'Heart of a Razorback' Phrase Used Too Often, Only Applies to One Hog Right Now

Arkansa fans took borderline impossible standard and turned it into laughable cliche

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Jul 8, 2023 3:42 PM EDT

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The idea of a player having "the heart of a Razorback" has become such an overused cliche over the last several years that it has become the butt of jokes on Arkansas sports radio.

Part of that is because the concept has been way overused. The idea of having the heart of a Razorback is one that was born out of deep devotion, impeccable character, an untouchable work ethic and a pain from the idea of letting the people of this state down that can't be overcome.

There is never a roster full of players with this theoretical heart. Instead, there are typically only one or two per decade in each sport. At the moment, it's possible KJ Jefferson fits that mold in football. He is still a candidate with one last year to prove the designation belongs on his resume.

At the moment, there is only one Razorback who truly earns the moniker – Davonte Davis. His deep devotion is why when Davis needed to step away from the team briefly last year, he proved to be the only player perhaps in Arkansas history to have Razorback Twitter step between him and whatever would normally come from the brutal world of social media.

The performance against Kansas in the NCAA Tournament last season followed by a strongly emotional postgame interview cemented any doubt how much the idea of letting the state of Arkansas down weighs on him. It's hard not to believe that every time the Razorbacks don't win a national championship when Davis has a say in the outcome that it doesn't rip his heart straight through his chest.

However, all those variables come together sometime around midnight on what appears to be an almost nightly basis. Anyone who follows Davis on Twitter knows that, like clockwork, one can anticipate a Tweet of an empty Razorback gym waiting for the senior guard to get to work regardless of time of year.

At midnight, when anyone who has ever attended college knows so many bad things are happening in and around campus, Davis is quietly slipping into the gym. Those who have had the chance to play the sport they love in the quiet of an empty space in the dead of night knows not only how beautifully addicting it can be, but just how far away from everything bad in the world it makes you feel.

Davis is there on those nights putting in the work, looking to shut out everything else in life so he never has to feel the pain of letting the people of Arkansas down again. What's more is that he has earned unending trust to enter the facility and make use of it without concern any time he may like. His devotion to the game will extend far beyond the last time he dribbles a ball in an actual game. Those of us who cover the team see how he carries the traits to eventually be a great coach. If Arkansas is lucky, one day Davis will lead his alma mater as its head coach.

Arkansas fans have an intense love affair with Davis and there is no doubt that he loves them back just as intensely. All because he has the one thing so often falsely assigned to a litany of now faceless beings who have darkened the doors of the athletic facilities over the decades.
The true heart of a Razorback.