Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

9/29/2010 at 10:04am

A local fan has launched the “Mustache for Mallett” campaign aimed at drawing attention to Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett and raising money for the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation.

Forget a “Red Out”. Ryan Fowler wants to see a “Mustache Out” at the next Arkansas Razorbacks home game.

A what?

Allow us to explain…

Fowler is the man behind the “Mustache for Mallett” campaign aimed at drawing attention to Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett and raising money for the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation. What Fowler is asking people to do is grow a mustache in support of Mallett. Uploading a photo to mustache4mallett.com costs $1, which Folwer plans to donate to the Brandon Burlsworth Foundation.

Why a mustache? Mallett doesn’t sport one, though the quarterback does have sideburns that grow into a beard (minus the mustache). Fowler explains he and friends wanted to come up with something quirky to draw attention to Mallett.

“I don’t know what significance of a mustache is,” Fowler said, laughing. “It’s just something different. We wanted to come up with an idea that would create a buzz nationally and keep people coming back for a good laugh.”

Seems like it’s working. Mustaches for Mallett was featured in a 30-second segment on last weekend’s College GameDay on ESPN. On air personality Erin Andrews, who had been in Fayetteville to interview Mallett, mentioned the campaign and held up a photo of the billboard which rests on I-540.

Fowler, a Brinkley native, attended the UA from 1994-99. He earned his MBA in 1999 and has been operating the area’s largest independently owned billboard company.

“It started with: 'How can I promote a player that I love?' We’re not trying to make a buck,” Folwer said. “We just want to promote Ryan Mallett. We’ve had a phenomenal amount of phone calls. It’s been a very positive experience. People wanting to donate.”

If Mustaches For Mallett catches on locally, Fowler would love to see Reynolds Razorback Stadium full of mustache-wearing fans.

“Maybe we’ll have 60,000 mustaches in the stands for the next game,” Folwer said. “We’re encouraging the ladies if they can’t grow one to go get a fake one. We want to do whatever we can to promote Mallett and raise some money for a good cause.”

Tagged: Arkansas Razorbacks, Mustache for Mallett, Ryan Mallett, Heisman Trophy, Burls Kids, Brandon Burlsworth Foundation