Why The Razorbacks Need to Beat Toledo Even More
Well Hog fans it’s time to end the week of celebration from the blowout UTEP game this past Saturday and move on to our next game against the mighty Toledo Rockets. In preparation leading up to the game, I followed my regular schedule of listening to my man John Nabors’ show “The Razorback Round Table” on ESPN 95. He and Dudley Dawson had a special interview for today’s show from the play by play voice of the Rockets, Mark Beier.
Nov 22, 2014; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks mascot Big Red performs before a game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas defeated Ole Miss 30-0. Mandatory Credit: Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports
Before the interview is aired, which due to Mark’s flight was a prerecorded interview, Nabors makes the comment “After hearing the interview, it will probably make Razorback fans want to beat Toledo even worse.” At this point I was intrigued greatly to hear why, as a Razorback fan, I would want to beat the Rockets more than. After all I was already certain that the Razorbacks would beat the team that lost to the powerhouse of Northern Illinois last year by a good margin, also known as a blowout.
Then the interview starts with Mr. Beier. It started, as most do, with an obvious question like “What is this teams strength? What do they need to do stop the Razorbacks?” To which Beier ,in his infinite wisdom, says, “Score.” Then, after continuing to list reasons why that is not going to happen and how Toledo has the same kind of depth like Arkansas at running back, the normal questions continue.
Nabors: “Now, how do you approach a game like this? As good as Toledo may be, they are playing a team like Arkansas, ranked in the top 25 and in the SEC. A lot of people even think that Arkansas could make a jump into winning the SEC west this year. So Toledo, as a team that may be out manned and out gunned, how do they approach this game? Do they go in with confidence, or do they just go in wanting to play their game and hopefully it works out for them?”
This is where things go from generic content, to a level of disrespect. Now was it a slightly loaded question? Yes. Did Nabors mean any disrespect? No.
Its obviously something anyone in a Power 5 would ask. It all sums up to “as a non-Power 5 team, is there a level of intimidation?” As a MAC west champion hopeful, it would be easy to say that “No there is no intimidation, but maybe a bit of desire to see what they can do up against a top ranked team like Arkansas.” However this is not the answer that leaves Razorback fans to want to beat Toledo even more than we thought they already would.
SPOILERS: The words “Quite Frankly” will be used.
Response in Whole.
Nov 22, 2014; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Jonathan Williams after the game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas defeated Mississippi 30-0. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Mark Beier: “Oh absolutely confident. John, you gotta know the history of Toledo. This is a program that has won at Penn State. At Michigan. Beat Colorado. Beaten number 9 Pitt at the glass bowl. Beat number 25 Cincinnati just a few years ago. This is their 3rd SEC opponent in the last the last 3 years. Played at Florida. Played at Mizzou and gave the tigers all they could handle 2 years ago. So, there is no intimidation factor as far as playing at Arkansas. Quite frankly, Arkansas is off to a very good start but it’s not like Arkansas has been a premier program in the SEC over the last few years.”
As a Hog fan I have to ask myself is there truth to the Razorbacks not being a “premier” team in the SEC? Yes.
Then I ask, “Is it O.K. for me to talk about my Hogs this way? Yes.”
“Is it O.K. for a MAC west hopeful, who only lead the powerhouse known as Stony Brook 16-7 at halftime, have the voice of the team to talk about my team like we are bottom feeders? NO!”
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Mr. Beier said “you have to know the history.” Well the history tells me that the “fearless” Rockets have 0 (that is not a single person) returning starters for their offensive line. This is laughable that an SEC defense would ‘intimidate’ a full line of new talent. Also, recent history tells me that the starting star RB is suspended for this game.
Now one might ask “Where is Toledo?”
Well noble reader of Razorbackers.com, that is in Ohio
One might then ask their self, “Why would someone from Ohio say Arkansas, even after blanking 2 ranked SEC opponents ,is not an opponent that should be feared by a team that lead Stony Brook 16-7 at the half last week?”
Sep 5, 2015; Fayetteville, AR, USA; UTEP Miners running back Treyvon Hughes (3) smiles to the fans during the game against the UTEP Miners at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The Razorbacks defeat the Miners 48-13. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s look at history this week. Being in Ohio, Beier is probably an Ohio state fan. Arkansas head coach and former BIG 10 champion Bret Bielema, earlier this week criticized the BIG 10 and national champion’s schedule. This might upset a fan of the Ohio state program, which is probably why Mark said this.
Why else?
John Nabors was right that after hearing this, I hope we annihilate the Rockets. We will.
Check out the full interview through the podcast from today’s show: https://soundcloud.com/razorbackroundtable/pocast-9112015