It's quite annoying how tone-deaf people in the upper echelons can be. Whether it's politics, corporate America, or, in this case, athletic departments, leaders too far removed from the people they're leading more often than not put their foot in their mouths. Yesterday, it was ESPN Arkansas' The Chuck & Bo Show.
Chuck Barrett's insulting comment about Arkansas fan's concerns
Paid and very public employees of the University of Arkansas and Sport and Story, respectively, Chuck Barrett and Bo Mattingly, host the radio show on a daily basis. Near the end of May 8's show, Barrett—also the Voice of the Razorbacks—offered an insulting comment about the worried people in the fan base.
“I got to tell you when someone says, ‘I refuse to settle for mediocrity,’ that right there is on the level of ‘I used to play high school football,’” Barrett said to the uncontrollable laugher of his co-host Mattingly and producer Bart Pohlman. “The red flag flies up, and I'm out. I mean, the minute someone says, ‘I'm not going to accept mediocrity,’ you are done. I'm not listening to another word you say.
“Yeah, it's like, you can conclave all you want, I'm not buying the thing you say because, when someone says that, it's like, for me, that's like nails on a chalkboard.”
“You ain't first, you're last! Don't accept it,” Mattingly chimed in with the Talladega Nights quote.
“That is such a stupid,” Barret paused. “It’s the mantra of stupid people."
Just yesterday, Razorbackers published an article discussing the rumors surrounding the attitudes of the people in charge of Arkansas' athletic program. And if there's a scintilla of shared feeling between the admins and hosts of The Chuck & Bo Show, that's the type of attitude to worry about. And while this may have been a failed attempt to claim they're not accepting mediocracy, and the notion as such, is ridiculous, the contempt in his tone reeks to high heaven.
It calls to mind a rather turbulent time in European history—a revolutionary period in France that saw everyday people violently rebel against its Monarchy. Specifically, it reminds me of France's last queen before the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette.
"Let them eat cake," is a quote often attributed to her in response to reports of the starving poor. Although likely a fictitious statement, it demonstrates her out-of-touch lifestyle as a royal and her cold-hearted approach to those below her. As she lavished herself on the finest clothes and foods, with riches beyond the belief of her subjects; they starved in the streets, and she couldn't have cared less.
This is Barrett's "Let them eat cake" moment and, by extension, the University of Arkansas' athletic department. How will they respond? Will they double down? Or will they come to their senses and apologize? Better yet, how will the fan base react?
It's not stupid to want more from Arkansas' football program, and it's not stupid to worry about the program's trajectory. The record since Sam Pittman became the head coach—taking away the 10 conference game schedule in 2020—is 27-24, the very definition of mediocre. It's not too bad, and it's not too good.
Fans deserve an administration that cares about football. They deserve one that doesn't look down on them, snickering from an ivory tower at the concerns of the people who help pay their salaries. And, maybe, an outraged fan base would be enough to change the hearts and minds of those at the top of Arkansas athletics.
The original version of this story claimed Bo Mattingly was an employee of the University of Arkansas when, in fact, he work's with Sport and Story, a company that works hand-in-hand with the athletic program to bring behind-the-scenes footage to fans via Hogs+. This visions of story has been changed to reflect that fact.