FAYETTEVILLE -- Every time Razorbacks football skids to a too-frequent new abyss, it gets suggested they leave the SEC for the Big 12.
Somehow abandoning a conference none leaves for a league four have fled becomes Arkansas' panacea.
Admittedly, Arkansas flounders 1-17 for its last 18 SEC games.
But when did Louisiana-Monroe, Toledo, North Texas, and San Jose State join the SEC?
Those nonconference losses, all in Fayetteville or Little Rock since 2012, with North Texas and San Jose State embarrassing the Razorbacks last year and last week, mark Arkansas' nadir. That omits Arkansas' 2017 near-disaster ekeing by Coastal Carolina. Plus, Arkansas in 2013 and 2014 losing home-and-home to Rutgers and losing last year at Colorado State.
That somehow the Razorbacks would have fared better in those games representing the Big 12 instead of the SEC defies logic.
It also defies logic that Big 12 powers Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma State, etc., would be kinder and gentler to Arkansas just because the Razorbacks would become the new kids on the Big 12 block.
The late Frank Broyles' decision made in 1990 to move Arkansas from the moribund Southwest Conference starting in 1992 for the SEC was genius then and still is.
The SEC, organizationally through monetarily, defines the zenith of the NCAA's Power Five conferences.
The Big 12, initially desperately merging the Big Eight with four SWC refugees, defines dysfunction.
Fourteen SEC schools netting $43.7 million each from SEC TV money vs. 10 school's in the incorrectly numbered Big 12 netting $36.5 million TV money seems self-explanatory.
Plus, the SEC has plusses that money can't buy. Like not dealing on a conference business basis with the Texas Longhorns and their arrogance that dampened SWC morale and resoundingly repeats in the Big 12.
No coincidence that the SEC has only added, but never subtracted, since Arkansas and South Carolina arrived together.
No coincidence those teams the SEC added -- Texas A&M and Missouri -- fled the Big 12.
Also no coincidence that Nebraska and Colorado fled the Big 12 for the Big Ten and the Pac-12.
Yet, because the football Razorbacks since 2012 have fallen mostly on hard times, some presume they can't win in the SEC.
Tell that non-football to John McDonnell, Lance Harter, Nolan Richardson, Chris Bucknam. Dave Van Horn, Shauna Taylor and Brad McMakin regarding their Arkansas SEC championships.
In football, tell that to Danny Ford, winning the 1995 SEC West, or to Houston Nutt, three SEC West titles, and Bobby Petrino with their combined 12 bowl games from 1998-2011.
Or even tell that to Bret Bielema, 8-5 overall/ 5-3 in the SEC in 2015 and appearing 9-4 bound in 2016 until the second-half wheels came off without repair in 2017, closing with losses against Missouri and Virginia Tech.
Razorbacks football has the fan base, resources and the history to win in SEC football.
Arkansas just needs the patience and fortitude to keep what the Big 12 covets to have.
NW News on 09/25/2019