Arkansas Fans Find Themselves Stuck in Abusive Cycle

No matter how things get, what they say, Razorbacks' faithful never truly give up

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Jan 24, 2024 12:16 AM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The second the game was over it spread across social media. Razorbacks fans were all in a tizzy because South Carolina had just taken down No. 6 Kentucky by 17 Tuesday night.

There was so much worry being passed around about how this wasn't good because now an angry Wildcats team is going to show up to Bud Walton Arena and wipe the floor with the Razorbacks. There's only one problem. These same people who are all concerned about the well-being of the basketball team are the ones who just last weekend swore they would never waste their time and energy on this current group of players ever again.

They were ashamed by the lack of effort and disgusted by South Carolina players laughing at how easy it was to score because of a lack of basic defensive ability. Fans were quitting on the team because the team quit on them. It was time to post the family's tickets to the Kentucky game online for a quarter each or best offer.

Yet, here we are. Fans fretting because now that Kentucky has lost, surely John Calipari will bring in a whole bus load of angry Tasmanian devils foaming at the mouth ready to take a lifetime's worth of frustration out on a defenseless Arkansas in front of ESPN. But, here's the issue. Prior to the Wildcats' loss to South Carolina, Razorbacks fans already believed the team is going to get blown out.

So why all the sudden concern? Surely a person who is indifferent about a team doesn't care if it loses by 20 or around 30.

That could be for a lot of reasons. Perhaps after the emotions wore off from last week, the reality that a Saturday in the middle of winter isn't that inviting without the Razorbacks to watch set in. There were probably a few who thought they might be able to pass the time with some form of hunting or fishing. However, the game is at 5 p.m., a time not exactly conducive to either practice this time of year even if the temps warmed a little and the rivers weren't going to be up.

As for television alternatives, "Shrek", "Harry Potter" and "Sweet Home Alabama" are fine movies, but how many times can someone sit through them without being tempted to flip the channel during commercials and accidentally stumble upon the Arkansas game? Some may have planned to pass the time watching WWE's Royal Rumble premium event, but Roman Reigns, CM Punk and the boys don't get things going until after whatever harm Kentucky intends to inflict has already been committed.

NFL playoff games have been nice Saturday time killers, but both championship games are on Sunday this week. As for those who live close enough to go out and watch a movie, "Godzilla Minus One" is generating a lot of buzz if that gets certain fans going, but other than that, pretty much everything else in the theater worth watching this weekend has probably already been seen.

There's no other hot date trying to catch the eye of Arkansas fans in their time of need either. Arkansas State, Central Arkansas and Arkansas-Little Rock all have dreadful records, so Hog fans can't even adopt a local team for the rest of the year.

Just like most emotionally abusive relationships, Arkansas fans are left unsure how to move on, lacking options and clinging to that desperate feeling that maybe just this once the Razorbacks are going to change. They don't want to miss that when it finally happens.

Nevermind the Hogs have long since shown exactly who they are. There will be no change. Still, no matter how bad it gets, fans don't truly stop caring.

They can't sit idly by knowing their beloved Razorbacks are in danger. Surely they need them. This time, if they just show how much they care, maybe the Arkansas basketball team will care back. Then all will be well again.

No matter how much people tell them to not open themselves up to get hurt again, to recognize the patterns and know it's not going to change, Razorbacks fans just can't quit this program. The players can admittedly quit. Just not the fans.

That's why Saturday is probably going to be another day of angry, upset, broken-hearted fans claiming once again they're going to leave this Arkansas team. This time they're done.

But they won't be. They'll be back trying to stand by their men through back-to-back SEC road games and the players know it. It just won't matter.