Arkansas fans were already on edge Tuesday night.
With a men’s basketball coaching search that appears to be going off the rails, the last thing Razorbacks fans needed was a baseball loss to Little Rock in the teams’ inaugural meeting.
Not just a loss but a 17-7 clubbing at Baum-Walker Stadium.
It didn’t take long and social media was buzzing with distraught fans who claimed the series was a bad idea from the get-go.
Last year, Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek gave the OK for Hogs programs to play University of Arkansas System programs. The announcement halted a decades-long moratorium.
The reaction was a mixed bag, but when the Trojans routed the Hogs, some were livid.
To those who are bent — I know you are already upset about the prospects of firing Mike Anderson to possibly hire a mid-major coach or re-tread, but you don’t need to worry about this baseball loss.
Forgive me, but I am going to lean on my Iowa roots again. I know you get sick of that sometimes, but trust me, it’s applicable here. Growing up, Iowa State and Iowa, the state’s Power Five programs, played mid-majors Drake and Northern Iowa in most all sports –even football.
Hapless Iowa State lost to Drake the year the Bulldogs announced they were transitioning to a non-scholarship program. The Cyclones have also lost to UNI in football a handful of times.
Drake and UNI have beaten both Iowa and Iowa State in basketball over the years.
In a recent meeting, Iowa blocked to field goals on back-to-back possessions (because of penalties) to preserve a win in the final seconds.
And guess what?
The Cyclones and Hawkeyes haven’t lost revenue or recruits to those lesser programs. They still run the state, even though the Panthers and Bulldogs pull the occasional upset.
Obviously, this is a foreign concept in Arkansas since it’s brand-new. No one really knows how to react because these games have been taboo.
But this loss will show that in the grand scheme of things, it really doesn’t mean much.
Little Rock will have a great highlight video to show recruits and photos to include in the media guide. It’s a feather in their cap, but it won’t allow them to host an NCAA Regional, or even make one, let alone make a College World Series Run.
It won’t build them a new stadium they need or sway the top recruits from Arkansas to go there.
It also must be pointed out that in these nonconference midweek games, bigger schools don’t pitch their weekend starters. Could Little Rock beat Hogs No. 1 starter Isaiah Campbell? I wouldn’t bet on it.
Also this week, the University of Central Arkansas won at No. 24 Oklahoma State and No.18 Ole Miss, who only beat Little Rock 11-8 earlier this month, lost 10-6 to North Alabama.
These losses to mid-majors happen without much consequence and most know that the big boys aren’t wasting their top pitching.
The Hogs are still right where they want to be to make a deep postseason run. The Auburn series, which begins Friday, with a doubleheader is much more important.
Arkansas needs to bounce back after dropping two of three to SEC West rival Ole Miss last weekend at home. A couple of wins on The Plains and the Little Rock loss will be well in the rearview mirror if it isn’t already.
So, don’t fret over this. Your concern over the coaching search is a valid one. A baseball loss to an instate school? Nah.
Trust me, I know.
