There are plenty of people to blame for Arkansas’ football struggles. Arkansas coach Chad Morris, the coaching staff and administration.
And on that note, it’s important to point out that current athletic director Hunter Yurachek did not hire Chad Morris. That distinction belongs to Julie Cromer Peoples, who is now at Ohio.
Why an interim AD was allowed orchestrate that search, I’ll never know, but that’s a column for another day — maybe sooner rather than later.
You know who isn’t to blame? You. The average fan who spends hard-earned money to travel to games and root on the home team.
You are not one of the one percent who donates enough money to hold any leverage on hiring and firing. You aren’t attending any Board of Trustees meetings. How in the world can you be blamed for this mess of a football program?
Simple. You are not positive enough. (Insert eye roll Emoji here). I have watched as multiple members of the media have chastised fans for their behavior.
They were targeting the trolls who have apparently engaged with Arkansas recruits and current players, which I agree is stupid. However, that is a small segment of the fan base. The blanket message was targeted at all Hogs fans. Be positive and unite.
That was also surely the message Yurachek wanted to convey in an awkward press release sent out this week that was a mix of “vote of confidence” for Morris and a scolding of fans who have been frustrated with recent events.
That release and other things written this week may suggest if you share negative thoughts or don’t attend games, you aren’t being loyal or not uniting.
That’s bologna.
The fans are not part of the program. Boosters are but average fans are on the periphery. Fans can add atmosphere and attract recruits, but it isn’t “their job” to be ambassadors of the program and always be full of sunshine and rainbows.
I appreciate loyal fans, and there are some programs that pack out stadiums even in lean years. If you’ve followed me long enough, you know I have been critical of this fans base as a whole.
It started when I noticed throngs of people leaving Bud Walton Arena early before games were over. It continued with the nonsense that occurred with the lawsuits and airplane messages trying to derail former coach Houston Nutt.
Again, those actions don’t characterize the entire group, but the longer I have lived here, the more I think Hogs fans probably expect too much from their football program and aren’t nearly as loyal to the basketball program as some fan bases.
Still, as I wrote a few weeks ago, I feel for fans going through this football season. It’s tough and not something fans, especially older ones, have dealt with very often.
I can’t blame you if you don’t want to take your family of four a great distance to watch bad football or any of the sports. I have a family of four, and I know how much that costs. Being loyal is one thing, suffering is another.
That’s the state the football program. It’s rough when you get ready to watch a game knowing there is a good chance the team will lose. In some cases a very big chance like tomorrow against Auburn.
Players should know that fans don’t like to lose. It’s not personal, or at least it shouldn’t be.
If Morris is worried about “outside noise” he should ban players from social media. Nothing really good can come of it these days.
At the very least, they may be upset by what they see. It could also cause them to react which are even worse. The best policy is to ignore the mainstream and social media. It’s not a new concept. Plenty of coaches have that policy.
So, for the second time this season, I am defending Hogs fans.
Vent on the message boards, throw stuff at the TV … whatever it is you need to do. Go to the games or don’t. Watch them or not.
It’s your right as a fan, and you don’t owe the program anything.
