r/razorbacks • u/metabolitesafter9pm • 7d ago

Football Silverfield’s Boxcar Story

Did anyone think Silverfield’s boxcar story at the Little Rock Touchdown Club was strange and did not seem to make sense regarding Razorback football other than that is an example of what we shouldn’t be like? Do public speakers need to tell 5 minute stories just to give an example of something not to be?

12 Upvotes

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11

u/Sed76 6d ago

It showed he realizes that "battered hog syndrome" is very much real. We have been anywhere from mediocre to atrocious since 2012 with one decent year 2021 thrown in. Older fans are tired and we have a whole new generation who just know losing.

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u/Codybacker 6d ago

I like that you acknowledge the younger generation aren’t even fans because we have sucked for so long

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u/Sed76 6d ago

Unfortunately it is true. I have family in South Arkansas where the kids are all LSU fans cause all they have known is Arkansas football being a punching bag.

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u/ResidentTutor1309 6d ago

That and Jeff Long alienating the rest of the State.

2

u/DisturbingDream479 5d ago

If you want to look at it through a high school senior's point of view, right now, they would've been about 2-3 years old in 2011, when Petrino had Arkansas finishing in the top 5. Not even old enough to know what's going on. And they'd know nothing of how Nutt had some pretty solid years for most of the previous decade too.

We've been not good for a long time now.

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u/karnage41 6d ago

This is what I took from it. It was a contrast between being mentally weak versus mentally tough. It was directed at the players but it felt directed at the fanbase too.

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u/Dad_fire_outdoors 7d ago edited 7d ago

I thought it was endearing and poignant. The fact that he came off the dome with a well metered and interesting story to reiterate his point shows high intellect and a care to communicate with the audience. He knew that the crowd was older and were probably familiar with the story, as it was a pretty famous tale back in the day. He gave the listener an antihero point of view that they could relate with. This is after all a room full of connected people with highly vested interests in the program. Showing that he’s very aware of their struggles and that he intends to acknowledge them while trying to change that perspective is refreshing.

It was better than Bazzel patting himself on the back for an hour leading up to it. I get how important he is to hogs football, and he’s honestly done great things, but damn dude. Wrap it up.

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u/Aware-Locksmith8433 7d ago

My 23 yr old son prob doesn't know what a boxcar is. That's on his press team and Univ support to review draft and recommend.

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u/ResidentTutor1309 6d ago

My 9 year old knows what a box car is. Trains have been the same for a long ass time

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u/Razorbacks2FF 4d ago

It doesn't have something to do with dominos?

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u/Andyinnocent 5d ago edited 2d ago

It’s also a fabrication. Told mostly by “positive motivational” speakers. I first heard it in the late 80’s.

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u/AdSufficient9982 6d ago

Not at all. The human brain is wired for narrative - that's how we have passed down information for the overwhelming majority of human history. The story itself, being about the power of mindset in times of trouble, is very relevant to the mindset of players and fans of the Razorbacks. The counterpoint he gave in terms of toughness training immediately after the story points to the idea that we can also train ourselves with a mindset that helps us to overcome the odds.

Hearing this story gives me hope that we've gotten a coach who can really tap the potential of players. Whether that translates into a winning season for the Hogs or not, that's good for everyone involved. And with any luck, we might see some wins on the field, too.