Is Bama the Razorback's biggest rival?

[Proxigean Tide]

I was working in Little Rock when Houston Nutt was hired and listening to local sports radio, recall that the big hope was that he would able to beat Bama. It was really amazing.

I think the 1979 Sugar Bowl started the rivalry with Bama. I also believe Danny Ford being from Bama contributed to this desire among Arkansas fans to beat the Tide.

Arkansas has always been a bit of a misfit in the SEC. They do have a nice football rivalry with LSU, but is Bama really the biggest game of the year for the Razorback's.

Lots of teams play Bama tough, but none more so than Arkansas. Arkansas may not be considered a rival by Bama fans, but I think their guys really put alot of emphasis on this game. RTR.

 

[foreveratidefan]

I know my Razorback in-laws sure seem to love it when they win...

 

[jangalang]

Ask anyone around here and you'll get Texas...in basketball, Missouri is up there, but in football, it's texas. Though bama could be their biggest sec rival.

 

[J4Bama]

I think they consider LSU their biggest rival.

 

[jeremy]

It seems like every school we frequently play against considers us a rival. At other SEC schools, <insert school here> vs Alabama is always seems like THE game of their season. Teams that play against us give us all that we can handle week after week. Its hard for us to play at that level of intensity every week of the season. Those teams get up for 1 or 2 games per season. Bama has to get up nearly every single week.

Think about it, coaches like Croom, Nutt and Orgeron are all thinking, "If I can just beat Alabama this year...I might keep my job another season." Tennessee wants to beat us because they have no other real state rival. Auburn wants to beat us because its Auburn. LSU wants to beat us because we have some kind of hatred for each other. Florida is clearly going to be out for revenge. Even little Vandy plays up for the Bama game.

 

[NYBamaFan]

Ask anyone around here and you'll get Texas...in basketball, Missouri is up there, but in football, it's texas. Though bama could be their biggest sec rival.

Agreed - I spent many summers in Arkansas growing up. Texas was and is their biggest rival, but Bama is creeping up there, especially for their younger fans.

They have only played Texas a few times in the past 15 years, and they play Bama every year. At some point, we will probably overtake Texas as their biggest rival, but not until the old timers forget all of those drubbings at the hands of the Longhorns before they moved to the SEC...

 

[ROTYDE]

The hogs biggest rival is BayouTider.....They will fight like crazy to stay out of his Bar BQ pit.............:biggrin2:

 

[Bamapossum]

The Razorback fans that I know personally consider Texas to be their most hated opponent/rival.

That dates back to the old Southwest Conference before the Big 12. I don't think many consider Alabama to be a rival. A game they want to win and get up for, absolutely, but not a rival.

 

[EBTIDE]

While I do believe that Texas is their biggist rival, I think they would love to
have one that they play every year and I think they think of UA as one of their
biggest SEC rivals, but pretty much every team we play thinks of us as a big
game and we always seem to get their best game.

 

[BamaJama17]

Arkansas and LSU have been rivals longer than we started playing them.

 

[bayoutider]

The Razorback fans that I know personally consider Texas to be their most hated opponent/rival.

That dates back to the old Southwest Conference before the Big 12. I don't think many consider Alabama to be a rival. A game they want to win and get up for, absolutely, but not a rival.

I have very good friends in Arkansauce. They manage a Tyson Hog farm, no I'm not kidding.

 

[deliveryman35]

No, but it definitely is a much bigger game to the razorback nation than it it is to us. To most Bama fans, I think it's just an early season conference game that we have sort of taken for granted over the years when we are really looking ahead to Tennessee, Auburn, and LSU. I think their fans know this, and really think we don't respect them. Maybe that's why it's the one SEC opponent with which the all time series is almost tied(we lead only 9-7). They have nearly always played us tough...

 

[TommyMac]

It seems like every school we frequently play against considers us a rival. At other SEC schools, <insert school here> vs Alabama is always seems like THE game of their season. Teams that play against us give us all that we can handle week after week. Its hard for us to play at that level of intensity every week of the season. Those teams get up for 1 or 2 games per season. Bama has to get up nearly every single week.

Think about it, coaches like Croom, Nutt and Orgeron are all thinking, "If I can just beat Alabama this year...I might keep my job another season." Tennessee wants to beat us because they have no other real state rival. Auburn wants to beat us because its Auburn. LSU wants to beat us because we have some kind of hatred for each other. Florida is clearly going to be out for revenge. Even little Vandy plays up for the Bama game.

I think LSU wants to beat us so badly because we've kicked their butts more times than anyone they've ever played.:wink:

 

[Boarcephus]

I have very good friends in Arkansauce. They manage a Tyson Hog farm, no I'm not kidding.

Hey Bayoutider!! Long time no talk to! You still living up north? Good to see you still kicking.

FWIW, our #1 rival bar none is Texas. The whole state gets up for that game, people plan vacations around that game, etc. As far as Bama goes, probably our biggest in the SEC, IMO.

Should be an entaining game Saturday. If Nutt will turn the offense over to Gus, you'll see a hog offense you've never seen before. Take a look at Mustain cause he's the real deal. 50% chance of rain so we might see how the teams handle a wet ball.

Good luck to the fans coming on over.

 

[Dixieoverland]

I know they can get pretty irate when we beat them. I remember a few years back one of their fans trying to pick a fight with me and a friend after them getting beat at Bryant Denny.

It's kinda hard to take someone seriously when they are wearing a red plastic pig on their head.