Heartbreak.
It's the second language of Razorback Nation—and the first for anyone born after 1994. Last night loss to LSU was just one of many examples over the years. Three decades of bad luck, disappointing finishes, and all-out choke jobs have made being an Arkansas Razorback fan nearly unbearable... nearly. Despite it all, Razorback fans keep showing up to cheer on the Hogs, knowing full well that crushing disappointment is on the horizon.
But why? Why is the depression of another blown opportunity always around the corner? Is Arkansas athletics cursed? Are the Hogs destined to be just out of reach of greatness for all eternity? Or is it just a self-fulfilling prophecy?
Making sense of the state of Arkansas athletics
For those who haven't taken a Psych 101 class or spent hours lying on a couch bearing your deepest, darkest feelings to a therapist, according to the American Psychological Association, a self-fulfilling prophecy is when a belief or expectation helps bring about its own fulfillment. Basically, it's a phenomenon where belief is enough to influence behavior in a way that creates that belief. What's worse is that it also works at the subconscious level.
It’s a self fulfilling prophecy at this point.
— I'm Just Sayin' (@PatsJustSaying) June 19, 2025
I'm no shrink, but it feels like, collectively, Razorback Nation and the athletic programs they follow fall into this category. I mean, the mantra of our shell-shocked fanbase is 'Hogs gonna Hog' after all.
How else do you logically (that's the keyword here) explain the best shortstop in the country opting to throw out a lead runner at third instead of attempting to pull off a double play with one out in the bottom of the ninth? Or how Arkansas basketball—ahead by ten points—goes cold in the last four minutes of a Sweet Sixteen game and loses in overtime? And don't even get me started about football choking away the Oklahoma State game.
All three of the previous examples are from the 2024-25 season alone. Apart from the 2021-22 athletic season and a few instances here and there, that's been the story of the big three sports in Fayetteville. And with the rise of social media, it has become even more prevalent.
Social Media drives Arkansas' self-fulfilling prophecy
In a time when most of the athletes on campus are either transfers or hail from outside the natural state, exposure to the 'Hogs gonna Hog' attitude is relatively short compared to fans who've grown up Razorback fans. However, social media acts as a digital IV, pumping decades of sports trauma and heartache into these athletes from day one.
It's no secret that social media can hurt one's mental health, and sometimes, Arkansas' corner can be a petri dish of negativity. However, the effects can be especially damaging to collegiate student-athletes. And if my theory about subconscious self-fulfilling prophecy is correct, all athletes need to do is be exposed to it to start the cycle.
Before anyone starts complaining about 'sunshine pumping' or what have you, there's a difference in criticism and emotionally vomiting on social media every time something negative happens. X and Facebook aren't your therapists. There's another human on the other side, reading your comments and being affected, consciously or subconsciously. It's time to be responsible on social media, myself included.
Is Arkansas cursed?
One could argue that the "Arkansas is cursed" trope is also one of the things that amplifies the self-fulfilling prophecy. But I'm not close-minded; if Arkansas isn't psychologically hurting itself, then what else could it be?
Since Arkansas won the national championship in basketball, fans have lived through the following: The Clint Stoerner stumble-and-fumble, Stan Heath, John Pelphry, Bobby Petrino's motorcycle, Chad Morris, 2018 College World Series drop, of course, last night's loss, and eight CWS appearances without a trophy. Something about that seems supernatural.
Regardless, the Razorback fanbase continues to pop back up after defeat. However long that lasts is yet to be determined, but the fact that it's made it this far is nothing short of incredible.