re: Arkansas-Missouri

quote:

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Do you think the fact that this forced series hasn't been competitive has had an impact on developing a rivalry?

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Not at all. I think the fact that no one is excited to have this be the game that replaced what became a fond tradition over the years is what is to blame. "Developing" a rivalry by shoehorning the title of rivalry game in front of it before they even have any kind of real interaction with each other is stupid. Real rivalries are organic.

The perfect example is LSU. The SEC didn't just automatically turn Arkansas vs. LSU into a rivalry/trophy game when Arkansas joined. They weren't playing for a trophy until 1996 and that was with an underlying history of almost 4 decades on top of the matchup already.

What the SEC has done with Arkansas/Missouri is corny as hell and reeks of cash grab and that has turned a lot of people off. On top of the fact that there's really just no reason at all to think of Missouri any differently than a new SEC team. Every Arkansas fan I know would still rather have South Carolina as our east opponent and be playing LSU on Black Friday. The interest just isn't there win or lose.