WinChill Factor: Arkansas Razorbacks at Alabama – The Power of Might

As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.  Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. 

1 Samuel 17: 48-49

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Georgia Tech 222

Cumberland College 0

October 7, 1916

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Perspective.  It’s a handy thing to have.  Taking the two instances above to illustrate our current state of affairs in Razorback Land, we’re likely not David to Alabama’s Goliath, but we’re also not the poor, overmatched Bulldogs of Cumberland College.  Nor are we the Bears of Southwest Missouri State, whom the Arkansas Razorbacks beat 100-0 in 1911 (have I mentioned how much I love that Wikipedia?).  Where we are between those two extremes, though, remains to be seen.

So, WinChillers, consider this somewhat crazy but somewhat logical possibility:  We might win.

“Might” – a most powerful concept.  Isn’t that why we play / watch sports in the first place?  Of course it is, because we never know exactly how things will turn out.  Will the Razorbacks win this weekend?  Statistically, no.

But they might.

Here’s a brief refresher course in “The Power of Might” for us to ponder:

1. It was Lyle Lovett who once thought that Julia Roberts “might” go out with him (eventually, she even MARRIED him; divorced him, too…but still).
2. It was Sam Walton’s hope that his little 5 and dime store in Bentonville, Ark. “might” become a successful business (last I checked, it was doing just fine).
3. It is “might” that makes up 45.45% of the name “Mighty Mouse” – and if you have anything bad to say about Mighty Mouse… I will cut you.

So what does this all prove?  Simply put, it means that some strange things have happened over the years that simply defy logical explanation (good gosh, the Lovett/Roberts union alone proves my point).  Does it mean an upset of Alabama by our beloved Razorbacks will happen?  Of course not.

But we don’t know that an upset won’t happen.  And therein lies the beauty of sport.  We’ll arrive at the stadium or in front of our televisions and we’ll share in that curiosity known to all living creatures and one particular polyester jacket:  Hope.  Not a lot of hope, mind you, and maybe for not very long into the contest.  But for some period of time on Saturday, we can all share the same thought – we might win.

Look, we may be down 24 points by half-time.  Or, wonder of wonders, we could be tied at half.  Or, we might be down 35 points going into the 4^th quarter.  Or, we might only be down by a single touchdown.  Or, if we let ourselves dream a bit, we might even be up by a touchdown or by a 57-yard long Zach Hocker field goal.  This coming Saturday, any number of things might happen.  So many, in fact, that it’s impossible to foresee or calculate all of them.  Besides, what do we really know anyway?  If we could predict everything with absolute certainty, we would have seen the Kardashians coming from a mile away – we could have stopped them when we had the chance!  What I do know, though, is that I mostly don’t know.

Except, there is one thing I do know.  This team is MY team.  I will stand by, with, behind and in front of them because I know that adversity will make us stronger and that better days are ahead.

Plus, I just might have some stones in my pocket, Goliath.

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This week’s WinChill Factor is actually the product of some legitimate, statistical analysis.  Well, it’s the product of some analysis as the whole concept of math is still something I’m trying to grasp.

Here’s the thing, for Arkansas to have success in this game, field position is going to be vitally important.  You see where I’m going with this?  You do, don’t you (that’s why I dig you WinChillers).  You all can already tell in advance that I’m picking Sam Irwin-Hill as this week’s WinChill Factor.  As the reigning SEC Special Teams Player of the Week, we might just need a couple of those stunning 79-yard punts of his to flip the field on ye olde Tide.

Or, to put it in Sam’s native language from Down Under, we may need punts of 72.2376 meters each to ensure we dictate field position and force them to go the length of the field.  Will he do it?  You know, he just might.

Until next week, Fear the Sleeves.

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Coach Bielema’s Windbreaker made its physical presence known on August 31, 2013.  It is chock full of Razorback spirit, has an unhealthy hatred of sweater vests and fears nothing (other than a hot iron on the “Cotton/Linen” setting).  As game days approach, the Windbreaker can be found interacting with the Razorback faithful on Twitter (@BielWindbreaker).

At times, the Windbreaker associates with Shayne Smith, a lifelong resident of central Arkansas who has been known to begin sentences with “Notwithstanding the foregoing….”