Razorback Football

[HogOfWar]

I'm not going to read anything written by Eric Bolin.  When I want to kill brain cells I choose to do so with bourbon or quality beer.  So I'm going on assumptions based on what some of you have posted about what they/them wrote.

There are a couple of myths that simpletons like Bolin who lack critical thinking skills fall back on every time. 

1). The fans expect us to be perennial contenders.  Anyone who follows Arkansas football closely knows we have limitations that will likely keep us from ever being on the same level of what Alabama, LSU, and Georgia have been for the last 20+ years.  We know that isn't the expectation.  What we want is for the team to be competitive, and to not fall behind our peers in the league (OM, MSU, Kentucky, Missouri, etc).  Schools in our tier are going to have peaks and troughs.  We expect to take full advantage when the stars align as they did the last couple of years, when most of the league is relatively down and we have returning experienced talent.  Petrino did this.  Nutt did to a degree, although his obstinance and stupidity always kept them from truly peaking. 

2) It's not the X's and O's.  It's the Jimmies and Joes.  I love Jimmy Johnson to death as a Razorback and Cowboys fan, but when he said this in a self-deprecating manner to downplay his contributions he broke the brains of a significant number of people who cover the game.  Coaching is and always will be the number one most important variable in a program's success.  The difference between the elite athletes and three stars is usually bridgeable by quality scheme, development, and knowledge of your roster's strengths and weaknesses.  Sure, it's much easier to win when you can fill a roster with studs without ever having to get on an airplane to recruit.  And history is full of guys like Larry Coker, Les Miles, Ed Orgeron, and to a lesser degree 2021 Sam Pittman who can win at a level well above their own ability when they add a superstar or two to an already loaded roster.  But there is also room for Barry Alvarez, Frank Broyles, and Bobby Petrino, guys who put together top ten teams with the kind of players you can get at Wisconsin or Arkansas.  We need to find that guy, someone with a scheme that minimizes or negates a talent gap, and who is willing to stay around to gradually build a program.

Dave Van Horn has shown the blueprint for how to make Arkansas football relevant.  In the SEC baseball is really more competitive than football.  Where in football you have realistically 3-4 programs that could win it all, in baseball you probably have ten.  Yet DVH found a way to build a consistent program that most agree is top two in the SEC.  He took the type of talent you could get here at the time...in state kids, supplemented with a few from surrounding areas like Tulsa, Memphis, KC, etc, and added some guys from cold weather states.  DVH got the max out of those guys, which was consistently making the NCAAs and a couple of CWS appearances where we realistically had no shot of winning.  Keeping the team ranked and relevant every year gradually upgraded our profile to the point where we could start adding Benintendi from Cincinnati, Fletcher from California and the like, and top tier guys from our region.  We may never win a title under DVH, but we're damned sure going to be in the discussion every year.  It didn't happen overnight, but he also didn't have the fuck up years while building (outside of 2016) that knocked our prestige level back down and got us off everyone's mind either.  He's kept the program moving forward and changed the level of expectations.  There is no reason that couldn't happen in every sport, including football.

This not new, but needs repeating continously until the idiots both in the media and the normies who think Pitman can do no wrong, demand it.

This,by the way. 💯

[egregious]

Arkansas football sucks without hope of being better.  There is literally NOTHING about it that is special or worthy of fandom.  People are born Razorback fans or come to be one by circumstances, it is not a burden one should take willingly.  But what keeps those of us so cursed going is the hope that one year, lightning will strike.  I can get by on most years being no better than 8-4 but to ask me to accept that 8-4 is the pinnacle of our success?  Yeah no, I'll find something better and more healthy to do with my time. 

exactly

That would be like accepting that Marvel movies suck now but you have to go to support the creative process.

Sports watching is just one of many entertainment options.  My library card provided me more excitement and entertainment than either the football or basketball teams did this academic year.

[HogOfWar]

Okie Lite game set for 11:30 am.

[Silence Of The Hams]

Okie Lite game set for 11:30 am.

Ugh.  Here we go

[Pig Benis]

Ugh.  Here we go

I'm guessing the SEC didn't want to put a marquee game opposite UT-Michigan.

[woodhog14]

Okie Lite game set for 11:30 am.

11:00

[abnormal hog]

11:00

On September 7, no less. Good chance temps will be mid 90's. This old fart avoids afternoon games in September like the plague.

[vegashog]

don't know why the 11:00 kick gets so much hate. lots of big games have gotten that time slot the last couple of years.

plus it's on abc.

[Usafhawg]

On September 7, no less. Good chance temps will be mid 90's. This old fart avoids afternoon games in September like the plague.

So you'll be at this game?

[Razornoz]

On September 7, no less. Good chance temps will be mid 90's. This old fart avoids afternoon games in September like the plague.

And their stadium runs East-West so good luck finding shade. It seems like the entire stadium is in the sun during day games there.

[Spiderham]

And their stadium runs East-West so good luck finding shade. It seems like the entire stadium is in the sun during day games there.

What kind of moron builds a stadium East-West ?
You cannot view this attachment.

[HogOfWar]

11:00

Oops. My bad.

[HogOfWar]

On September 7, no less. Good chance temps will be mid 90's. This old fart avoids afternoon games in September like the plague.

UAB game is at 3:15 pm. Too bad we don't have lights on the stadium for a night game.

[woodhog14]

UAB game is at 3:15 pm. Too bad we don't have lights on the stadium for a night game.

You do know that TV dictates the time right? We have no say so in game times anymore, nor does anyone else.

[HogOfWar]

You do know that TV dictates the time right? We have no say so in game times anymore, nor does anyone else.

Yes, I know. I bet some teams like Alabama and Michigan do have say, though. LSU does for some of their games.

[animal]

On away games I prefer early times.

[Gambler]

On away games I prefer early times.

It's always good when we have that early game and win. It doesn't happen enough, but it gives you a fuck everyone else attitude the rest of the day.

[BleedinRed]

When we suck, I prefer earlier game times.  

[RPL]

When we suck, I prefer earlier game times. 

Yes!  It makes the rest of the day suck! It's sure better than enjoying the day and waiting for a beatdown.

[BleedinRed]

Yes!  It makes the rest of the day suck! It's sure better than enjoying the day and waiting for a beatdown.

I take a different view.  The healing process begins sooner.  No sense in spending the whole day in dread waiting for the inevitable.