Conundrum

[PLHawg]

So as a lifelong fan (50 years) I have conflicting emotions the rest of the season.  I obviously want us to do well and win games, but I also don't want us to do so well as to give a reason for Long to keep CBB around for another year.  I have a bad feeling if we somehow finish 6-6 it will be just enough for him to linger here another year.  What to do?

[(notOM)Rebel123]

It'll be like having to deal with Aunt Bea making pickles...in the end, Andy told Barney, "Well, there's only one thing to do. It's what we should have done in the first place.....learn to love 'em."

[Arthur pigby sellers.]

Don't worry about it either way. You have no control over what happens.

....and remember this team has shown great ability to lose games.  They are excellent at blowing leads and almost never capitalize on opportunities.  They will definitely lose to auburn and LSU and at least one of the Missouri and ole miss games.

[go hogues]

So as a lifelong fan (50 years) I have conflicting emotions the rest of the season.  I obviously want us to do well and win games, but I also don't want us to do so well as to give a reason for Long to keep CBB around for another year.  I have a bad feeling if we somehow finish 6-6 it will be just enough for him to linger here another year.  What to do?

Rest easy. Only game we'll win going forward is Coastal Carolina.

[ipigsooie]

It seems to me that even at 6-6 that would leave us with and sec record of 3-5 in a down year of the sec. His overall record in the sec should be enough imo.

[Boardon Hamsay]

This is an interesting fan catch 22. I saw a thread the other day where someone was labeled as "rooting against the Hogs" because they wanted a staff change.  It seems like those calling for immediate change would need to sacrifice a few more wins and/or short term "rooting" to ensure the best possible chance of said change actualizing.  If you continue to root for the Hogs and we win, those wanting change are less likely to get it. Very curious to understand the "etiquette" here, for lack of better words, because I'm sure Hogville will need to properly label fans according to their level of always rooting for the Hogs to win vs wanting a coaching change.

[From Tusk Till Dawn]

Coaches come and go, rooting against your team is a "fair weather" move.  The players deserve better.

[Sow’sEar]

It'll be like having to deal with Aunt Bea making pickles...in the end, Andy told Barney, "Well, there's only one thing to do. It's what we should have done in the first place.....learn to love 'em."

LOL!

[hogsanity]

If you've gotten to the point that you can not easily root for your team to win you have lost the perspective of being a fan.

[greenie]

It'll be like having to deal with Aunt Bea making pickles...in the end, Andy told Barney, "Well, there's only one thing to do. It's what we should have done in the first place.....learn to love 'em."

Now that's funny.  Nice job, brother.

[Ex-Trumpet]

It'll be like having to deal with Aunt Bea making pickles...in the end, Andy told Barney, "Well, there's only one thing to do. It's what we should have done in the first place.....learn to love 'em."

I think we're probably more akin to Barney carrying an empty gun around with him all the time.

[hoggusamoungus]

Coaches come and go, rooting against your team is a "fair weather" move.  The players deserve better.

Exactly.  I want them to win every game they play, especially AU, and whatever happens with the coaching situation happens. 

[PLHawg]

I would never root against the Hogs, never.  As a kid I used to literally cry when we lost a game, especially against Texas - and I still don't act very nice as a 53 year old.  As an alum, foundation member and season ticket holder I want the best for my team, which has me really conflicted right now because I believe our current coach is falling way short in that regard.  I not only see a sub-par product and performance on the field, but I see a coach on the sidelines with absolutely no passion.  I see a coach who has been in way over his head from the get-go and don't see that changing any time soon.  I have no confidence in Jeff Long to make the tough decision - the only way I see a new start for this team is 5-7 or worse, Long will do everything in his power to keep CBB, and next year we'll have more of the same.  Time to rip the band-aid off and let the healing begin.

[Hoggish1]

There is no conundrum here.  What will happen will happen.  And your wishes or fears have nothing to do with the outcome of the coming game or of CBB's future.

If you are a Hog fan you root for the team.

[Pig in the Pokey]

So as a lifelong fan (50 years) I have conflicting emotions the rest of the season.  I obviously want us to do well and win games, but I also don't want us to do so well as to give a reason for Long to keep CBB around for another year.  I have a bad feeling if we somehow finish 6-6 it will be just enough for him to linger here another year.  What to do?

