Ripley hopes the team will provide an additional entertainment option in central Arkansas, although only two home games will be played in Little Rock this season, both at War Memorial Stadium.
"You've got to pay your dues the first year," he said.
The coaching staff has faced some early challenges, Wilson explained while standing near the Buffaloes' practice field at a boys and girls club in southwest Little Rock.
"Most of my staff didn't get here until the fourth week of July. We've got a situation where we've got kids that had not been evaluated. We didn't know how many linemen we had," Wilson said. "When most people would come in the first three days in shorts, and you'd install your offense, for us it's been like a combine. So we're actually evaluating kids and trying to move them around and getting them in a position where they can help the team."
As far as wins and losses, well, Wilson said he outlined two goals for the team.
"The Buffs gotta learn how not to beat the Buffs, so we can't be our own worst enemy," he said. "And the second thing is, when the season's over, I just want our opponents to put the film on and say, 'You know something? It's a first-year program, but boy did they play hard.'"
- Associated Press
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