Mr. Hog's wild ride

We've arrived at the end of a roller-coaster Razorback football season. While it didn't measure up to the inflated hype of preseason, this team found a way to gel that sets it apart over others.

The season ranged from the harrowing overtime victories over Auburn and Ole Miss to that gut-wrenching heartbreaker last Saturday night in Fayetteville where a blocked chip shot, 29-yard field goal would have sprinkled more Saint Sooie dust on this magical fall season by lifting the Hogs to an improbable 7-4 record. That would have left only Missouri waiting, and a chance to tie for the SEC West.

It's all been like Mr. Hog's Wild Ride.

After losing to Toledo early in the season (another fast-paced, passing spread offense that gave the porous Hogs' secondary defense fits all season), I compared that deflating experience to watching the beautiful, almost magical, hot-air balloons at Harrison's annual fall balloon race and festival.

There they were, glimmering and radiating in the cool evening, set to take flight and climb high when one somehow caught fire and crumpled, smoking, to the earth to be extinguished.

I wondered at the time if, like that balloon, the Razorbacks could reinflate themselves and lift expectations again for this season. Then came the loss to Texas Tech within the friendly confines of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Who knew from that point what would happen as the Hogs entered SEC play against a host of nationally ranked teams? A winning season (and certainly any hope of a post-season bowl game) suddenly seemed remote at best.

Although scoring 50 points and seeing a short field goal somehow easily blocked by a Mississippi State lineman in the closing seconds last week, the 2015 Razorback's majestic crimson balloon by then had indeed reinflated. Along with it came the pride of an entire state of supportive fans.

That closing breakdown in the line reveals how much every last player's contributions count critically, even to the closing seconds.

Yesterday's game in Fayetteville with Missouri for the newly forged Battle Line Trophy was destined to be an energizing final one for the seniors on this year's team. So many among them overcame adversity to prove their indomitable grit and courage. Certainly not least is senior quarterback Brandon Allen, who early on was oddly unable to finish strong in a close game, but turned that problem completely around to earn Offensive Player of the Week honors while setting Razorback passing and scoring records before season's end.

That should teach us what one young man's grit, determination and ability can accomplish, even in the face of often withering criticisms.

I'm writing this column before the Missouri game to meet early Thanksgiving week deadlines. Regardless of the outcome of that clash, the Razorbacks likely won't be playing this postseason in a Florida bowl. Yet that also might prove OK in the long run. After all, just that many more in the Razorback Nation will have an opportunity to cheer this gutsy group one last time in a bowl much closer to home.

In Fayetteville last week, I joined the 70,000-plus shivering in the stadium to watch the final minute of what everyone believed was going to be another of those 2015 finishing victories where Saint Sooie had again intervened.

Nonetheless, there were an abundance of positives for me that evening, including meeting Randal Ford, who lives with wife Sherry near Texarkana.

Ford's claim to Hog fame is that, garbed in full Hog regalia, he has yet to miss a Razorback home game or one in Little Rock in 41 years! He also said he's missed only seven road games during the span. Amazing, eh? His wife, while not matching his record, hasn't missed a home game either in years.

That kind of devotion (and other fans that loyal) is well worthy of Razorback Foundation recognition at midfield. It's also further evidence of just how beloved and supported the Arkansas Razorbacks are across our state. Hey now, Texarkana to Fayetteville isn't a short round trip.

Islamic fight song

Parents of seventh-graders at the Spring View Middle School in Huntington Beach, Calif., were none too pleased to learn a teacher there had their children memorize and sing an Islamic "fight song" before the Paris attacks. The school district afterwards apologized. Just bet they did.

Here are the lyrics to "Fight Song," as reported by a California television station: "Like a sandstorm on the desert, sending camels into motion. Like how a single faith can make a heart open, they might only have one god, but they can make an explosion.

"And all those things they have to say, Islam ... Allah's on the way. They will preach them loud tonight. Can you hear their voice this time? This is their fight song. Spread Islam now song. Prove that they're right song."

"Spread Islam now ... prove that they're right." Really? Any questions from non-Islamic valued readers?

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Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at [email protected].

Editorial on 11/28/2015

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