Little Rock Christian head football coach Eric Cohu has stirred up a conversation on the state of football culture in Arkansas after he posted several tweets on Oct. 23 criticizing the lack of support and respect for high school football in the state. Cohu, who has led the Warriors to two state championships and three runner-up finishes in the past five years, expressed his frustration with the low attendance, media coverage, and fan engagement for high school football games in Arkansas.
Cohu’s tweets spark reactions from fans, coaches, and media
Cohu’s tweets, which have since been deleted, were a response to the poor turnout for the Warriors’ game against Pulaski Academy on Oct. 22, which was a rematch of last year’s Class 5A state championship game. Cohu wrote that he was “embarrassed” by the lack of fans and media at the game, and that he felt like he was “coaching in a different state”. He also compared the situation to other states where high school football is more popular and appreciated, such as Texas, Alabama, and Florida.
Cohu’s tweets generated a lot of reactions from fans, coaches, and media members, who either agreed or disagreed with his views. Some supported his call for more attention and respect for high school football in Arkansas, while others argued that there were other factors that affected the attendance and coverage, such as the covid-19 pandemic, the weather, the location, and the competition from college and professional sports. Some also pointed out that Cohu’s tweets could be seen as disrespectful to other schools and programs that have less resources and success than Little Rock Christian.
Cohu clarifies his intentions and apologizes for his tone
In a follow-up tweet on Oct. 24, Cohu clarified his intentions and apologized for his tone in his previous tweets. He said that he was not trying to offend anyone or put down any other school or program, but rather to challenge the status quo and inspire change. He said that he loved coaching in Arkansas and that he was proud of his players and staff. He also thanked those who supported him and his team, and said that he hoped to see more people at their games in the future.
Cohu also spoke to The Recruiting Guy podcast on Oct. 25, where he explained his perspective and motivation behind his tweets. He said that he wanted to raise awareness and spark a conversation about how to improve the football culture in Arkansas, and that he was not trying to be arrogant or divisive. He said that he believed that high school football was a valuable and positive experience for young people, and that it deserved more recognition and support from the community. He also said that he respected all the other coaches and programs in the state, and that he was open to constructive feedback and dialogue.
The state of football culture in Arkansas
According to Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas ranks 40th among the 50 states in terms of high school football participation, with 9,501 players in 2020. The state also ranks 41st in terms of high school football attendance, with an average of 1,487 fans per game in 2019. The state has produced some notable players who have gone on to play college and professional football, such as Darren McFadden, Hunter Henry, Joe Adams, Ryan Mallett, Frank Ragnow, Trey Flowers, and others.
However, the state has also faced some challenges and controversies in recent years, such as the consolidation of schools due to declining enrollment, the implementation of a mercy rule to prevent blowouts, the dominance of certain programs such as Pulaski Academy and Bryant over their opponents, and the lack of diversity among head coaches.
The debate on football culture in Arkansas is not new, as many people have expressed their opinions and suggestions on how to improve it over the years. Some of the common themes include increasing funding and resources for high school football programs, promoting youth development and participation at an early age, creating more exposure and opportunities for players to showcase their talents and skills, enhancing coaching education and training, fostering more collaboration and communication among coaches, schools, media, and fans, creating more parity and competitiveness among teams and divisions, celebrating the achievements and history of high school football in Arkansas, and cultivating more passion and pride for high school football among Arkansans.
