Stages of a Dying Football Program

[HawgWild]

I think I've run the course.

[cj_sez]

Will never reach acceptance....the program can be resuscitated, but not by Bielema.

[Redhogs]

Anger 5 weeks ago, now just pure apathy....don't give a **** anymore until Bert is gone.

[SemperFi]

Acceptance and a lack of emotion. I rarely stood up last night because I knew that bad was coming and then it did. No surprise on my part at all.

[wachhog]

I've been fighting mad since April 3, 2012. That's a dam long time to harbor a grudge against an AD I've never even met.

[damgoodestuffyhog]

This is what it looks like when an administrator kills a coach and a fan base at the same time. Two for one for this snake.

[Tusks]

I've been fighting mad since April 3, 2012. That's a dam long time to harbor a grudge against an AD I've never even met.

I could drink beer with you.

[Vantage 8 dude]

Will never reach acceptance....the program can be resuscitated, but not by Bielema.

I most completely concur. While I'm beyond the boiling point of being pissed, I will NEVER EVER accept mediocrity (or worse). To do so one must be ready to just roll over and die. And I hope I have at least a few more good years before that happens. 

[ur]

I’ve been fighting mad since April 3, 2012. That’s a dam long time to harbor a grudge against an AD I’ve never even met.

12/05/07 for me.

[mlloyd4]

Acceptance

Year    Won    Lost    Tied    Coach
2016    7   6       Bret Bielema
2015    8   5       Bret Bielema
2014    7   6       Bret Bielema
2013    3   9       Bret Bielema   
2012    4   8       John L. Smith   
2011    11   2       Bobby Petrino
2010    10   3       Bobby Petrino
2009    8   5       Bobby Petrino
2008    5   7       Bobby Petrino   
2007    8   5       Houston Nutt
2006    10   4       Houston Nutt
2005    4   7       Houston Nutt
2004    5   6       Houston Nutt
2003    9   4       Houston Nutt
2002    9   5       Houston Nutt
2001    7   5       Houston Nutt
2000    6   6       Houston Nutt
1999    8   4       Houston Nutt
1998    9   3       Houston Nutt   
1997    4   7       Danny Ford
1996    4   7       Danny Ford
1995    8   5       Danny Ford
1994    4   7       Danny Ford
1993    6   4   1    Danny Ford
1992    3   7   1    Jack Crowe/Joe Kines
1991    6   6       Jack Crowe
1990    3   8       Jack Crowe

[IronHog]

This goes deeper than an academic AD and Midwest HC.


Hogs can make more money playing on campus but won't be able to maintain any semblance of a competitive team unless they keep HCs that can recruit regionally despite NWA.

Good luck with that

[davglo35]

Mine is sorrow and worry. Worry that we won't rid ourselves of the cancer that is BB.
Anyone with any decent football IQ can see we are like a hopeless meth head that is almost dead.

[orvillesghost]

Acceptance

Now I do think we can do better than what we are seeing under BB but...

I doubt Arkansas will ever win the SEC or be in the college football playoff

I hope for  a competitive program that can win seven or eight games most year maybe get up to 10 wins or so once in a decade

I think those are reasonable expectations for this program. We can certainly do better than 2-5.

[longbore]

Need a heart transplant and a couple of units of fresh blood.....

[007 License To Squeal]

Will never reach acceptance....the program can be resuscitated, but not by Bielema.

Agree.....I will never become a "settler"......I will never accept mediocrity...

[AirWarren]

Acceptance

Year    Won    Lost    Tied    Coach
2016    7   6       Bret Bielema
2015    8   5       Bret Bielema
2014    7   6       Bret Bielema
2013    3   9       Bret Bielema   
2012    4   8       John L. Smith   
2011    11   2       Bobby Petrino
2010    10   3       Bobby Petrino
2009    8   5       Bobby Petrino
2008    5   7       Bobby Petrino   
2007    8   5       Houston Nutt
2006    10   4       Houston Nutt
2005    4   7       Houston Nutt
2004    5   6       Houston Nutt
2003    9   4       Houston Nutt
2002    9   5       Houston Nutt
2001    7   5       Houston Nutt
2000    6   6       Houston Nutt
1999    8   4       Houston Nutt
1998    9   3       Houston Nutt   
1997    4   7       Danny Ford
1996    4   7       Danny Ford
1995    8   5       Danny Ford
1994    4   7       Danny Ford
1993    6   4   1    Danny Ford
1992    3   7   1    Jack Crowe/Joe Kines
1991    6   6       Jack Crowe
1990    3   8       Jack Crowe

Average program.

