University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

Page 17 text:

HOG INVASION Although Todd Day made 27 points, the Hogs lost, 83-97, to the Duke Blue Devils. Day autographs a young fan’s cap at the welcome home rally for the team at Drake Field. R. MINOR PHOTO FOUL TROUBLE Center Oliver Miller (25) sits on the bench following a time out after getting into foul trouble early in the first half of the NCAA Final Four semifinal game against the Duke Blue Devils. Miller made three points and blocked three shots in the losing effort. AP PHOTO Courtesy of the Morning News Final Four

Page 16 text:

CONTINUED But at the Final Four, the Razorbacks had to do it without the thousands of loyal fans who cheered them on the victory in Dallas. Tickets to the Final Four sold out months before, and only the University’s scholarship donors could get tickets through the University. A fter reality set in, fans realized they had to start working on ways to get tickets once again, this time to the Final Four. One fan said he had discovered the perfect solution — “Visa, of course.” Fans who were able to get tickets to the game in Denver saw the first Razorbacks to play in the Final Four since 1978 when the famed “triplets” — Sidney Moncrief, Ron Brewer and Marvin Delph — led the Razorbacks to a third place finish. The Hogs also reached the Final Four in 1941 and 1940, when the NCAA field was only eight teams. This year, 64 teams competed in the tournament. Although Duke was in the Final Four in 1978, Arkansas and Duke had never faced each other on the basketball court prior to the Final Four. “I’ve never ever played Duke,” Nolan Richardson said. “I’ve never played against Coach K. (Ken Krzyzewski) I’m looking forward to playing another team from the ACC.” Richardson got his chance, but the outcome isn’t what he wanted. Trailing by 10-points with a minute and a half to play in the game, Duke won, 97-83, and Arkansas surrendered. The dream was over. Although Arkansas fans were disap¬ pointed, most realized the Razorbacks advanced further than 60 of the other teams in the NCAA Tournament. And even before University of Nevada-Las Vegas knocked Duke off to win the title, Hog fans were already talking about the possibilities of making the Final Four the next year. • DENWR-BOUND. Members of the basketball team celebrate their NCAA Midwest Regional final win, 88-85, over the Texas Longhorns in Dallas. For awhile, Hog fans had reason to doubt Arkansas would be Denver- bound AP PHOTO Courtesy of the Morning News Student Life

Page 18 text:

REDJNTIffiFACE. There was swine fever among the fans at the Mobil Cotton Bowl as each team ' s fans arrived in their favorite spirit outfits, Keith Liles and Wesley Blankenship turned some heads with Hog Wild painted across their foreheads and Hog hats to top it off. J. MOORE PHOTO NOTEWORTHY SPIRIT The band is one organization on campus that supports the Razorbacks in any sporting event. During the Homecoming game against Baylor, Buddy Johnson, Monte Womble and Kevin Hunter prepare to entertain the fans with a halftime show. J. APPLEBY PHOTO A YEAR TO CHEER With Southwest Conference championships in football, baseball, indoor track, cross country and men ' s and women ' s basketball, Razorback fans had a lot to cheer about during the year. Members of the Greek community sing the alma mater and show support during the Tulsa pep rally. C. NG PHOTO 14 Student Life