Arkansas fans have scoffed at the Battle Line Rivalry the Razorbacks were forced into with MIZZOU but is it time to start taking it seriously?
There is no question that Missouri is the red-headed stepchild of the SEC. Because of this, many fans like myself felt disrespected when it was announced that the Tigers would be the Arkansas opponent during rivalry week.
I wanted to go Obi-Wan Kenobi on the committee with a “These are not the Tigers you’re looking for.” Razorback fans wanted LSU. Period. Although LSU may see the Hogs as somewhat of a rival, there’s not nearly the intensity in the bayou as there is on the hill.
Look in the Mirror
It’s time to dig deep Razorback fans and look within. Repeat aloud, “Arkansas has been the red-headed stepchild in the SEC since 1992.” We may get to chant “S-E-C” at our bowl games and have caused a bit of disruption in the conference over the years but no one cares about us. It’s the truth we hardly accept or ever say. Even back to the days of the SWC, Arkansas was viewed as an outsider.
So now that MIZZOU is receiving the same treatment the Razorbacks did for many years, we have two choices. One we can be a part of the mob mentality and chant with everyone else that MIZZOU doesn’t belong in our clubhouse. Or, we could instead say, “you know, this was us for many years and it sucks so let’s be the team to actually embrace the bullied Tigers.”
The most common thing I hear about the rivalry is, “you can’t manufacture a rivalry.” Get over the fact that an insurance company sponsors a game. Everything in this world is sponsored one way or another so this argument is pretty weak. Also, I keep hearing and have said myself that they aren’t good enough to be our rival, however, they lead all-time meetings 5-3.
If they are starting to treat it like a rivalry, then so should we. I don’t know about you but after Friday, I really hope we decimate them next season. That’s how a rivalry becomes organic. You beat them and they beat you which develops a hatred for one another. Ta-da! It’s a rivalry.
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