Hogs To Be On Late-Night TV

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles often jokes that he should be fired for scheduling the upcoming home-and-home series against two-time defending national champion Southern Cal.

But Broyles made it clear he’s not responsible for next season’s kickoff time, which was released last week.

Arkansas coaches and players -- as well as Razorbacks fans tuning in from home -- will have to prepare for a late night when they take on the Trojans on Sept. 17. USC’s 2005 home television schedule was announced Tuesday and the Arkansas game will kick off at 9:15 p.m. and will be televised by Fox Sports Net.

Broyles, who wasn’t aware of the game time until Friday afternoon, said the decision was made by the Pac-10 under the terms of the two-year contract.

“The Pac-10 determines the TV and the time,” Broyles said. “That’s their right. When we play here (in 2006), we’ll do the same thing. If we played it at 12 (p.m.) here, it would be 10 (a.m.) there.”

Broyles’ biggest concern about the late start is that the Hogs’ normal road routine, in which they fly home after a game, watch film, scout the next opponent and practice on Sunday afternoon, likely will be altered. The game won’t end until well after midnight Central Time and Arkansas must decide whether to make the 2 1/2-hour flight after the game or wait until Sunday morning.

The Razorbacks play a crucial Southeastern Conference game at Western Division foe Alabama the next Saturday.

“Oh my gosh,” Broyles said. “That’s going to be tough on a team.”

Arkansas’ trip to USC will be its first since 1973, when the top-ranked Trojans beat the Razorbacks 17-0. It also will be Arkansas’ first meeting with USC since the 22-7 win against the then-No. 5 Trojans in Little Rock in 1974.

Arkansas has played two games on Fox Sports networks in school history. The first was Arkansas’ 27-6 win against Texas in the 2000 Cotton Bowl. The second was the 10-3 loss against Oklahoma in the 2002 Cotton Bowl.

It will be Arkansas’ first appearance on Fox Sports Net.

“We haven’t gotten any written notice about it, but I’m sure we’ll get it shortly,” Broyles said. “They have the rights to set the time. We’ll have the rights here.

“Getting back is the only thing I’m worried about.”