158-122-1
Win % 56
Avg wins per season 6.7
This is not a post about whether we should or shouldn’t be in this conference. I simply wanted to provide a stat on the reality of Arkansas football over the last 23 years. We have had good coaches and bad coaches in the stretch but those numbers are to emphasize how people outside of the Arkansas bubble perceive our program. Can it get better and be sustained for a decade or more? I don’t know. But, I can tell you it hasn’t.
What is OM, MSU and Auburn records since then?
Since 1992, the year we entered the SEC:
Arkansas: 166-137-2. 6 seasons at 9 or better
Ole Miss: 160-140-0. 6 seasons at 9 or better
Miss State: 147-151-2. 4 seasons at 9 or better
Auburn: 207-100-2. 11 seasons at 9 or better
Data from http://www.sports-reference.com/
Pretty sobering
I want us to be a Top 10 program, but fans need to understand the reality of our program, and it’s going to take A LOT, sustained for YEARS, to turn that around. If you want 10 win seasons here or there, we will have them, even with this coach. If you think we should have more, you will be frustrated. Hoping and demanding are the difference in happiness and frustration.
I don’t think my expectations are all to unreasonable. I expect to win an SEC West title 1 out of 5 years and outright win it 1 out of every 7 years. I expect to finish no worse than 3rd in our division every year. And I expect to be competitive in EVERY game we play. None of this 52-3 BS or not scoring a single point in the 2nd half. I expect to have a strong defense. I am willing to take the occasional 7-5 year as long as those games are competitive and we have a chance to win late in the 4th.
Here’s what infuriates me: to be blown out, to make stupid mistakes, and play without Razorback pride. There is no room for going through the motions. I’m sure some will jump on me and say I’m out of line or this team did play hard but I will tell anyone - Dan Skipper included - that this team underperformed this year. If he wants to beat my ars over a cup of coffee for saying that then so be it. The question is simple to a man: Do you think you performed to the best of your ability every game this year?
I don’t think the talent gap is as bad as we think except in our defensive secondary. I see glaring weaknesses there but that’s really the only spot where we’ve been consistently bad the last 4-5 years.
Good data. So basically, we are historically tied for 4th in the SECW with Ole Miss behind LSU, Auburn and Alabama. If you add in ATM, then perhaps 5th.
Added all of the west. Bear in mind, aTm has SEC and Big 12 in there.
Alabama: 235-83-1. 16 seasons at 9 or better, including the last 9 consecutively
LSU: 211-98-1. 13 seasons at 9 or better
Auburn: 207-100-2. 11 seasons at 9 or better
Texas aTm: 198-112-1. 10 seasons at 9 or better.
Arkansas: 166-137-2. 6 seasons at 9 or better
Ole Miss: 160-140-0. 6 seasons at 9 or better
Miss State: 147-151-2. 4 seasons at 9 or better
I’d suspect the fan bases of about 10 or 11 teams have comparable expectations, especially for the money they are paying their coaches. The reality is that six SEC teams have combined to win the past 40 football championships counting the one this weekend.
That’s interesting data Matt. Thanks for digging it up. I guess on one hand that can be hope if we can ever get it going then we might keep it going a bit. (not saying 40 years though)
Great point- it will be big news in the south when somebody other than one of the Big Six wins an SEC title.
I posted our overall record since joining the SEC on another board after I got tired of people complaining about winning 7 or 8 games.
Would I like to win 10+ games a year…yes but that won’t happen consistently at Arkansas over a 10 year stretch. If CBB can stay around for a while I think he can build Arkansas into a program that is winning 6 or 7 games once every 5 years or so with season of 8-9 wins 3 out of 5 years and one year where we win 10+ games and we have a shot at a SEC title.
This is downright sobering indeed. The microwave/I want it now crowd is out of touch.
T
This is what I want
I’m pretty much in agreement with you except I was thinking an SEC title every decade and a west title every 5 years
Now I’m thinking that I saw the golden age of Arkansas football in the 60’s and it may never happen again
Next year is Huge for me
No matter what I’ll be a fan - but reality may demand I lower my standards and expectations of who and what Arkansas football can be
I hope our Higs can be SEC champs at least 1x every decade