Times Editorial : Win or lose Gut-check time for Hog fans
Posted on Saturday, October 4, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Editorial/69764/
As the sun rose in Fayetteville this
morning, the Arkansas Razorbacks were still
2-2 for the season. That’s. 500 in sports parlance, and all things considered (new coaches, new offensive scheme, lots of freshman, lots of awfully good competition ), not half bad. But, if prognosticators across the country and here at home are correct, nobody should be too surprised if the Natural State’s favorite athletic team goes down in defeat to the No. 12 Florida Gators today at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. It’s not a foregone conclusion by any means, but any betting type is best advised to steer clear of putting a big bet on our beloved Razorbacks. When we take our seats at the stadium this morning, we’ll cheer for the team and pull for them just like in Texas last week and against Alabama before the Longhorns. But, yeah, what we’ve seen hasn’t inspired us. Fans and sports pundits alike are predicting a very difficult season, and claiming we may have seen the best already. There are those even predicting that the homecoming game Nov. 1 against Tulsa may be a loss, or that the Razorbacks may not win again this season. What if we really are that bad ?
Big deal. Fans who care about the players out there on the field — and not just the glory that comes with tasting a celebrated victory — knew that this year’s Hog football team would likely not be one for the record books.
Not to make excuses, but last year’s coach, Houston Nutt, left behind a ball club morally demoralized. Much of 2007 was spent by fans just trying to push the highly unpopular coach out the door — which they finally managed to do. In the process, last year’s coaches headed out, while top undergraduate players on last year’s team chose to seek fame and fortune in the NFL. We could go on and on. Suffice to say, all of us ought to be happy the focus in 2008 has returned to the playing field, and isn’t about coach’s salaries, playing time, rumors that the board of trustees is out to get the head coach or innuendo about the athletic director being out of touch with fan’s wishes.
Mercifully, that is no longer the world Razorback Nation lives in.
Of course, despite all the turmoil, last year’s club did manage a trip to the Cotton Bowl. (We’re still trying to forget about the shellacking we suffered at the hands of a great Missouri Tiger team. ) This year ? Even a lousy bowl game with an embarrassing corporate name may not be in our futures. A season that ends immediately following our Nov. 28 match-up against LSU may be the best anyone can hope for — unless, that is, the offense begins scoring a whole lot of points and the defense begins tackling the other team.
And if that’s not the case ?
Once again, big deal ! We love the Razorbacks. It’s great when they’re up and on their way to the likes of the Orange Bowl or Sugar Bowl. But the whole notion of being a fan must be centered around pulling for the team in good times and bad, mustn’t it ? What is it they say, about how one’s truest test comes in the face of adversity ? Welcome to a season of adversity, folks.
But it’s just a game, and perhaps people take it so seriously because they know that even at its most serious, it’s still entertainment from a fan’s perspective.
From the athlete’s perspective, competition can be a life-changing experience whether the win-loss column is filled with Ws or with Ls. It can develop character either way. There is much to be gained by the student athlete in the endeavor, not the outcome. Fans can help with their unwavering support.
In any case, Arkansas will one day return to its place in the win column, but fans should be judged not on how loud they cheer when Arkansas is three touchdowns ahead of an opponent, but by how they respond when Arkansas is three touchdowns behind.
We hope we’re ahead all the way today, but if not ? It’s gut-check time.