IT DOESNT MATTER JUST ROOT FOR THE HOGS, FATTY IS DONE AND THE NEW GUY IS LINED UP.

[Vantage 8 dude]

Don't worry about it either way. You have no control over what happens.

....and remember this team has shown great ability to lose games.  They are excellent at blowing leads and almost never capitalize on opportunities.  They will definitely lose to auburn and LSU and at least one of the Missouri and ole miss games.

Totally agree with your first two comments. While I'm discouraged and upset at the direction of the program over the past several years, I've tried my best to put it into perspective. I can't do a darn thing about it. I can express my opinions/concerns; I can continue to support the team to the best of my ability (and will certainly do so); however, in the end the ultimate decision(s) of what happens going forward is completely out of my hands. There are far too many other things to be concerned about it this world. Some I have some control over; others I can't influence. The ones that I can I'll do my best to deal with. Otherwise, the rest is all noise.

[The NewEra]

So as a lifelong fan (50 years) I have conflicting emotions the rest of the season.  I obviously want us to do well and win games, but I also don't want us to do so well as to give a reason for Long to keep CBB around for another year.  I have a bad feeling if we somehow finish 6-6 it will be just enough for him to linger here another year.  What to do?

I have gone through these mixed emotions myself and there is one glaring reason for that.  My confidence level that Bielema can maintain a program that is on an upward trajectory is at absolute zero.  I also have very little confidence that if we hire a new coach that he'll be the guy to take us to the next level.  Jeff hasn't excited me with some of the names he apparently missed the last time around and the names I see being floated around don't excite me either.  So, I'm going to pull for this team to win each of the next seven games.  That will match my preseason projection.  It also means we have beaten Auburn and Gus who I loathe and it would be fun to throw gas under the flames currently under his butt.  Can you imagine the decibel level in Auburn if this lowly Arkansas team beat them?  LSU is another program that it would be fun to beat this year for the same reasons.  Ole Miss is a dirt bag of a program and Missouri needs an Arkansas ass whooping if for no other reason than to momentarily silence their Linebacker.  It would also send Hogville into a tizzy fit and that would be epic to watch.  What would Ward have to do with his time then?

Do I believe any of this will happen?  Absolutely Not!  The odds are sure against it but it does allow me to look forward to the games and pull for an Arkansas win, but not be down in the dumps if they don't.  The rest of this season is up to the players and the coaches as it should be.

[Grunt]

Coaches come and go, rooting against your team is a "fair weather" move.  The players deserve better.

Do they?

[Grunt]

If you've gotten to the point that you can not easily root for your team to win you have lost the perspective of being a fan.

Disagree.

[007 License To Squeal]

When I was a kid, my family used to go down to the river bottoms in SE Arkansas for family picnics.  On one such trip, my two brothers and I were playing around an old slough while my Mother was getting the sandwiches and drinks ready for us.  Suddenly, one of my younger brothers yelled out "I stepped on a thorn"!! 

My Dad, after taking a look at it, said "OK, Son, I'll have to remove it so that it won't become infected and make you sick or worse".  Of course my brother, although he was already hurting,  didn't like that idea because he was afraid of the pain of the thorn removal.  My Dad said "Sometimes, we have to endure a short time of pain in order to stop a much bigger problem later".

I think our coach is the thorn......and he must be removed to save the long term health of the once healthy Razorback program......

[PLHawg]

When I was a kid, my family used to go down to the river bottoms in SE Arkansas for family picnics.  On one such trip, my two brothers and I were playing around an old slough while my Mother was getting the sandwiches and drinks ready for us.  Suddenly, one of my younger brothers yelled out "I stepped on a thorn"!! 

My Dad, after taking a look at it, said "OK, Son, I'll have to remove it so that it won't become infected and make you sick or worse".  Of course my brother, although he was already hurting,  didn't like that idea because he was afraid of the pain of the thorn removal.  My Dad said "Sometimes, we have to endure a short time of pain in order to stop a much bigger problem later".

I think our coach is the thorn......and he must be removed to save the long term health of the once healthy Razorback program......

Perfect analogy

[007 License To Squeal]

Perfect analogy

and true story.  I've thought about that many times during my lifetime....

