Razorback Nation: Patience is a Virtue

Listening to Sports Talk radio in Arkansas right now is very tough. A lot of fans like to listen for the inputs from the hosts and former players that are on the radio. Some fans even call in to interact with the hosts and ask questions or answer questions.With every loss the negativity grows worse and worse. Its ok to be upset at losing. Some folks though are taking things way too far by calling for the coaches head after just 9 games. Most coaches don't walk into a new program and win right away. It didn't matter what coach walked into Arkansas, they would not have won that many games this year with this team as it has been assembled. Coach Bielema has been partially handicapped due to two straight up in the air recruiting classes. When Jeff Long was forced yes forced to fire Bobby Petrino and then brought back John L Smith on a 10 month contract there was uncertainty on the hill. Recruits that weren't sold on being a Hog no matter what didn't want to have anything with Arkansas because they had no idea who would be coach or what system they would run. Then during the season the team quit and the bottom fell out. John L Smith was fired as expected and finally in mid December of last year Bielema was named Head Coach. His staff only had about a month to put together some time of recruiting class to run the style they want to run at Arkansas. He did a pretty good job of gathering a few good players. Alex Collins, Dan Skipper, and Denver Kirkland were some highlights so far of the class and were last minute pick ups. With a full season of recruiting there is no doubt that the Hogs will get the players they need to be successful in the near future. Fans need to forget what has happened and focus on where this team is going. Petrino hurt the Hogs pretty bad on defense. John L Smith hurt the Hogs in general. Bielema will get this team to where its competitive and hunting for championships. It may not be next year but very soon. Fans need to also forget about Gus. No matter how you feel about him he would not be doing any better at Arkansas. He is doing well at Auburn right now because he recruited most of those players and was only gone from the program for one year. Fans will have to do something that is pretty much non existent in society these days. That is to be patient. Patience is a virtue and good things come to those that wait.

The Great Stadium Debate

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It's becoming a bigger and bigger issue these days and this season is no exception. The issue seems to be among fans a Northwest Arkansas vs Central and South Arkansas thing. Fans that are most passionate for the games to stay are from the Central and South Arkansas area. A lot from those areas still travel pretty well up to NWA to see the Hogs play in Fayetteville. But for some including myself the only experience they have ever had to see the Razorbacks in person has been at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Razorback games have been played in War Memorial since 1948. So its very easy to see why people are so passionate about games being there because generations have grown up watching games there. Now with that said fans still need to buy tickets and go to the games. Plenty of people show up to tailgating outside the stadium on what is starting to be called "The Course". The economy has some hand into people not buying tickets. Ticket sales are only part of the equation. Costs for the team, travel, and recruiting are playing a huge roll into the debate as well. Some of the decision makers feel the costs are rising to a level where its becoming costly to have a "home" game away from Fayetteville. Coach Bielema said that the bus ride to Little Rock and back is the longest travel they have and its a home game. Starting this year they are flying back from the game and eventually would like to fly to the game and back. Then one of the bigger issues at least to the coaches is recruiting. When the Hogs play at Little Rock they can not host recruits on official visits which limit their interactions with the recruits. Coach Bielema said this year there were about 6 kids that only had open weeks on the games that were in Little Rock which mean they would not be able to get an official visit with them. Understandably this would appear to be a major issue to the coaches and the decision makers because they want the coaches to be happy so they can put out the best product possible and stay with the team. Bottom line is if fans want games to stay in Little Rock then they need to show up and support the team inside the stadium not just on the outside tailgating. Instead of blowing money on beer, food, and everything else someone would want or need for tailgating use the money on a ticket and have a low key tailgate so you can send a message to the decision makers that you want the games. Even then it still may not be enough save the games once the contract expires especially when politics will most likely get involved but if the fans don't show up then that will give them the message that fans in the central and southern parts of the state just don't care anymore. Whether the games go away or not fans need to continue to support the Razorbacks and want whatever is best for them to succeed.

2013 Arkansas Razorbacks Season Prediction

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It's finally game week. That time of year that all football fans desperately look forward to all winter and summer long. Last season was a major disaster. No one can deny the Razorbacks had talent last year. The biggest thing they didn't have was leadership on and off the field. The players flat out gave up especially after the loss to Louisiana Monroe. You have to go back a few years to win the Razorbacks lost all games at War Memorial like they did last season. Most people would say that the Arkansas Razorbacks are in rebuilding mode. I personally would say the Razorbacks are in redemption mode. The Hogs made a big splash hiring Bret Bielema (Pronounced Bee-la-muh). He hired a top notch staff and even grabbed some big recruits at the end of the recruitment period. It will take a few years to get the players that Coach Bielema and his staff need to fit the style they are bringing to Arkansas. Fans will need to be patient and realize their will be growing pains. But fans can take solace in the fact that along the way there will be things to be very excited and happy about. Last year the Razorbacks won only 4 games but with a better coach they could have easily won 6 to 7 games.

