Hog fans rushed the field after the Razorback football team beat LSU, a field incursion that triggered a $25,000 SEC fine. To urge fans not to repeat the demonstration should the Hogs happen to beat Ole Miss Saturday, the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Arkansas dreamed up a Twitter campaign with the hashtag #KeepItClasssyArkansas.
Hog fans might lack class? The very idea!
The social media response was so fast and furious that the campaign was withdrawn and an apology issued.
It wasn’t mentioned in the story, but Arkansas was also fined $25,000 for rushing the field, and would be fined $50,000 for doing it again. While of course no one wants anyone to get hurt, it’s hard to believe that’s not a factor.
The worst part of it all is the name of the program. #KeepItClassyArkansas. As if the Razorback fans, who have suffered through everything they’ve suffered through for two and a half years, are somehow lacking class for taking over the field and celebrating with players after the game. That’s unbelievably sanctimonious.
Arkansas should be beyond thrilled fans kept showing up to games. Nobody ever has to buy tickets or make donations, but that’s especially true after a 3-9, 0-8 season that followed up a 5-7 lost year.
KARK reports on the pullback:
The Division of Student Affairs launched a social media campaign, #KeepItClassyArkansas, Friday morning but it was quickly met with anger and criticism on social media.
On Friday afternoon, the organization took to Twitter, saying “Our attempt to create a catchy hashtag to remind all to stay off the field for safety reasons was a #fail. We know you are classy. GO HOGS!”
“We really apologize to the Razorback family. We did not intend to offend anyone with our earlier message.”
Root Hog or die. Pigs smell good. WPS. And all of that.
BTW: Lots of comments here. Some not very classy.