[Smalltownhog95]

I accept this team is dead in the water and i refuse to let myself be worked up again until we make a change. May or may not watch another game this year.

[OneTuskOverTheLine™]

Will never reach acceptance....the program can be resuscitated, but not by Bielema.

This. We are either one or many coaching changes away. Just keep swimming.

[HogAlum99]

Mine is anger. Been a Hog since before I can remember then graduated from UA in '99. I've tried going over to the "acceptance" level, but just can't cross over. I'm just mad and disgusted that the program is now at the level it is!

[Sow Lancelot]

Shock & Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression & Sorrow
Acceptance

Finding anything and everything to bitch about including the coach's choice of clothing.

Sheesh.

We sound like a bunch of 8th grade girls.

[Bacons Rebellion]

I laughed at us most of the game. Laughed at the offense's 3 and out after Richardson's interception COULD have given us a spark. Laughed at our pass protection. Laughed at our defense routinely taking each other out in 3's by running into each other without being blocked. Laughed at the replay officials taking back Auburn's first and goal when obviously they would just walk into the end zone the next play anyway. Then I felt bad when we made a stand. Laughed at Warren's wonderful kickoff return because we all knew its timing made it absolutely meaningless. Laughed at rushing 6 and coming close to hurrying the Auburn quarterback.

I guess laughing is my defense mechanism.

I did feel a bit sorry for Enos. What kind of plays can you call when you can't run and can't pass? I've been there and it's no fun.

[Wild Bill Hog]

Anger quickly fading to acceptance.

[Hoggish1]

Will never reach acceptance....the program can be resuscitated, but not by Bielema.

Acceptance applies to the way things are NOW not the way they would be under a new HC.

Fans who are in the final stage are in the acceptance mode.  It means they are saying we've given up.  Doesn't mean they've given up forever...

[PygmalionEffect2]

Bargaining

Holding out hope that a coaching change will get the program to a competitive level in the SEC, even if it takes a transition year or two.

[KennyForAD]

We are on Vandy's level.  Won't change for a long time, if ever.  Arkansas football is DEAD.  A thing of the past.

[RazorbackToTheFuture]

Invalid poll, no frito pie

[hogsanity]

Acceptance

Now I do think we can do better than what we are seeing under BB but...

I doubt Arkansas will ever win the SEC or be in the college football playoff

I hope for  a competitive program that can win seven or eight games most year maybe get up to 10 wins or so once in a decade

I think those are reasonable expectations for this program. We can certainly do better than 2-5.

Exactly what we have had since at east when we joined the sec. And I agree they can do better than what we have seen this year. 2015 was what most seasons will look like. 8 wins and managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victor. 

[The OTR]

Good poll.  Well done by the OP. 

Acceptance.  We all just need to accept our fate.  We are cursed.  I believe that Tom Penders' presence in the bowels of Barnhill arena has cast an evil curse on our athletic program. 

We need to move him and his tanning beds out of Barnhill once and for all.

Until then we need to acdept that bad things will continue to happen to our teams and there's not much we can do about it. 

[Hawgzinbowlz]

Acceptance???...Never.

" GO HOGS "

[rupert]

Wearing different uniforms---moving away from tradition is a stage of a dying program

[shown006]

The 2010 and 2011 years were good times. Glad I got to experience that.  Accepting the fact it's a longshot Hogs will ever go 21-5 again in 2 years.

[Porkchop#1]

I've been fighting mad since April 3, 2012. That's a dam long time to harbor a grudge against an AD I've never even met.

It is still amazing to me how badly that situation was handled.  Just baffling.  I said all along firing CBP was a real bad idea.

