Credit to
@Feral in the baseball thread for this idea. Just bringing it here because it deserves its own thread.
Suppose you could change the outcome of any ten plays over the history of Razorback sports. Which ones would you pick?
Here is my list. With one exception I limited it to my lifetime. I also cheated to include one play where the Hogs were only indirectly involved but it likely cost us a national title. Each of these could have changed the fortune of a team's season. Some would have likely resulted in national titles...one definitely would have.
In no particular order other than how they struck me while on the shitter earlier today.
1. Foul ball, 2018. No explanation needed.
2. Texas drops 4th down pass, 1969. Hogs close out the game and win JFB's second title.
3. Stoerner fumble 1998. Nutt would've probably still fucked it up, but maybe not.
4. Facemask called on Calcagni vs Texas, 1977. Another that was the difference between an undefeated season and almost.
5. Missouri stops Edney, 1995. Or don't even stop him. Just make him change directions at least once. That would've been enough.
6. Mallett INT vs Alabama, 2010.
7. Horton scoop and score vs Ohio State, 2010
8. Atwater holds INT vs Miami 1988. Win that game and Hogs at least get their ass kicked in the title game by Lou and Notre Dame instead of by an also ran UCLA.
9. Fish doesn't try to field punt vs Florida, 2006. I blame Nutt of course.
10. Aloy turns DP instead of throwing to 3rd vs LSU, 2025 CWS. We still would have had to beat them again the next day, but their lineup was ass against WHP and Coil was fresh and ready.
2014 Alabama- Kody Walker walking into the end zone just drops the ball which then shot out of the end zone like it had been kicked by Messi. We had at least 4 players around it to cover it. We lost 14-13 on some kind of special teams screwup. I think Berts entire career turned on that game.
I 100% believe we beat Bama in '10 if that pick didn't happen. The fact Mallett was trying to throw it away made it even worse.
Good fucking just dirk
Stoerner doesn't fumble and we're still stuck with Hootie.
Quote from: Boarat on May 10, 2026, 10:31 AMStoerner doesn't fumble and we're still stuck with Hootie.
If it came with a natty, worth it.
Quote from: Boarat on May 10, 2026, 10:31 AMStoerner doesn't fumble and we're still stuck with Hootie.
No. Nutt would still have fucked it up and then overstayed his welcome.
Quote from: Boarat on May 10, 2026, 10:31 AMStoerner doesn't fumble and we're still stuck with Hootie.
Same with the Fish fumble. Still, with each of those we probably have that elusive SEC title. Might have been worth keeping the shitbag a bit longer in hindsight.
Quote from: DirkPiggler on May 10, 2026, 11:35 AMSame with the Fish fumble. Still, with each of those we probably have that elusive SEC title. Might have been worth keeping the shitbag a bit longer in hindsight.
Just replace Dick with a competent QB in 2006 and I think we win it all too. 3 for fucking 17.
The play Madre Hill tore up his knee in the SEC Championship game
The non hiring of Barry Switzer or Jimmy Johnson.
1966 Cotton Bowl. 22 game winning streak, nations top scoring offense, outscored opponents 331-118. Tied in the 2Q and QB Jon Brittenum goes down with a shoulder injury. 3 plays later LSU scores, it's 14-7 and no scoring the rest of the game. He doesn't get hurt, we probably win and it's back to back nattys.
I don't remember the specific play, but Texas 1977 was a nut crusher.
Quote from: Lurk on May 10, 2026, 03:49 PMI don't remember the specific play, but Texas 1977 was a nut crusher.
Facemask on run by Calcagni not called, had to settle for a FG
Quote from: BleedinRed on May 10, 2026, 02:31 PMThe non hiring of Barry Switzer or Jimmy Johnson.
this. If there ever to be any fixing of the past, it boils down to hiring coaches. Hire Jimmy over Ken. Hire Tubberville over Dale. Hire Butch over retaining Dale. etc
The pass from Petrino to Dorell.
Good thread Dirk
on #7- see also Joe Adams doesn't drop the first pass
Quote from: DirkPiggler on May 09, 2026, 01:14 PMCredit to @Feral in the baseball thread for this idea. Just bringing it here because it deserves its own thread.
Suppose you could change the outcome of any ten plays over the history of Razorback sports. Which ones would you pick?
