Razorback fans can be as hyped as we want to be

Despair. Remember the word?

As a Razorbacks fan you are most certainly familiar with the feeling. In a poor attempt not to sound like a cliché, what goes up must come down, right?

Sadly, most of these lows for our beloved football program fall on the too-soon heels of high expectations. For example, reflect upon your initial hearing that an NFL coach was making his way from Atlanta to Fayetteville.

Arkansas soon earned a ranking as the No. 3 team in the nation while playing in a more prestigious bowl game. Now recall your thoughts upon the following word motorcycle. The events rekindled in your mind are soon chased by the blocked-out memories created under the reign of one John L Smith.

“No problem,” said then Arkansas athletics director Jeff Long, “I have us a big name.”

That promise from Long turned out to be Bret Bielema. No, the three-time Big Ten Champion from Wisconsin may not have been at the top of the list for the Arkansas faithful, however, Bielema’s personality brought an air of trust and future successes.

Mix that with somewhat of a successful sophomore campaign on The Hill and the majority of Hog fans soon swooned with hope and promise. But, alas, the aforementioned air was quickly let out of the proverbial balloon.

Enter Chad Morris.

For the casual fan, Morris was a relatively unknown coming out of SMU. Some had heard legend of his offensive prowess as a coordinator at Clemson. Others perhaps thought of him as the embattled martyr who clawed his way to a 7-6 third season at SMU after being hired to replace June Jones at the helm.

Granted, Jones had achieved some short-lived success, yet he managed to return SMU to its post-death penalty ways by winning only its last game in a 1–11 record for the 2014 campaign.

This, topped off with a snubbing “thanks, but no thanks” from the Big 12 upon receiving SMU’s application to join their ranks, had many questioning Morris’s decision to leave the Tigers instead of waiting on a better head coaching opportunity.

Back to the present as we soon face the kickoff for the 2018 season, and a fan base that just this past year opted to leave Donald W Reynold’s Razorback Stadium a desert of attendance has suddenly gotten fully behind Morris, his staff and, especially, the players.

Arkansas fans are known for their loyalty to support the team year in and year out whether the season proves successful or dismal, victorious or as an opportunity to ponder the future, and the pride of a state versus its Monday morning water cooler embarrassment.

Yes, this season looks to possess no difference in the rallying call for loyal fans to support these young men that give it their all each and every game.

Why the possible turnaround from Beilema’s last to Morris’s first? Bret was a vocal figure — an entertainer.

We often watched press conferences with the thought of “I wonder what funny or polarizing comment Coach will make today.”

Morris is all about business, but with a steady dose of support for all things Arkansas and its multiple programs.

Need the recruiting approach and triumphs of Morris and his staff be mentioned? His ability to attract JUCO players has caught the attention of the national media.

Already, the 2019 class has been ranked in the Top 25 by a number of outlets. In-state talent seems to be leaning towards staying instead of leaving. Furthermore, we are back in the state of Texas going after big names to garner top talent for Arkansas.

Certainly most Razorback fans do not expect to be a contender for the SEC West this season, yet there is a new feeling upon a horizon that took a few months for even Morris to sell us.

We aspire our state’s flagship program to be great once again. To carry that banner which represents us from victory to victory. Some will doubt that we stand a chance to accomplish anything of importance in year one of this new chapter.

And some will scoff at the perspective that Morris can have us competitive again in 2019. Likewise, having fallen victim to despair, some social media genius types will scorn the hopeful fans that have their fingers crossed and their eyes bright for the future.

To those that only have a pessimistic view, I say relax, enjoy your life, and let us enjoy ours. Optimism during the off-season is what we often must take the most pleasure in given our modern football history.

Fans, we want to hear your thoughts on the upcoming season.

Feel free to reach out to me on ‘Twitter’ via @PeterMorganWPS, or utilize #ArkFBExpectations. Go HOGS!!!