What I think is at the heart of what bothers those who back Mike

[hogsanity]

What they really can not deal with is how little the fan base cares for Hog basketball. It is why they always try to compare it to football. They remember the days when BWA was full, and loud, and how the Hogs games were often in the A block on ESPN, and getting the marquee slot on Super Bowl Sunday. Now, then place is 40% full, never gets close to loud, only gets on ESPN if they lose to a crappy team like Mizzu, plays games at 5pm, or 8pm, or 4pm on a Saturday. They want to keep Mike because he is the last link to that era they long for so much. It is why they grasp at the next recruiting class, or the one after that, just hoping that finally Mike will catch lightning in a bottle once more time. The keep buying season tickets because they want to have their place when/if the magic return to bwa. They do not want to admit the college basketball world is different than it was a generation ago. With every game on TV, one and done's, hand held electronics, more things for people to do, kids not interested in the game, quality of play not what it was, and a host of other things that have changed the game forever. At the heart of it, that is what drives them.

[Knot2brite]

There was a time when I would not miss a single razorback game of any sport. If they were on tv, I was watching. But before the 24/7 sports networks, most of their games were only on the radio and I listened. Not just basketball but every sport. Baseball was the hardest to find most of the time but I would drive to the top of Rich Mountain to be able to pick up the games in my dad's truck. After the Nolan fiasco I just stopped caring eventually with Heath and Pel. I still watch every football game even after Nutt because BP and BB had some success and i watched all the games last year in the worst baseball season in almost 20 years. But I didn't watch half the basketball games because I had watched the same thing over and over. I have watched every game that has been on tv this season for basketball because I believe (present tense...and until it is proven otherwise) that this team is tourney capable. But I won't lie ...my faith is stretched really really thin.

[LRHawg]

hoping that finally Mike will catch lightning in a bottle once more time.

When did he catch lightening in a bottle? When he was Nolan's assistant? Or, are you referring to the one year we went to the Dance with him as the coach?

[The_Iceman]

16,000 showed up to the LSU game a few weekends ago. Next Saturday vs. Ole Miss, they will be lucky to have 5,000. This fan base is hungry for good basketball. Mediocre Mike isn't providing that. Fans are demanding a new coach thru their interest and attendance. Time to let Mike go and get a quality head coach.

[Kevin]

Win, be ranked, fans will show up

[Biggus Piggus]

Win, be ranked, fans will show up

That's the problem. To get to that level, they need fan support. Mike Anderson would not energize the fan base if you put 10,000 volts through him.

[bkjbearcat]

16,000 showed up to the LSU game a few weekends ago. Next Saturday vs. Ole Miss, they will be lucky to have 5,000. This fan base is hungry for good basketball. Mediocre Mike isn't providing that. Fans are demanding a new coach thru their interest and attendance. Time to let Mike go and get a quality head coach.

People DO want a good basketball program. Fan want what Oklahoma, Wisconsin,  Wichita State, Butler, VCU, West Virginia had. To get back to the Final Four again in their lifetime. Those teams mentioned are not elite programs. But their good. With good HC's who people can see getting back to the FF someday. Why can't Arkansas be West Virginia or Oklahoma?

[hogsanity]

There was a time when I would not miss a single razorback game of any sport. If they were on tv, I was watching. But before the 24/7 sports networks, most of their games were only on the radio and I listened. Not just basketball but every sport. Baseball was the hardest to find most of the time but I would drive to the top of Rich Mountain to be able to pick up the games in my dad's truck. After the Nolan fiasco I just stopped caring eventually with Heath and Pel. I still watch every football game even after Nutt because BP and BB had some success and i watched all the games last year in the worst baseball season in almost 20 years. But I didn't watch half the basketball games because I had watched the same thing over and over. I have watched every game that has been on tv this season for basketball because I believe (present tense...and until it is proven otherwise) that this team is tourney capable. But I won't lie ...my faith is stretched really really thin.

I was the same way. Can't remember the year but it was between 94 and 99, they played in a holiday tournament in Hawaii, not the one ESPN normally shows, it was not on a TV channel I could get. I stayed up listening to the games on the radio at like 3am.

When did he catch lightening in a bottle? When he was Nolan's assistant? Or, are you referring to the one year we went to the Dance with him as the coach?

I just mean hoping he is the one to have a year that is really great, to keep the connection to Nolan going. They will be a bit sad if it is a coach with no ties to Nolan having a great year because it will be the start of a new era, not a tie to the old.

