It's Up to Razorback Players to Earn Respect of Fans Against Florida

If Arkansas football team wants fans in stands final three games, then it's time for offense to show heart, willingness to fight

Author:
Kent Smith
Updated:
Oct 30, 2023 9:28 AM EDT
Original:
Oct 30, 2023

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Arkansas Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – One of the biggest fallacies running through American culture today is the most recent generation expects respect to be given instead of earned through actions without anyone correcting them on this erroneous line of thinking.

Anyone who works with young men and women on a regular basis has faced this lately. Even those who train the ones responsible for shaping them demand praise be given for minimal effort and respect be shown at the highest level when nothing has been done to deserve it.

Thus, it's well past time the impression that respect should just be handed out freely be corrected, at least as it pertains to the Razorback football team. The people of Arkansas love the jersey the players wear. However, in a state full of people who overcome the odds every day through hard work, most of whom do jobs no one in their right mind would choose because of how grueling they can be, respect cannot be given for simply showing up.

It's probably fair to say the Razorback defense has earned the people's respect, but if this team as a whole wants that sentiment, then there had better be a much tougher, grittier effort against Florida. If the same "I clocked in and served my time, now give me my NIL money" attitude is put on the field on offense, or it spreads over onto the defense, then this team doesn't deserve to have people in the stands when it comes back to Fayetteville next week.

It will be deer season and families across this state have to go put time in to put food on the table for the winter. The basketball team, a group that has worked hard to deserve respect will be up and running. Time is too precious a commodity to invest on players who don't look invested themselves.

If someone other than KJ Jefferson showed heart and fight to be something other than a doormat, then fans might stick around. However, that hasn't been the case. There's no one reaching deep down inside for that extra energy. No one's showing that Brandon Burlsworth "I'll make my opponent hate me for how hard I try and never give up" relentlessness.

If this team wants respect, if these offensive coaches want respect, then go earn it. Show some intestinal fortitude. Be more Rocky and less Glass Joe against Florida. It should hurt to let people down and the exhaustion should be so heavy from giving it everything you have to keep that from happening it should be difficult to drag yourself off the field.

The people of Arkansas demand heart and effort. That's how respect is earned. If this team wants it, then go get it. But if the players don't have the desire and will to do it, then understand those stands will continue to be more and more empty.

Razorback fans will support a team leaving it all on the field that happens to lose because it's outmatched. But in a case where a good chunk of the team never brought it to the field, much less left it on there, that sort of support isn't deserved.

All those fans want nothing more in the world than to support this team. It takes a lot to make a group of some of the most determined and battle tested people on this planet to lose heart. These people go to difficult jobs on Mondays, and it's made that much more difficult when the emotional high of a Razorback team with fight isn't there.

Don't go to Florida and act like you care. Actually care. Don't stare down the Gators and act like you want to fight. Actually fight every play with everything you have. Don't go to Gainesville with the idea you don't want to lose. Go there with a mind to destroy.

Maybe then, just maybe, the people who deserve so much respect for how hard they work and the way they face difficult times will show you respect also. But only if its earned.