Oh My! The Difference a Couple of Weeks Can Make

February 16, 2006...The Arkansas Razorbacks were coming off what many consider the worst loss in the past 20 years and there were many unanswered questions; How did they lose to Mississippi? Would they make the N.I.T? Would Stan Heath be back next season? Then something happened. After losing 5 games by a total of 11 points, the Hogs came through in crunch time and pulled off a major upset over #7 ranked Florida. The glimmer of hope that was remaining in the die-hard fans got a little brighter.
Then in front of a national audience on ESPN, the Hogs overcame an 18 point second half deficit to beat Alabama in the final seconds by 2. The flame of hope grows brighter.
Saturday, February 25th. the Hogs are facing another top 10 team, this time on the road, where the Hogs have a dismal record. Here's the extinguisher for that flame of hope. Not so fast...the Hogs yet again overcome a double digit deficit in the second half to upset the #10 ranked Vols on their home floor. That small flame of hope just got another log thrown on it.
See, Hope is a dangerous thing. It can freeze you out if you give it too much credit, or it can burn you if you don't give it enough. Barring a complete meltdown in the final two games of the regular season, it looks as if the Hope for the Hogs may just get soaked in gasoline right before March Madness commences.