Capturing True Feelings Makes Interesting Razorback Commentary

Gameday vibes were off and running moment car was parked Friday afternoon

Author:
Jacob Davis
Updated:
Nov 25, 2023 11:42 AM EST
Original:
Nov 25, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The vibes surrounding Friday's Battle Line Rivalry were off the moment we took Exit 62 on Interstate 49. There was no traffic, loud music, car flags, people walking down sidewalks. When Arkansas is slightly mediocre fans will clamor the blocks leading to Razorback Stadium.

Blame it on Black Friday, Thanksgiving plans or hunting I don't care. Fayetteville felt off all week and the Razorbacks fell flat on their faces in yet another season ending loss to Missouri.

The moment we found our park there were Missouri fans everywhere. Their plan to stripe those three sections beside the visitor seating might actually work. Tiger flags were everywhere with smiles of pride beaming from their fans faces. Razorback fans were just ho-hum, gathering in their tents watching the Razorback basketball team turnover their way to a disappointing fourth place finish in the Battle For Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas.

Once I entered the stadium around an hour prior to kickoff. fan turnout was noticeably low. Who could blame folks for not showing up when athletics director Hunter Yurachek decided to attach his cart to a coach who's doomed for a 4-8 season. Missouri fans congregated by the dozens passing out golden pom-pom's to each other as they met. A potential 10-win season was soon to come, but seeing the masterplan of taking over the stadium as visitors was impressive. They genuinely wanted to be there for celebratory purposes while Razorback fans moved around like they were mourning the death of their program.

During the first quarter there wasn't much complaining. Any pure hope that Hog fans started with quickly dissolved with an injury to quarterback KJ Jefferson on the game's third play. For the remainder of the half, Arkansas struggled to surpass its own 40-yard line. The grumbling started to get louder when Missouri running back Cody Schrader scampered for 43 yards to the Arkansas 14-yard line.

"[Hunter Yurachek] can't afford not to spend the buyout money," a disgruntled fan said. "Compromising next season isn't worth it."

Once halftime hit and both teams fans hit the concessions and toilet holes, a very loud "MIZ-ZOU" erupted. Arkansas fans could do nothing but laugh in disgust while asking friends in their group "if this was the correct gate to exit from."

Another Razorback fan was telling his grandson about how great his first year at Arkansas was when it came to watching the football team.

“My freshman year, we had [Ken] Hatfield. No, he sure wouldn’t throw it and the offense wasn’t fun to watch. Hell, we sure won a lot though!”

As I walked back to my seat for the second half several, Missouri fans were asking where certain sections were. Of course, it didn't cross my mind for what they were about to attempt. Tiger fans weren't just filling up section 120, which is the traditional visitor section, they were beginning to take over the next two sections. Solid black shirts and jackets sprinkled in with some gold as the Missouri contingent were starting get louder by the second.

The Razorbacks suffered back-to-back special team gaffes as the Tigers scored two touchdowns in a matter of 11 seconds. Missouri's lead swelled to 34-0 and it would only get worse from there as grumbling from Razorback fans continued.

“How do you bring a coach back like this? There’s simply no hope.”

“Burn the whole thing down.”

“I can’t believe Hunter Yurachek is going to eat this decision [to keep Pittman] and keep his job, too.”

“There is never any excuse to be this bad. It’s pathetic. I don’t blame the fans at all. Pittman should not be back next year.”

Apathy has clearly set in for Razorback fans. How will they generate any momentum going into the offseason? Pittman couldn't elaborate on that in the media room either. On the way out with the 100's of hardcore fans left, it was interesting to hear their reactions. To keep it PG here, things weren't peachy.

"NIL is not going to save this football program while keeping Pittman as coach," one fan yelled. "We spend all this money for tickets, concessions, hotels, gas in return for a crap Arkansas product."

"The Razorbacks scored zero touchdowns against SEC opponents at home when it mattered."

What? That's definitely accurate. To make things worse, Isaiah Augustave's touchdown in the fourth quarter was the first by a Razorback running back against an SEC team this season. The Hogs, once a team ranked in the top 10 in rushing the past two seasons, were a shell of themselves this fall.

The general consensus is fans are ready to hit the reset button after four years of the Pittman experience. They genuinely believe nothing good will come out of the 2024 season keeping the same man at the top of the program. Pittman is on the verge of losing 98% of the fanbase and the pendulum may never swing back far enough to bring them back.