16,000 showed up to the LSU game a few weekends ago. Next Saturday vs. Ole Miss, they will be lucky to have 5,000. This fan base is hungry for good basketball. Mediocre Mike isn't providing that. Fans are demanding a new coach thru their interest and attendance. Time to let Mike go and get a quality head coach.

This is just about what drives those who still TRULY think Mike is the answer. I agree, most fans just want wins, they are past the point of caring who the coach is that gets them there.

[Mr. Porkleone]

That's the problem. To get to that level, they need fan support. Mike Anderson would not energize the fan base if you put 10,000 volts through him.

I highly doubt he'd beat that bear he talked about 6 years ago

[Atlhogfan1]

What they really can not deal with is how little the fan base cares for Hog basketball. It is why they always try to compare it to football. They remember the days when BWA was full, and loud, and how the Hogs games were often in the A block on ESPN, and getting the marquee slot on Super Bowl Sunday. Now, then place is 40% full, never gets close to loud, only gets on ESPN if they lose to a crappy team like Mizzu, plays games at 5pm, or 8pm, or 4pm on a Saturday. They want to keep Mike because he is the last link to that era they long for so much. It is why they grasp at the next recruiting class, or the one after that, just hoping that finally Mike will catch lightning in a bottle once more time. The keep buying season tickets because they want to have their place when/if the magic return to bwa. They do not want to admit the college basketball world is different than it was a generation ago. With every game on TV, one and done's, hand held electronics, more things for people to do, kids not interested in the game, quality of play not what it was, and a host of other things that have changed the game forever. At the heart of it, that is what drives them.

It's a deflection attempt to deflect criticism away.

There is also a jealousy which goes back to Nolan and Frank's treatment of Nolan vs Nutt. 


The potential and competition faced by our football and basketball programs doesn't change with coaches.  Discussing these situations should be exclusive of who the coach is.  Bring them in when you evaluate how each are doing under the circumstances.


What we have is fans of coaches leading them to biased ridiculous arguments instead of taking the programs' potentials and evaluating the coaches against them. 


Four figures in Arkansas sports are the main ones affecting this current conversation:

Long
Petrino
Bielema
Anderson


We know we have a group mad at Long for firing Petrino (ex: Eastex).  To diminish anything Long's choice Bielema may accomplish and make his failures bigger, this group heads down the path of how accomplishing something in football is easier ie make a bowl game.  It also goes beyond just the football vs basketball thing Anderson supporters keep trying to drag in.  Anderson gives the Long haters more to whine about. 

If Petrino were to return as coach, suddenly SEC football would be much tougher in their opinion.

In basketball, we know their NCAAT argument and how they try to make the making a bowl comparison.  If you brought Pelphrey back, or if it were any other coach than Anderson, this argument would immediately reverse.  SEC basketball would in their opinion be awful and making the NCAAT easy. 


If you look at outsiders, media, you would find in current pieces about college football conferences the discussion is the SEC still the best.  "Is the ACC better than the SEC?"  "Is the Big 10 better than the SEC?"  Always the standard by which others are judged: SEC football.  Where we try to compete.  Compete from a state which produced 1 4 star recruit who is eligible. 

In contrast, the SEC basketball narrative at best is "Is the conference improving?"  or "the SEC is the 5th best conference!".  The depth of competition faced is ridiculously lower. 

Neither of these situations would change if Bielema and Anderson are fired.

[Biggus Piggus]

That's a good summation, Atl. I wish we could have straightforward discussions without all these Franking rectums doing their hypersensitive defend-my-bias deflection warfare bullshart.

[Atlhogfan1]

Once you get to the point you are having these discussions over sound bytes, it is hard for a coach to win back support. 

[DLUXHOG]

