In anticipation of tomorrow's season-opening tilt against Missouri State, we asked Rasputin, our staff soothsayer and a seemingly ageless Russian immigrant, to offer his prediction for the game. As you may remember, Rasputin, a rabid Razorback football fan since the program's debut in 1894, is an exceedingly emotional man, prone to deep, vodka-fueled depressions after Hog losses or other any bad team news. Unsurprisingly, this has been a tough summer for Raz. He was just beginning to emerge from his post-Sugar Bowl funk when Knile Davis broke his ankle. Quite honestly, we don't know if we've ever seen the man so distraught for so long. It's been painful to watch. The 2011 season needs to be a good one - this man can't take much more suffering.
His forecast is after the jump:
"Oh cruelest of fates, why doth we lose Knile so soon?
I fall to the ground and hurl invectives at the moon!
But the moon doth smile and say, 'The season is not done.'
And a merry little owl adds, 'Many games will still be won.'
And then, my tenacious melancholy, it doth start to fade.
Into the River of Optimism, I am now ready to wade.
2011 will be a season full of good cheer and fun,
The victories will accumulate starting with Game One.
The warriors from Missouri, honorable they may be,
But after the first quarter, ready will they be to flee.
The mighty, pig-emblazoned warriors of Arkansas - 44,
the most honorable but overmatched warriors of Missouri State - 3.
Well, we've heard from Rasputin. Now, let's hear from you. Vote in our poll and pipe up in our comments thread.