By Sydney Mulvenon
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — ‘Twas the night before game day, when all through the streets of Fayetteville, not a creature was stirring, except for a Razorback. In less than 24 hours, 99 Razorback players were let loose in front of 100,000 excited fans. That’s right! Razorback football is back and ready for new beginnings. It’s a tradition with importance to this state dating back to 1894.
It’s what is most important to us as individuals; we strive toward it with everything we’ve got. The word “everything” creates a foundation for all the little things that make up your “why”. Why is this important? Why does this contribute to everything? Everything is what the current Razorback football team strives for. Every rep, every down, every practice means everything. Coming down to those final seconds in the fourth quarter and having the confidence to put everything on the line.
Razorback football has been a part of a society’s everything. On Saturday, September 3, I went to Arsagas on Dickson in downtown Fayetteville. It may be a restaurant today, but 50 years ago it was the city’s train station. Fifty years ago it was the train station 53 players and coaches arrived to the cheers of thousands of Razorback Football fans. Our past helps us become who we are. This once former train station is a part of the team’s history. The people who, no matter the circumstances in their lives, were there for 53 players and their coaches, win or lose.
Or back on November 13th, 1999. The game an unranked Arkansas team played No. 3 Tennessee Volunteers. Hogs won with a late fourth quarter touchdown, and as the clock showed zero a roar erupted in Donald W. Reynolds Stadium. In seconds, swarms of fans charged onto the field. It was the victory which led to fans taking down the goal posts, marching them up throughout Dickson Street and parading them around like trophies. Even in old footage from the game you can see former Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt tearing up at the sight of his team’s victory.
Head Hog Chad Morris said, “We want people, we want players with a genuine love for the Hogs. When I travel all over our great state and talk about Razorback football, there’s one thing in common: it’s passion, and I always come back and tell our football team and I said, ‘You gotta have a love for the Hogs to understand what this place is about.’”
Love can be expressed at no price. These players and coaches for the 2019 season have a mission. Their mission is to show their love for the very Razorback logo they wear in every game.
The first game against Portland State, they had nerves like any other team. The Hogs won 20-13. This may not seem like a huge victory, but as I walked home from the game I saw several people beaming from what they had witnessed for the past three hours. It was hope for the future and that our rebuilding is coming together. Hope for more goal posts to be carried up Dickson Street.
For now, we’ll need to be patient and remember good things come to those who wait. Head Coach Chad Morris said, “There’s something special happening. You gotta feel it and more importantly you gotta believe it.”
I believe in this season. Do you?