Worst Thing Mizzou Can Do For Its Team Is Stripe Out Razorback Stadium

Arkansas football at its best this year when no rabid Hog fans around to distract

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Nov 18, 2023 11:55 PM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Now that Florida International is out of the way following a 44-20 win in front of hundreds of people at Razorback Stadium, the first true home win since Sept. 9, attention turns to what the scene will be like when Eli Drinkwitz brings Missouri to town.

There was concern last week as word trickled out Mizzou fans might attempt to put together a stripe-out in Razorback Stadium. However, that might not be the worst thing to happen to Arkansas if the No. 1 priority is pulling off the upset against a Tigers team that struggled to hold off Florida, 33-31, at home.

Think about it. Arkansas went to LSU at night, played lights out. Traveled to Tuscaloosa, nearly ended the streak. Faced Ole Miss on the road, put it together enough to almost pull it out. Rolled into Gainesville, walked away with win so historic it convinced Arkansas fans this team would show up at home. Walked onto the field at Razorback Stadium Saturday night to relative crickets and empty seats, ran the football like their food for the next week depended on it.

The last thing this team needs is 76,000 screaming Razorback fans getting their backs while trying to belt out a Hog call every few minutes. For some reason, that's a recipe for disaster with this group. Maybe it's nerves, but it's just not in the cards for Pittman's bunch to perform well in front of rabid Arkansas fans foaming at the mouth for a win.

So, again, if the goal is to win, let Mizzou stripe it out all they want. It's the best way to turn on whatever switch Arkansas has when Razorback fans aren't around, so buy up all those tickets up at your own risk Tigers' fans. If chants of M-I-Z start bouncing around the bowl of the stadium Friday, there's a good chance that Top 10 ranking will be on the line late in a close game.

If Missouri fans really want to do what's best for their team, they'll pack the place out with a red and white stripe out and learn how to call the Hogs and shout Arkansas and Razorbacks back and forth from one side of the stadium to the other until their voices give out. That's this team's ultimate kryptonite. Has been all season.