[HotlantaHog]

It's always good if the Hogs win.

Losses could accelerate the demise of CBB, but there is no guarantee the next coach will be better.

So just back the Hogs and hope for the best.

Nutt left after the Hogs beat a No.1 ranked team, and were 8-4 if I recall right. So turning around the season may not be enough in year 5 unless there is reason to think year 6 will be a lot better.

[Inhogswetrust]

Conundrum is good wine.

[hoghiker]

Coaches come and go, rooting against your team is a "fair weather" move.  The players deserve better.

Have never, will never root against the Hogs. Not sure why anyone would.

[Vantage 8 dude]

Have never, will never root against the Hogs. Not sure why anyone would.

Easy. For a start: personal agenda.

[HawgTide]

There is no conundrum here.  What will happen will happen.  And your wishes or fears have nothing to do with the outcome of the coming game or of CBB's future.

If you are a Hog fan you root for the team.

There you go. It's really simple

[DoctorSusscrofa]

No matter what happens, we won't end up with a great coach and highly successful team. Root for the Hogs to win each game.  If we lose enough, we'll just start over with someone that won't do much, if any, better. 

[micali]

I never wish the hogs to lose just don't have much hope of them winning anymore.  What I don't get is if we go 5-7 how are we as fans supposed to get excited about next year?  If Bret is still here what hope do we have that things will be better?  He has shown one year that he approved over the previous year but now I've seen nothing that shows we are on the rise.  It's sad when I have to tell my kid "don't expect our HOGS to win a NC and once you except this you won't be so disappointed"  Now that is just sad.

[From Tusk Till Dawn]

Do they?

You ended with a question mark so I guess I'm up again.  You werent specific but I'm going guess you are aware that coaches don't last forever so by "they" you were likely referring to our players.  So here's my take, do with it what you choose.  The Razorbacks are Arkansas.  You hear posters on this site that have been fans for 40-50+ years.  You see heated debates over our coach because everyone loves this team.  Players at this level typically have multiple offers and they choose us, they put it all on the line for the fans and the state of Arkansas in the hope that they can be successful and maybe get to the next level.  I think of guys recently like Jonathan Williams, Kody Walker, and RWIII.   Do you think those guys would hope you would support them through the good and bad OR do you think they would be understanding that you just dont like the coach so its ok if you want them to lose.  I tend to agree with the former vs the latter.  Everyone gets their own opinion feel free to disagree.

[GuvHog]

IT DOESNT MATTER JUST ROOT FOR THE HOGS, FATTY IS DONE AND THE NEW GUY IS LINED UP.

I do agree that Bret is done no matter how many games the Hogs win the rest of the season but I doubt they have the new guy lined up.

As I stated in another thread, I always pull for the Hogs to win no matter what.

[GunnerHawg70]

If you've gotten to the point that you can not easily root for your team to win you have lost the perspective of being a fan.

BINGO!!!!

[East Clintwood]

Coaches come and go, rooting against your team is a "fair weather" move.  The players deserve better.

Yes, but in addition to fan support, they also deserve a competent coaching staff.  This team hasn't had one for quite awhile.  It's time for change.

[Seebs]

Understand, either way, you have no control on the outcome. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

[From Tusk Till Dawn]

Yes, but in addition to fan support, they also deserve a competent coaching staff.  This team hasn't had one for quite awhile.  It's time for change.
[/quote

Sorry thought I was pretty clear when I said coaches come and go.  But I think what you really mean to say is that YOU think its time for a change which really has zero to do with my point.  You can not like the coach all day but when that turns into rooting against the team I suggest you make a change.  It is a free country, you can always go watch the red wolves, I think they are doing pretty well this year.

[Vantage 8 dude]

No matter what happens, we won't end up with a great coach and highly successful team. Root for the Hogs to win each game.  If we lose enough, we'll just start over with someone that won't do much, if any, better.

Well I most certainly WON'T agree with you on that. IF you truly feel that we can't do much better then I suggest you turn in your "fan" shirt. I, for one, strongly believe we CAN (and hopefully will).

[(notOM)Rebel123]

Now that's funny.  Nice job, brother.

Ha! Well, there is an Andy Griffith episode that deals with most any life experience.
But if Andy & Barn' didn't deal with it, then Seinfeld probably did.