Lol at the knuckleheads who got drunk on Long on integrity.

[JONAS]

Anger 5 weeks ago, now just pure apathy....don't give a **** anymore until Bert is gone.

Yep.  I'm apathetic as well.

[Bonehog]

While I agree this is not acceptable performance I have always been of the mind set we are nothing but a spoiler in the SEC. We are never going to get a great coach because it requires great talent to make a coach great. What great coach would ever come to AR knowing they will always play for number 3 or 4 in the SEC west? They know that talent in AR is very low compared to other states. Sure you can pull a 4 star now and then but it takes 5 or 6 to even be in the ball game. Kids are willing to sit on the bench at Bama because they know it's a matter of time before they play in a playoff game or NC with all NFL watching. Why would a great back come and try to run behind a poor line, it makes them look bad. Same with many other impact positions on a team, they are called impact for a reason. I hate to say it but it's true. We are a One of those kit cars that look like a super car trying to compete with real super cars.

[grayhawg]

#1 fire a coach who getting the job done on the field, for lying.
#2 hire an interim coach who wound up being a joke
#3 hire a guy who wrote you a letter who sounded like a good hire.
#4 the big one? Hanging on to a good ole who was in over his head until he ran the program into the ground.

  And that's where we're at.

[ur]

#1 fire a coach who getting the job done on the field, for lying.
#2 hire an interim coach who wound up being a joke
#3 hire a guy who wrote you a letter who sounded like a good hire.
#4 the big one? Hanging on to a good ole who was in over his head until he ran the program into the ground.

  And that's where we're at.

All true. There is a pre-#1 Hiring Jim Grobe on 12/05/07. Thank goodness Jim changed his mind the next day. Any AD that thought Jim Grobe could lead a winning program in the sec does not belong at the University of Arkansas.

[Hoginsavga]

While I agree this is not acceptable performance I have always been of the mind set we are nothing but a spoiler in the SEC. We are never going to get a great coach because it requires great talent to make a coach great. What great coach would ever come to AR knowing they will always play for number 3 or 4 in the SEC west? They know that talent in AR is very low compared to other states. Sure you can pull a 4 star now and then but it takes 5 or 6 to even be in the ball game. Kids are willing to sit on the bench at Bama because they know it's a matter of time before they play in a playoff game or NC with all NFL watching. Why would a great back come and try to run behind a poor line, it makes them look bad. Same with many other impact positions on a team, they are called impact for a reason. I hate to say it but it's true. We are a One of those kit cars that look like a super car trying to compete with real super cars.

What would have Arkansas been had Frank Broyles never coached Arkansas? Arkansas became a charter member of the SWC in 1915. From 1915 through 1957 the Hogs won or tied the conference only three times. Why would a sensible coach take on that challenge? 

Well Frank Broyles took the challenge and through his coaching tenure and hiring Lou Holtz and Ken Hatfield won or tied for the SWC 10 Times from 1958 through 1991. The ironic thing is the University didn't change locations during 1915 through 1991. Neither did Texas, TCU, Baylor or other schools in the SWC. If anything competition got tougher as Houston and Texas Tech were added as members.

The point is Arkansas rose to sustained heights because of hiring the right coach that knew how to recruit, coach and find his replacements. The fact this was accompanied in the SWC doesn't diminish the significance of what was accomplished.

[Bonehog]

Any other team would have swept it under the rug, not us. That is why we will never be relevant. If you ain't cheating you ain't trying!  Why be scared of the " Death Penalty" think our record could be worse than 0-8 if we got it? 

[oldbooniehog]

Against SEC opponents, Arkansas' all-time "winning" percentage is about .470.

This, of course, includes games played back when Arkansas was still in the SWC. Still below .500.

25 years in the SEC.

0 Conference titles.

0-3 in SEC Title games, including two absolute beat-down blow-outs.

Failed to beat Florida until 2016.

The "best" coach during that 25-year span failed to beat Alabama, and finished 2nd or 3rd in the SEC West at the absolute mountain-top pinnacle of his success here.

Program been pretty much dead for a long, long time.