<1976 - nothing much was cooking....
1976–77 Eddie Sutton 26–2 16–0 1st NCAA First Round
1977–78 Eddie Sutton 32–4 14–2 T-1st NCAA National Semifinal
1978–79 Eddie Sutton 25–5 13–3 T-1st NCAA Regional Final
1979–80 Eddie Sutton 21–8 13–3 2nd NCAA First Round
1980–81 Eddie Sutton 24–8 13–3 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1981–82 Eddie Sutton 23–6 12–4 1st NCAA First Round
1982–83 Eddie Sutton 26–4 14–2 2nd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1983–84 Eddie Sutton 25–7 14–2 2nd NCAA First Round
1984–85 Eddie Sutton 22–13 10–6 2nd NCAA Second Round
1985–86 Nolan Richardson 12–16 4–12 7th N/A
1986–87 Nolan Richardson 19–14 8–8 5th NIT Second Round
1987–88 Nolan Richardson 21–9 11–5 T-2nd NCAA First Round
1988–89 Nolan Richardson 25–7 13–3 1st NCAA Second Round
1989–90 Nolan Richardson 30–5 14–2 1st NCAA National Semifinal
1990–91 Nolan Richardson 34–4 15–1 1st NCAA Elite Eight
1991–92 Nolan Richardson 26–8 13–3 1st NCAA Second Round
1992–93 Nolan Richardson 22–9 10–6 3rd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1993–94 Nolan Richardson 31–3 14–2 1st NCAA National Champion
1994–95 Nolan Richardson 32–7 12–4 T-1st (West) NCAA National Final
1995–96 Nolan Richardson 20–13 9–7 T-2nd (West) NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1996–97 Nolan Richardson 18–14 8–8 2nd (West) NIT Semifinals
1997–98 Nolan Richardson 24–9 11–5 2nd (West) NCAA Second Round
1998–99 Nolan Richardson 23–11 9–7 2nd (West) NCAA Second Round
1999–00 Nolan Richardson 19–15 7–9 3rd (West) NCAA First Round
2000–01 Nolan Richardson 20–11 10–6 2nd (West) NCAA First Round
>2001 - nothing much has happened.....

[ifghog]

<1976 - nothing much was cooking....
1976–77 Eddie Sutton 26–2 16–0 1st NCAA First Round
1977–78 Eddie Sutton 32–4 14–2 T-1st NCAA National Semifinal
1978–79 Eddie Sutton 25–5 13–3 T-1st NCAA Regional Final
1979–80 Eddie Sutton 21–8 13–3 2nd NCAA First Round
1980–81 Eddie Sutton 24–8 13–3 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1981–82 Eddie Sutton 23–6 12–4 1st NCAA First Round
1982–83 Eddie Sutton 26–4 14–2 2nd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1983–84 Eddie Sutton 25–7 14–2 2nd NCAA First Round
1984–85 Eddie Sutton 22–13 10–6 2nd NCAA Second Round
1985–86 Nolan Richardson 12–16 4–12 7th N/A
1986–87 Nolan Richardson 19–14 8–8 5th NIT Second Round
1987–88 Nolan Richardson 21–9 11–5 T-2nd NCAA First Round
1988–89 Nolan Richardson 25–7 13–3 1st NCAA Second Round
1989–90 Nolan Richardson 30–5 14–2 1st NCAA National Semifinal
1990–91 Nolan Richardson 34–4 15–1 1st NCAA Elite Eight
1991–92 Nolan Richardson 26–8 13–3 1st NCAA Second Round
1992–93 Nolan Richardson 22–9 10–6 3rd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1993–94 Nolan Richardson 31–3 14–2 1st NCAA National Champion
1994–95 Nolan Richardson 32–7 12–4 T-1st (West) NCAA National Final
1995–96 Nolan Richardson 20–13 9–7 T-2nd (West) NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1996–97 Nolan Richardson 18–14 8–8 2nd (West) NIT Semifinals
1997–98 Nolan Richardson 24–9 11–5 2nd (West) NCAA Second Round
1998–99 Nolan Richardson 23–11 9–7 2nd (West) NCAA Second Round
1999–00 Nolan Richardson 19–15 7–9 3rd (West) NCAA First Round
2000–01 Nolan Richardson 20–11 10–6 2nd (West) NCAA First Round
>2001 - nothing much has happened.....

Wow....I see why we were feeling a bit entitled.....this has been a rough 17 years

[DLUXHOG]

Wow....I see why we were feeling a bit entitled.....this has been a rough 17 years

No.... look again....  24+ Consecutive years of NCAA presence.....

