Game Date: September 7, 2007

Enrollment: Arkansas: 1,296 / Texas: 1,606

Stadium: This year the Arkansas Razorbacks will host the Texas Tigers @ Razorback Stadium. Razorback Stadium is sure to sell out its 8,000+ seats, providing standing room only and a stadium full of die-hard Texarkana fans.

Football History: For nearly a century, Texas and Arkansas have competed on the gridiron. After fairly even back and forth victories throughout the ‘90s, Texas beat Arkansas in the annual game in ‘01 and has held onto bragging rights ever since. Texas finished 12-1 in ‘06, losing only in the regional round of the Texas State Playoffs. Arkansas rebounded from their 38-14 setback to Texas last year and captured the Arkansas 6A State Championship, scoring an average of 42 points in their final ten games.

Rivalry: Since 1912, Texas and Arkansas have been settling their differences on the football field, making the short 4-mile trek to one another’s stadiums in an attempt to retain, or recapture, their coveted rivalry item: a battleaxe! Arkansas hopes to regain the traveling trophy from Texas, who won the battleaxe in ‘01 and have had their paws on it for the past six seasons. Each year, fans from both schools work together to create a new rivalry t-shirt. Texas prepares for the big game with a Bacon Fry the morning of the game. The choice of bacon being served before the game against the Razorbacks is not exactly a coincidence, since a razorback is actually a wild hog indigenous to the Arkansas area. Arkansas holds its own pre-game breakfast and serves up healthy portions of “Tiger Tails” (orange donut-twists) and Orange Crush® soda.

About Texarkana: Texarkana is actually two cities separated by State Line Ave. (affectionately referred to as “The Line”), the road that marks the border between Texas and Arkansas. The cities share a population of approximately 64,000 along with many federal buildings and offices, but they each have their own mayor and city officials.

Interesting Notes: Both teams have inflatable mascot heads that they run through at the start of the game. Texas is the alma mater of Chicago Bear Nathan Vasher and Michigan quarterback Ryan Mallett; Arkansas is the alma mater of Pro Football Hall of Famer Willie Davis, as well as Rod Smith (who also donated Arkansas' inflatable razorback) and Eric Warfield. Famous Texarkanans include musician Scott Joplin and former independent presidential candidate Ross Perot.