University of Arkansas athlete now working in the Pacific Northwest, makes Twitter a part of her daily routine.

Even though Pfeifer is working as video coordinator for the University of Washington women’s basketball team, she’s plugged into the happenings at Arkansas.

“I feel like I’m informed, and I can know as much as anybody in Arkansas,” Pfeifer said. “It’s crazy to think of how simple it is to get information on what’s going on back home.”

Fans and supporters like Pfeifer are the reason schools across the country are investing time, labor and money in expanding their Web presence. UA officials are working to ensure they are at the forefront of the “new media” boom.

UA athletic department officials said that during the last 18 months the university had invested an estimated $50,000 to relaunch its ArkansasRazorbacks.com Web site and upgrade other areas of technology.

Working in conjunction with Rogers-based Revolution Technologies, Arkansas recently launched its own iHog application for Apple iPhone users. Every media relations staff member has been outfitted with iPhones estimated at $200 each to help make monitoring and disseminating information easier.

“We want to communicate as effectively and efficiently as possible,” said Kevin Trainor, the UA’s associate athletic director for media relations.

There is plenty of demand.