FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Massive 12 commissioner Brett Yormack introduced a few days in the past that the convention goes to look westward with its enlargement efforts. 

Discover he did not point out wanting east. That is as a result of each crew of worth instantly east of the Massive 12 is within the SEC and wasn’t prepared to step all the way down to the Massive 12 even when Texas and Oklahoma had been within the convention.

That did not hold a number of misguided folks from pushing to take that downward step as a result of they did not consider Arkansas might compete within the SEC in soccer. It was a narrow-sighted argument that not solely did not have a look at the athletic program as a complete, it ignored a number of runs as a Prime 5 crew, loopy upsets of Prime 5 opponents and a pair of SEC convention championship sport appearances.

Arkansas presently has essentially the most dominant athletic program within the SEC. The pile of SEC championships and deep playoff runs from numerous sports activities is as excessive as Mount Journal.

Possibly it was the Pepsi speaking. Possibly they’re simply cowards who’re afraid to play the place the large boys play and do not have the angle to see Arkansas as a giant boy additionally.

But, the Razorbacks are essentially the most dominant baseball crew of the previous decade, one in every of solely 5 groups with Vegas odds higher than the +2,000 line to win a nationwide championship in basketball this yr, champs in soccer, softball and nonetheless some of the feared monitor and area and cross nation packages on this planet.

Add within the soccer crew’s 10-4 file over the previous 14 video games and standing as a authentic menace to shake issues up within the SEC West, and it is greater than clear how large of a mistake it will have been to tuck tail and run when issues acquired robust on the soccer facet.

These grumblers additionally ignored the lengthy treasured historical past of Texas being the world’s most distinguished residence wrecker in relation to faculty conferences. The Massive 12 wasn’t lengthy for the world in its present kind with the Longhorns round.

Positive, had that handful of noisy folks gained out, Arkansas might have exchanged going to blows with Alabama for two-stepping over the perennial doormat Longhorns, however as Oklahoma discovered, there is no such thing as a actual path to a school soccer championship within the Massive 12.

Iron sharpens iron, and aside from Oklahoma State and infrequently Baylor, there’s a great lack of iron throughout the Midwest. If Texas and Oklahoma do not bail on the finish of this season, then there might be slightly extra iron with Cincinnati, Central Florida, Houston and BYU in what might be a a lot stronger convention.

Even when Texas and Oklahoma comply with by means of on their transfer to the SEC, the Massive 12 might be stronger than its present iteration. Had Arkansas made the soar after which acquired scared as all the pieces moved towards tremendous conferences, the Hogs would not have had the choice to leap again underneath the nice and cozy SEC blanket.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey would not have taken effectively to Arkansas bailing, plus the Hogs do not have the clout within the present atmosphere they as soon as carried once they jumped from the Southwest Convention with South Carolina. 

The unique transfer within the Nineteen Nineties was about bringing eyes to basketball in a time when SEC basketball was Kentucky vs. a bunch of heat our bodies. Arkansas introduced a lot wanted rumps in seats and eyeballs on screens at a nationwide stage.

That transfer labored out as Arkansas, Kentucky and Florida introduced nationwide titles to the SEC and compelled packages like Alabama, Auburn, and Tennessee to up their video games whereas even Ole Miss, South Carolina and Vanderbilt made their presence felt on the courtroom for a short time

The fashionable period is about bringing TV markets. Whereas Arkansas followers are fiercely loyal, if the entire state had been watching on the similar time, it will be lower than half the potential viewers in Dallas-Fort Value or Houston. A North Carolina college brings Charlotte, Raleigh and 10 million potential viewers, greater than thrice what the Razorbacks can carry.

Bolting from the SEC for the Massive 12 would have been a large mistake. 

As one of many smallest markets in America, Arkansas would wish a number of Closing 4 and Faculty Soccer Playoff runs to face even a slight likelihood. 

Arkansas is not AAU licensed, so the Massive Ten would not be an possibility. If the Pac 12 had been to win the battle with the Massive 12, it will be exhausting to justify bringing in a college from a tiny market that is not a cultural match and would generate main journey bills.

It is exhausting to think about it for the reason that Razorbacks have been related to the premiere convention within the land, however logic is logic. Had Arkansas made the soar, it will most probably be left behind with the formation of tremendous conferences.

Luckily, somebody had the wherewithal to inform that group to sit down down and have a Coke and a smile. The Hogs enter Saturday’s sport in opposition to South Carolina understanding that not solely can they compete in soccer, however that with a number of breaks, there’s a path to a championship in soccer, basketball and baseball this yr.

Occasions are good for Arkansas followers. Thanks by the plenty of Razorback followers who stretch from one finish of the state to the opposite are to ensure that these on the high who stood robust and believed within the state’s flagship crew.

It might have been a multitude. As an alternative, the state of the athletic program is stronger than it is ever been.

Iron sharpens iron.

Cupcakes simply make you fats and sluggish.

HOGS FEED:

WATCH-LISTEN TO RAZORBACKS-GAMECOCKS ON SATURDAY

SEC ROUNDUP: MIKE LEACH OFFERING MARRIAGE ADVICE … AGAIN

WHO WILL MAKE THE CALL ON RB DOMINIQUE JOHNSON’S RETURN?

WATCH SAM PITTMAN’S PRESS CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

BIGGEST GAME FOR FANS IN RAZORBACKS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE WILL BE AT END OF SEASON

RAZORBACKS COACH DAVE VAN HORN PREVIEWS FALL PRACTICE STARTING

SHANE BEAMER COMPARES KJ JEFFERSON TO BILL BRASKY (READ IT TO FIND OUT WHO THAT IS)

HOGS UP IN POLLS THAT NOW INCLUDE FLORIDA’S BIG LEAP

EVERYBODY EXCEPT LSU HAPPY ABOUT OPENING WEEKEND FOR SEC TEAMS

RB DOMINIQUE JOHNSON STARTING TO SEE WORK IN PRACTICES

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