Here is my list. With one exception I limited it to my lifetime. I also cheated to include one play where the Hogs were only indirectly involved but it likely cost us a national title. Each of these could have changed the fortune of a team's season. Some would have likely resulted in national titles...one definitely would have.
In no particular order other than how they struck me while on the shitter earlier today.
1. Foul ball, 2018. No explanation needed.
2. Texas drops 4th down pass, 1969. Hogs close out the game and win JFB's second title.
3. Stoerner fumble 1998. Nutt would've probably still fucked it up, but maybe not.
4. Facemask called on Calcagni vs Texas, 1977. Another that was the difference between an undefeated season and almost.
5. Missouri stops Edney, 1995. Or don't even stop him. Just make him change directions at least once. That would've been enough.
6. Mallett INT vs Alabama, 2010.
7. Horton scoop and score vs Ohio State, 2010
8. Atwater holds INT vs Miami 1988. Win that game and Hogs at least get their ass kicked in the title game by Lou and Notre Dame instead of by an also ran UCLA.
9. Fish doesn't try to field punt vs Florida, 2006. I blame Nutt of course.
10. Aloy turns DP instead of throwing to 3rd vs LSU, 2025 CWS. We still would have had to beat them again the next day, but their lineup was ass against WHP and Coil was fresh and ready.
#1 and #2 are easy since they get us a title in baseball and football.
#10 might ultimately get us a title as well if Aloy turns 2, or if Davalon makes the catch in LF, and we're able to win the next night.
Someone already mentioned it, but Kody Walker not fumbling as he's literally walking into the end zone against Bama in 2014 would've been a turning point for our football program. We'd have slayed the Saban dragon, gotten the losing streak monkey off our backs in a big way, and probably would've broken out that season instead of finishing 6-6.
Quote from: Feral on May 11, 2026, 10:47 AM#1 and #2 are easy since they get us a title in baseball and football.
#10 might ultimately get us a title as well if Aloy turns 2, or if Davalon makes the catch in LF, and we're able to win the next night.
Someone already mentioned it, but Kody Walker not fumbling as he's literally walking into the end zone against Bama in 2014 would've been a turning point for our football program. We'd have slayed the Saban dragon, gotten the losing streak monkey off our backs in a big way, and probably would've broken out that season instead of finishing 6-6.
Our players were all running over to celebrate and the ball took a crazy hop and rocketed out of bounds before any of them could react. :suicide:
The KJ Jefferson Superman play is way up there as far as changing a season.
Quote from: Lurk on May 11, 2026, 11:36 AMOur players were all running over to celebrate and the ball took a crazy hop and rocketed out of bounds before any of them could react. :suicide:
The KJ Jefferson Superman play is way up there as far as changing a season.
For my own list I tried to limit it to plays that could have taken us to national prominence. Can't believe I missed this one. We appeared to be in the process of kicking the shit out of an outmanned Aggie team when KJ tried that shit.
That team had 10+ win talent. One stupid play flushed it. You could also use the Cam Little doink on the last FG attempt, although Pittman should have never let that drive come down to a kick.
It is interesting to look back at potential primrose path of Hootie Dale. A few minor adjustments to the twist of fate and we may have built statues of him.
1. Stoerner fumble 1998.
2. Malzahn
2b. Fish fumble in 2006.
Quote from: GeoHogsGeo on May 11, 2026, 01:46 PMIt is interesting to look back at potential primrose path of Hootie Dale. A few minor adjustments to the twist of fate and we may have built statues of him.
1. Stoerner fumble 1998.
2. Malzahn
2b. Fish fumble in 2006.
Hooties misuse of McFadden, Jones, and Hillis. Too hard headed to change and thought HE (Hootie) was the best QB ever. Fuck him forever.
Quote from: Lurk on May 11, 2026, 11:36 AMThe KJ Jefferson Superman play is way up there as far as changing a season.
I was at that game with a bunch of non-Arkansas fans.
We were killing the aggies, then that play happened. The entire Arkansas half of that stadium died inside.
Someone asked "what's the big deal, yall still have a good lead?"
But every Arkansas fan in there knew the game was over.
I'd say we need to sacrifice a chicken but it's at least a flock of ostriches after reading through this.
