Football was first played at Cyclone Stadium 1983 when RHS defeated Van Buren 35-0. The junior high did not play at Cyclone Stadium until the 1986 season when a summer storm-damaged visitors’ stands at Bailey Field. There have been numerous changes to the stadium. Construction of the premier track and field/football field combination of the day began in 1996, the construction of Cyclone Hill by the Football Booster Club in 1997, an addition to the original field house north of the concession stands by football boosters in 2000, new ticket booths and the exterior fence in 2007, and shot and discus area with lighting along with a new pole vault area was constructed in 2014. A new indoor facility was completed in 2017 and artificial turf was renewed in 2021 (first went from grass to turf in 2010). A new video board was installed in 2022.
CYCLONE FIGHT SONG
Russellville Cyclones, there's power in that name
That tells of every team member's might
We'll play well and hard throughout the game
And always keep our goals in sight.
The Cyclones are better than all the rest,
On field, on court or track,
So let's get out there and do our best to bring a victory back.
Our current fight song was written in 1974 by a RHS student, David Franks. Franks was a three-year all-state horn player from 1973-1975. The hand written original copy of his words and music is framed and hanging in the small band room at RHS.
CYCLONE FOOTBALL
Russellville High School played its inaugural football game in 1906. The “Athletics” as they were first known were victorious at Morrilton, 7-0. RHS tied their first-ever home game the next week in a return contest with Morrilton, 2-2.
The nickname “Crimson Cyclones” was given to the team by local fans in October of the 1921 season. The team had new crimson uniforms that were bought by a group of local businesses. And it was described that the team “flattened” opponents like a Cyclone allowing just six points in a perfect nine-game season. There were no playoffs at that time, and the Cyclones were passed over as the state champions in 1921.
RHS was awarded the honor of State Champions in 1933 after a 10-0 season under legendary coach Wallace Bailey. The Cyclones shut out six opponents and recorded impressive victories over North Little Rock (35-0) and a 27-20 road win over highly regarded Greenville, Mississippi.
Russellville won its second State Championship in 2016, defeating Greenwood 37-23 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The Cyclones tallied their most wins (12) and most points scored (458) in a single season in their history.
CYCLONE STADIUM
The first major athletic event in Cyclone Stadium was the Arkansas High School Girls State Pentathlon in May 1982. Russellville’s own Belinda Abernathy was the winner of this event. Cyclone Stadium has been the site of numerous football games, conference, and state championship track and field meets, high school soccer, and the Meet of Champs. In addition, two NAIA National were hosted at the stadium in 1986 and 87, and in 2002 it was the home of the Cyclone boys’ cross country and track team that became the first high school in Arkansas to take the Triple Crown by winning State Championships in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track and field. In 2008, Cyclone track was named “Don Carnahan Track” in honor of the longtime football, cross country, and track and field coach.
CYCLONE ARENA
The arena opened in 2015 and is the site for volleyball, basketball, wrestling, cheer and dance. The first event in the new arena was on August 27th, when the Lady Cyclone volleyball team defeated FS Southside 3-2.
The Arena became the main focus replacing Cyclone Gym which was constructed in 1971. The arena seats 2,350 (the old gym seats 1,200). The arena sports a large weight room, 15 closed-circuit televisions, a training room, a film room with theater seating, hospitality room with kitchen, a concession area with nearby standing stations for fans to watch the action on the floor, scoreboards at either end of ht efloor as well as a hanging scoreboard/videoboard at midcourt, and locker rooms home and away for volleyball and basketball. There is also a trophy case containing Cyclone awards for state championships and runner-up finishes and an area devoted to the RHS Athletic Hall of Fame, dating back to 1924.
There is also a covered walkway to the oly Cyclone Gym wich is still usesd for practices. The arena took 17 months to complete.
Volleyball was the first sport to be played in Cyclone Arena. The first official basketball games played in the arena were on December 1st, as the Lady Cyclones defeated Vilonia 42-39. The Cyclones senior boys also won, 62-37.
Cyclone Arena hosted the 6A state tournament in 2016 (it's first season in use). It was also the site of the 5A state tournament in 2020 when Russellville dropped down to Class 5A.