[huntindoc]

<1976 - nothing much was cooking....
1976–77 Eddie Sutton 26–2 16–0 1st NCAA First Round
1977–78 Eddie Sutton 32–4 14–2 T-1st NCAA National Semifinal
1978–79 Eddie Sutton 25–5 13–3 T-1st NCAA Regional Final
1979–80 Eddie Sutton 21–8 13–3 2nd NCAA First Round
1980–81 Eddie Sutton 24–8 13–3 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1981–82 Eddie Sutton 23–6 12–4 1st NCAA First Round
1982–83 Eddie Sutton 26–4 14–2 2nd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1983–84 Eddie Sutton 25–7 14–2 2nd NCAA First Round
1984–85 Eddie Sutton 22–13 10–6 2nd NCAA Second Round
1985–86 Nolan Richardson 12–16 4–12 7th N/A
1986–87 Nolan Richardson 19–14 8–8 5th NIT Second Round
1987–88 Nolan Richardson 21–9 11–5 T-2nd NCAA First Round
1988–89 Nolan Richardson 25–7 13–3 1st NCAA Second Round
1989–90 Nolan Richardson 30–5 14–2 1st NCAA National Semifinal
1990–91 Nolan Richardson 34–4 15–1 1st NCAA Elite Eight
1991–92 Nolan Richardson 26–8 13–3 1st NCAA Second Round
1992–93 Nolan Richardson 22–9 10–6 3rd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1993–94 Nolan Richardson 31–3 14–2 1st NCAA National Champion
1994–95 Nolan Richardson 32–7 12–4 T-1st (West) NCAA National Final
1995–96 Nolan Richardson 20–13 9–7 T-2nd (West) NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1996–97 Nolan Richardson 18–14 8–8 2nd (West) NIT Semifinals
1997–98 Nolan Richardson 24–9 11–5 2nd (West) NCAA Second Round
1998–99 Nolan Richardson 23–11 9–7 2nd (West) NCAA Second Round
1999–00 Nolan Richardson 19–15 7–9 3rd (West) NCAA First Round
2000–01 Nolan Richardson 20–11 10–6 2nd (West) NCAA First Round
>2001 - nothing much has happened.....

This is the Razorback Basketball legacy.....22 NCAA tourney appearances in 25 years, 4 final fours including a championship, a runner up(and winning the last 3rd place game),  2 Elite Eights, 4 Sweet 16's and 6 times to the second round. 

This is why people my age expect more than making the tournament half the time.  This was not a freak event.  This was sustained excellence over a quarter of a century and 2 very different coaches. 

I know lots of things have changed since then but not THAT much.  Not enough to be tolerant of one trip to the NCAA and one NCAA win in 6 years. 

[LRHawg]

exactly. There's a reason many of us expect to be in the tourney 3-4 years, and that is because we were spoiled! But still, we have to get back at least to going to the tournament frequently. I can live with that.

[Athog]

That's the problem. To get to that level, they need fan support. Mike Anderson would not energize the fan base if you put 10,000 volts through him.

Wining cures all!

[rzrbk4life]

<1976 - nothing much was cooking....
1976–77 Eddie Sutton 26–2 16–0 1st NCAA First Round
1977–78 Eddie Sutton 32–4 14–2 T-1st NCAA National Semifinal
1978–79 Eddie Sutton 25–5 13–3 T-1st NCAA Regional Final
1979–80 Eddie Sutton 21–8 13–3 2nd NCAA First Round
1980–81 Eddie Sutton 24–8 13–3 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1981–82 Eddie Sutton 23–6 12–4 1st NCAA First Round
1982–83 Eddie Sutton 26–4 14–2 2nd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1983–84 Eddie Sutton 25–7 14–2 2nd NCAA First Round
1984–85 Eddie Sutton 22–13 10–6 2nd NCAA Second Round
1985–86 Nolan Richardson 12–16 4–12 7th N/A
1986–87 Nolan Richardson 19–14 8–8 5th NIT Second Round
1987–88 Nolan Richardson 21–9 11–5 T-2nd NCAA First Round
1988–89 Nolan Richardson 25–7 13–3 1st NCAA Second Round
1989–90 Nolan Richardson 30–5 14–2 1st NCAA National Semifinal
1990–91 Nolan Richardson 34–4 15–1 1st NCAA Elite Eight
1991–92 Nolan Richardson 26–8 13–3 1st NCAA Second Round
1992–93 Nolan Richardson 22–9 10–6 3rd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1993–94 Nolan Richardson 31–3 14–2 1st NCAA National Champion
1994–95 Nolan Richardson 32–7 12–4 T-1st (West) NCAA National Final
1995–96 Nolan Richardson 20–13 9–7 T-2nd (West) NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1996–97 Nolan Richardson 18–14 8–8 2nd (West) NIT Semifinals
1997–98 Nolan Richardson 24–9 11–5 2nd (West) NCAA Second Round
1998–99 Nolan Richardson 23–11 9–7 2nd (West) NCAA Second Round
1999–00 Nolan Richardson 19–15 7–9 3rd (West) NCAA First Round
2000–01 Nolan Richardson 20–11 10–6 2nd (West) NCAA First Round
>2001 - nothing much has happened.....

