Missouri State has a Countdown Clock for their Rematch against the Arkansas Razorbacks

There are two types of rivalries in sports: Organic and Manufactured. Both can become very real and passionate. For example, the Arkansas Razorbacks/LSU Tigers rivalry in football started off manufactured, but has become very real for the fans of these teams. But there is something special about a rivalry that grows from just playing each other and being in close proximity to one another. That’s how the Bears and the Hogs have come to dislike each other. And it’s great.

37 days. That’s what the countdown clock on the top of the Missouri State University athletics page shows this morning. That’s how long until the Bears get a shot at the Arkansas Razorbacks again. I have to say, it feels almost like an honor to be the team that another team is gunning for. Is this how it feels to be Alabama football? I can see why they’re so cocky now. It’s easy get caught up in your own hype whenever someone else is doing the hyping.

I have to give credit to Hogville user A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S, a moderator of the baseball boards on the infamous Arkansas fan site. It was their post that brought my attention to this countdown clock. At first, I thought it was kinda silly and a little absurd that Missouri State would have that countdown clock. But the more I thought about last year’s Super Regional series with them, and how the games all ended, it started to make sense.

First off, Missouri State should have been hosting those games, and if they had played them at home they probably would have won the series. But the Bears share their stadium with a professional team, and the pros get preference. So the game was moved to NWA. There’s no doubt that the Razorback fans in attendance played a huge part in that series. I was there for the Friday and Saturday games, and it was the loudest and most crowded game I had ever experienced in Baum.

More razorbacks: What Do You Want to See in the Spring Game?

The series started off with MSU feeling wronged, and then Bears players letting the media know that they were not going to be intimidated by the Hogs or the loud fans. And, for the most part, they weren’t. But the Arkansas Razorbacks took the series 2-1 with a hard fought 3-2 win on June 7th, and moved on to the College World Series.

There’s no better way to start a rivalry in college baseball then to steal a team’s home field advantage and to prevent them from being in the College World Series all in one week. The one thing that I remember about the Missouri State fans in attendance were how passionate they were. When things were going their way, they were as loud as any visitor section I’ve heard in Baum.

But man, when things WEREN’T going their way? They got a little snippy. Look, it wasn’t OUR fault that your jerseys look like they were part of Larry the Cable Guy’s fall line of athletic clothing. Bears and urban camo totally go great together!

All joking aside, Missouri State is a really good baseball program, and it’s nice to see a rivalry grow naturally between two programs. The Bears still have 20+ games until they host the Razorbacks. MSU is sitting at 19-4 right now, and if both teams play their cards right, then this matchup could be seen by a lot of people.

May 3rd can’t get here fast enough.