CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Some 4,000 Hog fans sprinkled the stands at Bank of America stadium for the Dec. 29 Belk Bowl, but a glance at opposing Virginia Tech fans wearing the school's colors showed the Razorback faithful were well-outnumbered. Arkansas lost the game 35-24 in what has been called the worst second-half meltdown since World War II.
Razorback supporters didn't seem to mind the wind and chilly temps -- or all the "boos" from the opposing fan base -- when the Hogs were winning in the first half. After halftime, when the Hokies came out of the chute intent on a win, Hog fans tried to maintain their confidence in the team. But just as the team faded, so did the Razorback spirit. Whether they flew or drove, many agreed the return trip would be longer after such a devastating loss.
Charlotte is home to quite a few die-hard Razorback alumni and fans -- others came from as far away as Louisiana, Texas, West Virginia and Florida. As the scoreboard became more lopsided, the more the similarities became to the Arkansas-Missouri contest, the last game of the regular season, in which Arkansas gave up a 17-point lead in a similar defeat Nov. 25.
Fans' worst fears were realized. "Missouri left a bad taste in their mouths," University of Arkansas Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long said of Arkansas' fans earlier in the day. "They have something to prove and something to show their fans here." Instead, what they saw was a slow and painful three-hour collapse.
High Profile on 01/08/2017