Man that's depressing. But just goes to show you it cant be done at Arkansas...with the right coach

[Inhogswetrust]

No.... look again....  24+ Consecutive years of NCAA presence.....

That's kind of what Atlhogfan1 touched on when he said:

"The potential and competition faced by our football and basketball programs doesn't change with coaches.  Discussing these situations should be exclusive of who the coach is.  Bring them in when you evaluate how each are doing under the circumstances. What we have is fans of coaches leading them to biased ridiculous arguments instead of taking the programs' potentials and evaluating the coaches against them."

The bolded parts are my emphasis. I think you are trying to say the same thing.

[The_Iceman]

That's the problem. To get to that level, they need fan support. Mike Anderson would not energize the fan base if you put 10,000 volts through him.

He is getting older and he is too comfortable where he is at. Has nothing left to prove. Making a ton of money at his dream job. Has no fire left.

That, on top of being a terrible fundamentals and game plan coach. And really not a good recruiter or roster manager either.

One trick pony whose trick is gone.

[cardsNhogs]

16,000 showed up to the LSU game a few weekends ago. Next Saturday vs. Ole Miss, they will be lucky to have 5,000. This fan base is hungry for good basketball. Mediocre Mike isn't providing that. Fans are demanding a new coach thru their interest and attendance. Time to let Mike go and get a quality head coach.

exactly! Anytime we get on a mini roll that place is close to full and ready to explode but then a bad loss always happens  and then another. Hire a good Coach. Let him get us to top 25 status again and BWA will be back!

[elksnort]

What I would like to see is a discussion of what we see on the floor during the games.

My and many of your's best example: Continuing to trap, double, etc. thereby leaving wide open 3 shooters from the 3 point line.

Also, the school yard offensive trips down the court. What in the heck are they trying to do? Every once in awhile I see a beautiful pass from Moses to someone cutting to the basket. But these are few and far between.

Anyway, my point is why can't the CMA defenders talk actual basketball? Seriously! Let's forget the coach has a name. Let's call him coach X. And let's be objective.

It would really make this board more enjoyable, instead of the blind loyalty, race baiting, people calling you haters, etc.

Can they talk basketball?

[lutherheggs]

That's the problem. To get to that level, they need fan support. Mike Anderson would not energize the fan base if you put 10,000 volts through him.

Could they at least try that on Mike?

[Peter Porker]

What they really can not deal with is how little the fan base cares for Hog basketball. It is why they always try to compare it to football. They remember the days when BWA was full, and loud, and how the Hogs games were often in the A block on ESPN, and getting the marquee slot on Super Bowl Sunday. Now, then place is 40% full, never gets close to loud, only gets on ESPN if they lose to a crappy team like Mizzu, plays games at 5pm, or 8pm, or 4pm on a Saturday. They want to keep Mike because he is the last link to that era they long for so much. It is why they grasp at the next recruiting class, or the one after that, just hoping that finally Mike will catch lightning in a bottle once more time. The keep buying season tickets because they want to have their place when/if the magic return to bwa. They do not want to admit the college basketball world is different than it was a generation ago. With every game on TV, one and done's, hand held electronics, more things for people to do, kids not interested in the game, quality of play not what it was, and a host of other things that have changed the game forever. At the heart of it, that is what drives them.

For some that may be the case, for others it's just skin deep.

[DLUXHOG]

Man that's depressing. But just goes to show you it cant be done at Arkansas...with the right coach

Depressing?   Look at our records before 1976....... brings one to tears.........   Sutton drove a stake in the ground and turned it around and then Nolan took it all the rest of the way... it was lightning in a bottle for 20-some years....

[hawginbigd1]

Depressing?   Look at our records before 1976....... brings one to tears.........   Sutton drove a stake in the ground and turned it around and then Nolan took it all the rest of the way... it was lightning in a bottle for 20-some years....

That's the point it was not lightning in a bottle, it was the proven capabilities of the program. My Fandom started with super Sid in 78-79, my expectation as a fan is to be in the tournament 9 out of 10, because I know it can be done.