When I arrived at Harding last year I cared about two sports leagues: the MLB and the NFL. College athletics had never crossed my mind. Period.
But then the South hit me. Because, apparently, people care a lot more about college football down here than in Chicago.
The first time I read “Woo Pig Sooie!” and saw #WPS trending on Twitter, I thought that it was some type of pork dish. It sounded Asian maybe.
But the more I thought about Asin food from the South, the more it didn’t make sense.
So I asked what it was, and one of my best friends, a die-hard Razorback fan, quickly corrected my embarrassed self.
Acouple of months later we went to a concert at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro and upon seeing the bright red “Welcome to ASU” sign, I yelled out “Woo Pig Sooie!” thinking that I had finally gotten something right about college football. I mean, how many big red colleges could there be in Arkansas?
Apparently more than one, and I had chosen the wrong one.
It was worse than mixing up Kojies and Zeta Rho. The whole car burst into laughter and I was shamed into silence.
I’ve learned since then, and have thus begun my first season of following the SEC. I admit, I still care more about the White Sox and the MLB right now, but with the high population of Hog fans in Arkansas, this could change.
I also decided a few things about college sports. First off, even though I am from Chicago I couldn’t care less about any Illinois colleges. I know so much more about the SEC than whatever conference is up north.
I’m also planning on training my little brothers to be Razorbacks fans.
All that being said, I now know enough to make a few basic predictions about the SEC.
I don’t think Auburn is going to have a great year. It’s just been going downhill ever since quarterback Cam Newton left for the Panthers two years ago.
I thought the Razorbacks would have a chance at the SEC championship, and if it was just up to their offense they could have it down pat. But when they let Jacksonville State University score 24 on Saturday, it made me doubt their defensive abilities a little bit.
Anyways, if you live in the South you better follow college sports. If you don’t, well, good luck finding a different conversation topic on any given Razorbacks game day.
And just remember, ASU is not woo pig sooie. And pig sooie is not food.
