Started By
Message

Jim Robken's Magic - Who Among Us Were Able To Be There For It?

Posted on 12/9/17 at 10:57 pm
Posted by Sao
East Texas Piney Woods
Member since Jun 2009
65916 posts
Posted on 12/9/17 at 10:57 pm
LINK

I wish everyone here were old enough to see this in action. Barnhill and Robken were something that simply cannot be described. The noise meter, William Tell, the sprint around the arena. "We're Gonna Beat Tha Hell Outta You!"

And back in those days there were truly unique added bonuses that gave The Barn an advantage unlike any arena in the country. Seriously. Student entry lines formed hours and even days before every home game. We missed class to line up. Fat Guy. The student section screaming "PHONE!" every time one of the phones on media row rang. Big O warming up with basically half court shots just to see if he could hit them.

God I wish you kids could have been there.
Posted by Ham Solo
Member since Apr 2015
7732 posts
Posted on 12/9/17 at 11:01 pm to
I was around 12 years old, but I was there. It was an amazing atmosphere. The first time I went it scared the shite out of me when I walked in there. It was so incredibly loud.

I wish that building was still in shape to play basketball. It would be awesome if they picked one good matchup a year to play there. They could charge 3 times the ticket price and still sell it out. I really miss that place.
This post was edited on 12/9/17 at 11:03 pm
Posted by Litigator
Hog Jaw, Arkansas
Member since Oct 2013
7536 posts
Posted on 12/9/17 at 11:11 pm to
I was there and loved the band and Barnhill—it was an electric atmosphere. Memories include standing in line/camping out for student tickets and watching great players including the Triplets. It was an exciting time for Arkansas basketball.


“Perhaps the most fun of all Razorback traditions is singing “It’s Hard to Be Humble” because it takes place only after a victory. Legendary pep band director Jim Robken introduced the song sometime in the late 1970s. Robken and then coach Eddie Sutton worked on a number of ways to turn Barnhill Arena (where Arkansas played basketball at the time) into the loudest atmosphere possible. There were many opportunities to sing the song since the Hogs won 90 percent of the games they played in Barnhill while Sutton was coach.
The gist of the song? It’s hard to be humble when you are an Arkansas Razorback fan. Robken has been gone for over two decades but the tradition has lived on. After a football victory, the Hogs gather where they can be nearest the largest number of fans and sing the school fight song. Then the band plays, “It’s Hard to Be Humble.” After that the students, players and other fans sing the song. It’s the launch of celebration after enjoying a win.”
LINK
This post was edited on 12/10/17 at 8:18 am
Posted by pioneerbasketball
Team Bunchie
Member since Oct 2005
132523 posts
Posted on 12/9/17 at 11:32 pm to
saw apex razorback jacket
Posted by Maytheporkbewithyou
Member since Aug 2016
12648 posts
Posted on 12/9/17 at 11:36 pm to
I remember. My dad bought season tickets and we made the 3 hour drive 6 to 10 times a season. We usually went to the midweek games too. Those were some great times and Nolan had the Hawgs as one of the elite teams in college BB.
Posted by redeye
Member since Aug 2013
8605 posts
Posted on 12/10/17 at 12:36 am to
I never saw Robken live, but I have vivid memories watching him run around the arena on TV and the crowd going wild. Although I never experienced a single game at Barnhill in person, I've always thought the atmosphere seemed better and Robken is a big reason why.
Posted by Notherdamnhog
Huntsville, Al
Member since Aug 2010
5955 posts
Posted on 12/10/17 at 6:18 am to
In. Four years on the Hill and I only missed 3 Home games (Flu once and exams twice).

There was nothing like the atmosphere in the Barn.

Didn't matter who we played the House was rocking from the minute they open the doors to the Student Section.

Great memories.
Posted by Pigfeet
Ark Mods are Fascists
Member since Mar 2010
19783 posts
Posted on 12/10/17 at 6:50 am to
He was cool before cool was cool
Posted by Hawgeye
tFlagship Brothel
Member since Jun 2009
31085 posts
Posted on 12/10/17 at 6:54 am to
Still have the ear muffs PawPaw used to make me wear when I was little and he took me with him.
Posted by Porky
Member since Aug 2008
19103 posts
Posted on 12/10/17 at 7:16 am to
Jim always had the place rockin'....loud and intimidating.

It was a great time for Hog fans!

This post was edited on 12/10/17 at 7:24 am
Posted by ArHog
Muss is a coward
Member since Jan 2008
33204 posts
Posted on 12/10/17 at 7:41 am to
The Barn was loud AF.

Robken was drinking red bull before they made red bull.

Good times


Posted by Senior Sidewalker
Member since Oct 2017
722 posts
Posted on 12/10/17 at 8:09 am to
Kind of strange we play 1/7 of our home football games in LR for the history but can't play 1/30 of our home basketball games in a stadium 2000 feet away from BWA for history
Posted by arkiebrian
NWA
Member since Nov 2006
4167 posts
Posted on 12/10/17 at 9:03 pm to
Yep I witnessed that quite a few times it was freaking amazing. He slapped my hand once or twice too. I remember the first game I went to at Bud Walton regretting the tradition wasn't carried on somehow.
Posted by ArHog
Muss is a coward
Member since Jan 2008
33204 posts
Posted on 9/12/19 at 8:28 pm to
quote:

I wish everyone here were old enough to see this in action. Barnhill and Robken were something that simply cannot be described. The noise meter, William Tell, the sprint around the arena. "We're Gonna Beat Tha Hell Outta You!"



I'm damn sure old enough to remember it. Saw Ted Nugent there in 1977 FWIW.

It was magical in the Barn, long lines for tickets, the place rocked. Absolutely the best venue in the SWC.

And then there was Barnhill South, Reunion Arena.

Damn shame that Mike couldn't capture that vibe but a coach that grew up out west gets it..


See ya'll on Oct. 5 You know that place will be packed.

On the Muss Bus

WPS!
Posted by Litigator
Hog Jaw, Arkansas
Member since Oct 2013
7536 posts
Posted on 9/12/19 at 8:51 pm to
I was there. It was a great atmosphere at Barnhill. And we were actually pretty good at basketball back then.
Posted by Arkapigdiesel
Arkansas
Member since Jun 2009
13315 posts
Posted on 9/13/19 at 6:02 am to
At Barnhill you sat down only at halftime and (maybe) during timeouts (can't remember on that one). That place would get loud and raucous AF.

Bud Walton (now-a-days) is like a tea and crumpet luncheon, and Barnhill would be like sitting on the front row, right by the speakers at a Slayer concert.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 1Next pagelast page
refresh

Back to top
logoFollow SECRant for SEC Football News
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to get the latest updates on SEC Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitter