One word sums it up: Disappointed. That's exactly how I feel right now as I reflect on the season so far. Then I ask myself: "What have I sacrificed to be so disappointed in?" I didn't spend one day on the practice field. I didn't spend one minute in a film room. I didn't lift one set of weights. I didn't put forth one ounce of effort to put that jersey on, and line up with that Hog on my helmet and say "you will not cross this line." I risked nothing. I did nothing. So again, why am I disappointed?
I guess I'm disappointed for the players like Jonathan Williams who came back for his senior season and passed on the possibility of playing in the NFL and fulfilling his dreams so he could be a part of a "special season" - only to have it end before the first kick-off. I'm disappointed for players like Keon Hatcher and Cody Hollister and Jared Cornelious - all of which have had major injuries which add up to a decimated WR corp. I'm disappointed for a team who struggled last year for several weeks before they finally got Coach B his first conference win over LSU and to on to win 3 of their last 4 - including wins over the Tigers, Ole Miss, and Texas. I'm disappointed that they had such high aspirations, only to have fate cruelly serve up a reality far below what they had hoped for.
I'm also disappointed to see the hurt that these players and coaches are feeling while our fans blast them over and over and over. No one outside that locker room knows how hard these young men work. No one outside that locker room knows how much those coaches mentor and teach these Razorbacks to be more than a player - but to be a man and a part of society that we should all be proud of. To be "Uncommon."
I humbly submit that NO ONE is hurting more than the people that pour their hearts and souls out on the field, between the boundaries. No one is more disappointed than the young men and women who work in the athletic department and put those pads on and compete against the best players in the nation that aren't in the NFL. No one outside that locker room knows how hard it is to work so hard in the offseason, spring drills, summer conditioning, and fall camp - only to have all the breaks go the other way. But those coaches do. Those players do. Yes, I'm disappointed. However, I am NOT disappointed in the Razorbacks.
I AM disappointed to go on this board, or tune in 103.7 and listen to our fans CRUSH this team and coaching staff. Every week I've seen the pain and the hurt grow on their faces during post game interviews. Yet the deluge of criticism and vitriol continues to swell. Every week I hear the heartache and agony in their voices as the weight of unrealized expectations and broken dreams comes crashing down around their shoulders. Yet the words "we suck" and "we're going to go 2-10" and "they're terrible" continue to ring out. Disappointed, yes; but not in my team.
It's a free country, and we have this thing call "freedom of speech" - so I'm not one to say that others shouldn't speak their minds; however, I would ask us all to take a step back and think about what it means to be a fan, and to have loyalty and support something greater than ourselves. No team - in business, sports, or otherwise - can survive a member that constantly berates the others on the team, or perpetuates a culture of negativity. If fans really want to feel as if they are part of the team - should they hold themselves to a higher standard and expectation? All I have to do is look at my son and it's all clear to me. He's 3 years old, and he already loves those Hogs - win or lose. He's a fan.
I know that I'll be there on Saturday - right in front of the TV, and I'll have my son in my lap with his Hog jersey and helmet on - rooting for the Hogs; but not because we feel like our team owes us a win though. We'll be watching because we are proud of the Hogs, and for the love of the Razorbacks.
Go Hogs, Go!!! Woo Pig, Sooie!!!
I guess I'm disappointed for the players like Jonathan Williams who came back for his senior season and passed on the possibility of playing in the NFL and fulfilling his dreams so he could be a part of a "special season" - only to have it end before the first kick-off. I'm disappointed for players like Keon Hatcher and Cody Hollister and Jared Cornelious - all of which have had major injuries which add up to a decimated WR corp. I'm disappointed for a team who struggled last year for several weeks before they finally got Coach B his first conference win over LSU and to on to win 3 of their last 4 - including wins over the Tigers, Ole Miss, and Texas. I'm disappointed that they had such high aspirations, only to have fate cruelly serve up a reality far below what they had hoped for.
I'm also disappointed to see the hurt that these players and coaches are feeling while our fans blast them over and over and over. No one outside that locker room knows how hard these young men work. No one outside that locker room knows how much those coaches mentor and teach these Razorbacks to be more than a player - but to be a man and a part of society that we should all be proud of. To be "Uncommon."
I humbly submit that NO ONE is hurting more than the people that pour their hearts and souls out on the field, between the boundaries. No one is more disappointed than the young men and women who work in the athletic department and put those pads on and compete against the best players in the nation that aren't in the NFL. No one outside that locker room knows how hard it is to work so hard in the offseason, spring drills, summer conditioning, and fall camp - only to have all the breaks go the other way. But those coaches do. Those players do. Yes, I'm disappointed. However, I am NOT disappointed in the Razorbacks.
I AM disappointed to go on this board, or tune in 103.7 and listen to our fans CRUSH this team and coaching staff. Every week I've seen the pain and the hurt grow on their faces during post game interviews. Yet the deluge of criticism and vitriol continues to swell. Every week I hear the heartache and agony in their voices as the weight of unrealized expectations and broken dreams comes crashing down around their shoulders. Yet the words "we suck" and "we're going to go 2-10" and "they're terrible" continue to ring out. Disappointed, yes; but not in my team.
It's a free country, and we have this thing call "freedom of speech" - so I'm not one to say that others shouldn't speak their minds; however, I would ask us all to take a step back and think about what it means to be a fan, and to have loyalty and support something greater than ourselves. No team - in business, sports, or otherwise - can survive a member that constantly berates the others on the team, or perpetuates a culture of negativity. If fans really want to feel as if they are part of the team - should they hold themselves to a higher standard and expectation? All I have to do is look at my son and it's all clear to me. He's 3 years old, and he already loves those Hogs - win or lose. He's a fan.
I know that I'll be there on Saturday - right in front of the TV, and I'll have my son in my lap with his Hog jersey and helmet on - rooting for the Hogs; but not because we feel like our team owes us a win though. We'll be watching because we are proud of the Hogs, and for the love of the Razorbacks.
Go Hogs, Go!!! Woo Pig, Sooie!!!
