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Hog fans are grateful for every moment that Arkansas sports has the spotlight in. Right now, they are seeing an unprecedented run that not many saw coming.
A friend of mine joked in early January that after Razorback Basketball started 2-4 in conference play that they would win the rest of them.
“What,” I responded in a laughing tone.
That was my response because I didn’t believe him. The Razorbacks just lost back to back games in pretty much blowout fashion to LSU and Alabama on the road. A switch was flipped and the Hogs went on their 12-game SEC win streak. Their only loss coming against Oklahoma State on the road.
The Hogs and their fans rode the momentum to payback wins over Missouri, Alabama and LSU in that streak and looked to make a run for the SEC Tournament.
All that winning combined with a deep NCAA Tournament run led Musselman to a raise and extension of five years, $4 million dollars.
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In the same time baseball and softball season began. After a shortened season due to a COVID-19, the two programs returned on fire. The baseball team started out with three top-10 victories over TCU, Texas Tech and Texas that eventually catapulted them to number one in the rankings.
Softball started the season with a loss to Oklahoma State but bounced back with 19 straight victories and a top 15 ranking. The girls made it all the way to eighth last week and still lead the SEC standings after nine weeks.
This Saturday, Arkansas will have their spring game inside DW Reynolds Razorback Stadium. These games practically mean nothing and are hardly ever exciting but being able to watch football under second year head coach, Sam Pittman will be fun to attend. Being able to see some Arkansas’ top-25 recruiting class in action, namely Rocket Sanders, will be the price of free admission.
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Similar to Bobby Petrino’s and Bret Bielema’s second seasons at the helm, Pittman’s hogs look to be bigger, stronger and faster. Six to eight wins will keep fans hopes swirling as they march back from the pit of death that they were in under Chad Morris.
An Elite Eight run in basketball, a record start in baseball and softball and a national championship for women’s track and field have the Razorback fan base feeling really good.
We are all sure that another run to Omaha is in the books for the baseball team. This time can they “win the whole damn thing?” Can the softball team make it past the super regionals? There is hope!
Hey, fall sports: do your thing. Keep the momentum going. There hasn’t been so much excitement in Fayetteville and the whole state of Arkansas in a decade.
Woo pig.