Despite Arkansas Ties, Razorback Fans Will Be Cheering for Mississippi St. in Reliquest Bowl

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – With the Arkansas bowl recreation within the file books and no Razorback basketball till Tuesday, Hog followers can be scanning the channels over the subsequent few days to see if there may be something of curiosity.

Whereas the playoffs will definitely be a must-watch occasion, there may be one recreation that can virtually actually cease Arkansas followers down – Illinois vs. Mississippi State within the Reliaquest Bowl in Tampa on Monday, Jan. 2 at 11 a.m.

Throughout most years, this recreation would draw little to no curiosity from Arkansas followers. The Bulldogs have not precisely been a cause to cease clicking on the distant in the course of the three a long time the Razorbacks have been within the convention and only a few Hog followers know if the Illini ever had a televised recreation previous to 2021.

For followers who’re questioning, this is identical bowl Arkansas performed in final yr. It simply bought a brand new sponsor after 26 years of being the Outback Bowl.

Apparently Individuals have not eaten sufficient Bloomin’ Onions as of late.

Whereas there have been combined emotions when Bret Bielema was requested to depart Fayetteville, Hog followers have saved a gradual eye on “Ole Bert.”

When Bielema tried to slide into the Gator Bowl after Texas A&M vacated their spot within the recreation final yr, Razorback followers have been fast to note.

When former interim Arkansas head coach Barry Lunney, Jr. and former Hogs’ assistant Jeff Traylor lead UTSA to an upset of Illinois in Champaign final yr, Razorback followers have been on prime of it.

When Bielema stole Lunney to repair his low manufacturing offense, Arkansas followers gave a realizing nod in acknowlegement of Bielema providing a future head teaching candidate for the Hogs’ head teaching place an opportunity to proceed to develop.

But, regardless of all this, it is unlikely the folks of Arkansas, nor anybody else outdoors of Illinois, will brazenly pull for an Illinois victory.

The sudden passing of one in all faculty soccer’s most colourful coaches in Mike Leach makes it unattainable to not assist the Mississippi State gamers. If the Bulldogs win, Leach will formally have led Mississippi State to 9 wins or extra for less than the eighth time within the college’s 120-year historical past.

That is one thing on 5 folks in all the existence of this planet have ever finished.

Previous to Leach’s passing, 11 Bulldogs entered the switch portal. Just one, security Dylan Lawrence, has left since. 

It is potential many extra will depart after the Reliquest Bowl, however for now, the gamers on this workforce are in it for at the least one final recreation in honor of Leach. 

When it was introduced that their coach had died, the gamers have been fast to place out that they meant to nonetheless play the sport. The coaches left behind, led by interim coach Zach Arnett, have put what they’ll into making ready the gamers whereas coping with how one can transfer ahead in soccer operations with out their chief.

That is simply an excessive amount of to root in opposition to. If something, it deserves prayers for each the Mississippi State workforce and Bielema’s workers. 

In spite of everything, Illinois loses whether or not the Illini win on the scoreboard or not, so dealing with the whole lot the proper approach would require the Lord’s steerage additionally.

HOGS FEED:

OFFICIATING IN LIBERTY BOWL ALMOST COST SAM PITTMAN MUCH MORE THAN A WIN

SAM PITTMAN NEEDS TO DEVELOP KILLER INSTINCT BEFORE NEXT SEASON

WHY ARE ARKANSAS FANS COMPLAINING AFTER A BOWL WIN?

COVERING RAZORBACK FANS’ EMOTIONAL CRISIS DURING TWITTER DOWNTIME

PORTA POTTIES INCONVENIENT, BUT NOT CHILD TRAUMATIZING LIKE WAR MEMORIAL USED TO BE

JUSTICE HILL WAS ALWAYS DESTINED TO BE ON COURT WITH MUSSELMAN, RAZORBACKS CHASING SEC TITLE

PEOPLE SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME TALKING ABOUT WHO ISN’T PLAYING IN EITHER ARKANSAS SPORT

STATEMENT BY LIBERTY BOWL LEFT LEGAL WIGGLE ROOM IN REGARD TO FANS

WHAT’S REALLY AT STAKE IN WEDNESDAY’S LIBERTY BOWL GAME AGAINST KANSAS?

DO RAZORBACK FANS REALLY CARE ABOUT HOW LIBERTY BOWL TURNS OUT?

WITH WILL WADE’S RIC FLAIR STYLE PERSONA GONE, PLAYING LSU BASKETBALL JUST NOT AS FUN

RAZORBACKS’ NUMBERS BETTER WHEN QUARTERBACK KJ JEFFERSON DOESN’T RUN AS MUCH

THE NIGHT A 19-YEAR-OLD ARKANSAS BOY COVERED THE LIBERTY BOWL WITH ELVIS PRESLEY

PREPARE FOR HEART OF BOWL SEASON WITH HILARIOUS VIDEO RECAP OF EACH WEEK

ARKANSAS FEATURED IN ANNUAL “WONDERFUL LIFE” PARODY

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FUN AT THE EXPENSE OF THE TEXAS LONGHORNS

TOP RAZORBACK SIGNEE HAS NFL EXPERIENCE UNDER HIS BELT

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