In theology, "eschatology" refers to "last things," the long-awaited return of Jesus to make all things new and set this world right. Jesus said it was coming at a time when no one knew, and so we had better keep watch and pay no mind to literary-theological trainwrecks like the Left Behind series. For 2,000 years this "blessed hope" has sustained his followers through many triumphs, toils, and tears.
As a crude parallel, every subculture has its own "blessed hope" that seems oh-so-close yet ever distant. The Razorback Nation is no exception. For years, our lead prophet Houston Dale Nutt ("HDN" in Hog-speak) has been promising that we're just around the corner from a new golden era of Razorback football. In response, most Hog fans have taken to the internet message boards and radio talk shows to sing a little Johnny Hates Jazz back at HDN: "Now you've given me, given me, nothing but shattered dreams, shattered dreams."
But lift up your Hog hats and be lifted up! After a 27-10 a-whipping of #2-ranked Auburn, 2006 is shaping up to be the long-awaited "Year of the Hog." It turns out the first sighting of this new age came at sunup Saturday in Scotland, where my good friend Todd Stockdale is somewhat of a Razorback-monk: a semi-ascetic fellow who has left a plum post in comfy, complacent Rome (Fayetteville) to seek a purer devotion in the wilderness (Edinburgh). He thought he had escaped the crazyness of the Razorback Nation until he saw this stained-glass sign at a countryside castle where he was on retreat. A few hours after this sign appeared, Darren McFadden broke through the Auburn D-line and the new age was inagurated:
That's perfect. Wish you could have been here.
Posted by: Mom | October 09, 2006 at 04:25 PM
I agree with your Mom, great post. BTW, she went absolutely insane at the game. I would have been embarrassed, but I was crazier than she!
Can you get Todd to send the stained glass picture to the alumni association? I'm sure they would like to follow up on that for a possible article.
Posted by: Phil Selig | October 09, 2006 at 07:00 PM
Phil Selig can say what he wants about your Mom being "crazy", but I (who sat behind him) have "indisputable video evidence" that he was certifiably insane during the post-victory celebration.
I, too, wish you had been there. I know you have wandered in the wilderness with the rest of us lo these many years, and it was truly great to celebrate on the mountaintop.
Nice blog, Hunter.
Posted by: The Reverend Dr. MalvernHog | October 10, 2006 at 02:26 PM
Malvie, does Selig still wear that plastic Hog snout all the time? I think it cuts off his oxygen supply.
Posted by: Hunter Beaumont | October 10, 2006 at 10:26 PM
Wrong Selig. It's Roman and not Phil that wears the Hog snout. And, yes, he still wears it.
Posted by: Mom | October 13, 2006 at 03:55 PM
Huntarian,
You've done it again. One of the finest commentaries on current porcine theology (that Johnny hates jazz thing was the best) Only.....and I hate to say it, a year or so too soon. Not yet young friends. While this is great fun, we'll do better next year, and then comes the year of the Hog. Keep yer lamps lit!!
Posted by: Brian Newton | October 23, 2006 at 06:57 PM