Opinion: Arkansas Never Quits

By Sydney Mulvenon

When I look at a young man wearing the red and white, I see a hero, just as any five-year-old gravitates toward Batman. I see the Razorbacks as my superhuman defenders. Their speed and force match that of a superhero. The villain is the opponent who comes to play every Saturday. Sometimes they cannot defeat the villain. Even the good ones lose every once in a while, but they never lose the courage to continue the fight.

Their helmets are used as a mask to shield their identity. The name on the front is the name they represent and a name to be remembered by their fearless action to dominate the enemy. He knows his duty when the ball snaps. He prepares for his chance to taste victory.

Fifty years ago, my heroes were in the same slump they are in now, with a losing record and uncertainty being the motto of their future. The 1963 Hogs were favored to win the National Championship. The rotation of Quarterbacks Fred Marshall, Bill Gray, and Jon Brittenum led to instability. Their regular season finish was four and five, making the 1963 season the worst record Arkansas has had. Sound familiar?

As a new season of Arkansas Football approaches in 2019, the repeated quote for the past year has been “two and ten.” Those two numbers are haunted by the current team. The Hogs had a record of 2-10 for the 2018 season. We now have a new worst record in school history.

Yes, this doesn’t make anyone jump at the opportunity to pack Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium any time soon. Despite defeat, the team members before them had managed to find their way back to glory.

Playing the game and transforming into the five-year-old kid who caught footballs with his dad in the backyard can re-fuel the fire beneath your feet. In 1964 the Razorbacks became National Champions. Members of the team stepped up and owned their mistakes from the 1963 season. They were determined to make no repeats of the past.

Legendary coach and athletic director Frank Broyles said, “That 1964 group had vision, confidence, mental toughness, togetherness, and a passion for each other and the team.”

Where are those kids today who started playing football because of their love for the game? Where are the fans, the citizens of Fayetteville, who have disappeared now that Batman has gone into hiding?

The Razorbacks are more than a football team. They are the foundation of the state of Arkansas. History might just repeat itself. I’m ready. It’s time to call the hogs.