1. Louisiana Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns-------------------------------W
2. Samford Bulldogs--------------------------------------------------------W
3. Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles-----------------------------W
4. Rutgers Scarlet Knights-----------------------------------------------W
5. Texas A&M Aggies -------------------------------------------------------L
6. Florida Gators---------------------------------------------------------------L
7. South Carolina Gamecocks------------------------------------------W
8. Alabama Crimson Tide------------------------------------------------- L
9. Auburn Tigers--------------------------------------------------------------W
10. Ole Miss Rebels------------------------------------------------------------L
11. Mississippi State Bulldogs--------------------------------------------W
12. LSU Tigers--------------------------------------------------------------------L

                I see the Razorbacks going 7-5 and pulling an upset on South Carolina. I can't quite put my finger on why but I feel like the Hogs can get it done against the Gamecocks in Fayetteville. There are other games that really could be a lot closer than people think. If the Aggies don't have Johnny Football then that could be a winnable game. Also Florida at the Swamp has the potential to be an upset. If the Hogs were to get a few upsets along the way I completely feel like it will balance out with a few let downs as that is just a fact of history with the Razorbacks. In my opinion the Razorbacks have the talent to be at least a 6-6 team and go on to a bowl game and likely win it making them just over .500 for the season. 

Open Letter to Razorback Nation

The College Football season is just around the corner. The SEC Media Days are going on and Coach Bret Bielema did what coach does best and stole the show. He has high hopes for the season and the future of the program. The Petrino era has spoiled the fans. Fans have been very high on the Hog for the last couple of years. Last season was a big disappointment for all involved with the U of A. Coach Bielema is already making headway with some recruits that fit his and his staff's styles better. Fans are just going to have to be patient for the next few seasons as adjustments are made and players are brought in and developed. Just look to the NFL and see how some of the most recent guys that have played for Bielema are doing. JJ Watt is considered one of the best defensive players in the league and he is only beginning his career. Russell Wilson was good at NC State but finished his development at Wisconsin and then went on to be one of the top QB's in the NFL as a rookie. There were several players drafted this past season including Dallas Cowboys first round pick Travis Frederick. Coach Bielema has a proven track record. Give him and his staff time. They will make Arkansas respectable again and hopefully bring them to the promise land. Bottom line please give the coaches time to do their jobs. We are fans which is short for fanatics but you still have to have realistic expectations for just a short while. Believe in the Hogs and support them no matter if they go 14-0 or 0-12. WPS! Never Yield! Go Hogs! Be Uncommon!

2013: A Razorback Rising

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In 2013 the Arkansas Razorbacks athletic department looks to bring a Razorback Rising to the college athletics. In 2012 their was a big buzz around the program. The beginning of the year saw the football team buzz of a possible National and SEC Championship run. The Diamond Hogs reached the College World Series. The basketball team had the return season of Mike Anderson and fans were extremely excited over his return. The Ladybacks also had a good season last year. They made the NCAA tournament and advanced into the second round. 

We are only a few days into 2013 but there is already a big buzz around the Razorback program. After a disastrous 2012 the Razorback football program is already on the road to recovery. After going 4-8 the Hogs hired a new permanent coach. Bret Bielema has put together a top notch staff and has brought back the excitement to the fans. There is no where to go but up for the football team. A return to a bowl isn't out of the realm of possibilities. It probably won't be a BCS bowl but a lower tier bowl with a 7-5 record is reasonable. 

Mike Anderson has the basketball team off to a good start. As of this writing they are 8-4 and about to enter SEC play. I expect this team to make a run toward the NCAA tournament. This team is getting better and better every game. 

The Diamond Hogs are getting ready to start up the season but the accolades are coming in already off the heels of the College World Series trip last season. The Diamond Hogs are ranked #1 in the preseason poll. Three players were named preseason All-Americans. 

The Ladybacks are off to a hot start again this year. As of this writing they are 12-1 and ranked 23rd in the country. They are also about to begin SEC play. I haven't keep up with them much but they look poised for a return trip to the NCAA tournament. 

The softball team didn't have a great season last year. Only winning 7 games in the SEC they look to improve on that and continue the Razorback Rising in 2013. 

2013 hopefully will be known as the Year of the Razorback by the time its all said and done. The program has several teams poised to make runs and some ready to return to relevance. 

Welcome to 2013: A Razorback Rising! 

From the Outhouse to the Penthouse: Bret Bielema is new Head Hog

Bret Bielema from Wisconsin is the new Head Coach at Arkansas. Bielema has had a pretty good career at Wisconsin. He went 68-24 and led the Badgers to three straight Rose Bowls including this season. Coach Bielema likes to play hard nose defense and that will be a big factor in whether or not he is able to get the Hogs competitive quickly. His teams are also a run first style team. Bielema was a lineman when he played at Iowa. He knows how to focus on the run and recruit the players that can do that. It may take a couple of seasons for him to really get the players that he needs to play his style. I hope the Razorback fans will all get on board and give the guy a chance and lets see what he can do. I agree with most analysts that he is a solid coach and knows how to win games but only time will tell if he is that home run hire that everyone expected. Doing a quick twitter poll (you can follow me on twitter @rzrbckmaniac) A lot of Hog fans seem to be excited. Some are excited because the search is over. Some are excited because of the smash mouth style he likes to play. Some of the ones who are not excited are upset because he is not that sexy hire that everyone has expected. I am taking a wait and see approach. I am excited that the coaching search is finally over and the Razorback football program can finally move on from the Petrino debacle. Coach Bielema will instantly become a rock star in the state because of the entire state's focus on the Razorback program. To me it doesn't matter who the coach of the Razorbacks ultimately is because I will always bleed Razorback Red!