One that hasn't been brought up, is the call being a foul and not a travel when US Reed got tripped. There would've been no Magic vs Bird 1
Quote from: Rocket City Hawg on May 11, 2026, 05:54 PMOne that hasn't been brought up, is the call being a foul and not a travel when US Reed got tripped. There would've been no Magic vs Bird 1
Great addition.
I don't think we would've beaten Michigan State and Magic, but Sid would've had a better chance of slowing Earvin down.
Larry Bird making that falling down shot in the final four when we had the triplets. He misses that and we win. We beat Notre Dame for third place that year.
We played ISU with Bird the year after the triplets (1979) in the E8. Bob Heaton made the falling down throw it up left-handed prayer to beat Sid and the Hogs. The only reason he had the opportunity was that US Reed got tripped and called for traveling instead of a foul.
Quote from: Rocket City Hawg on May 12, 2026, 06:00 AMWe played ISU with Bird the year after the triplets (1979) in the E8. Bob Heaton made the falling down throw it up left-handed prayer to beat Sid and the Hogs. The only reason he had the opportunity was that US Reed got tripped and called for traveling instead of a foul.
I thought it was 1978. But, my memory is t what it used to be.
17:30 if you want to relive the pain
Quote from: Ray Zorback on May 12, 2026, 11:09 AM
17:30 if you want to relive the pain
Man, we had some good shooters back then. Basketball doesn't even look the same now.
Quote from: Son of Spam on May 12, 2026, 11:27 AMMan, we had some good shooters back then. Basketball doesn't even look the same now.
Not really.
Go back and watch a lot of War Machine's highlights.
Nearly all of our guards scored their points in the lane. We rarely shot outside. Sutton's teams usually had a "zone buster" - usually a white guy like Mike Young, John Snively, or Kevin Rehl whose only basketball skill was outside shooting. Obviously Marvin Delph was the exception who would've probably scored 25+ per game had there been a three point line.
Outside shooting is a lot better today. Pretty much everyone outside of the biggest guy on the team has to be at least a threat to knock down a three pointer.
If we are talking about plays made by others -
"When the NCAA came in and they suspended me, right? This is how corrupt these mother f***ers is, they suspended us coming into the Sugar Bowl and then they saw the ratings were going down, they ended up coming back and said, 'These guys can play," Pryor said. "Why? Because we're on the No. 1 stage in America at the time." - Terrelle "Tattoo" Pryor
We might have had NOlan for a lot longer too had the NCAA not fucked us on Pate and Sunday.
Quote from: Rocket City Hawg on May 11, 2026, 05:54 PMOne that hasn't been brought up, is the call being a foul and not a travel when US Reed got tripped. There would've been no Magic vs Bird 1
Horrible call that still pisses me off.
Can't think of others with bigger national title type implications, but a couple of Fuck _____________ submissions...
- Anyone having a pulse to bat down that 4th down pass in WMS in the 1987 Jesus wept game.
- BMFP calling anything other than a toss sweep to Broderick Green on 3rd & 4 in Gainesville in 2009. I know the fix was in, but we still would've won that game.
- Joe Adams catches the pass on the first play of the Sugar Bowl.
- Kopps doesn't give up the 9th inning home run in that heroic performance against NC State.
Need to change this thread title to "10 plays that made you want to slit your bag and stick your leg through it".
I'd like to think we have more anguish in store for football, but probably not in my lifetime. You've got to be close to winning an important game to be anguished when you invariably shit the bed.
Quote from: obijuana on May 13, 2026, 09:28 PMNeed to change this thread title to "10 plays that made you want to slit your bag and stick your leg through it".
I'd like to think we have more anguish in store for football, but probably not in my lifetime. You've got to be close to winning an important game to be anguished when you invariably shit the bed.
Hey, don't blame us when Dirk almost nailed it on the first post.
Quote from: Thin Red Swine on May 12, 2026, 09:18 PM- Kopps doesn't give up the 9th inning home run in that heroic performance against NC State.
I'll never forgive that 2021 team for hanging Kopps out to dry and giving him zero run support in game 3.
He pitched his guts out in game 3 and they didn't piss a drop at the plate.
We probably wouldn't have done anything in Omaha that year since we had zero pitching outside of Kopps and our offense had fallen way off by the end of the season (game 1 notwithstanding), but Kopps deserved to end his career at Baum in a dogpile and not walking off the field the losing pitcher in a series finale.
This is a good one to add to the list. That season is remembered way more fondly if we make Omaha.