Slusher Situation Turning into PR Nightmare for Arkansas, City of Fayetteville
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Typically word that a player has left the Arkansas Razorbacks is met with a chorus of either "Thanks for all you did for the Hogs. Wish you the best of luck!" or "If they don't want to be here, then good riddance!"
Unfortunately for the University of Arkansas athletics department and the city of Fayetteville, that's not how things shook out online among Razorback fans when word trickled out that defensive back Myles Slusher had become the fourth member of the football team to quit in just over a week.
The infamous Arkansas Twitter exploded when the news hit, and then exploded again after Slusher openly accused the university of lying about the nature of his departure.
Once things got rolling, everyone became a target. Fans went after Slusher, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman and his coaching staff and the Fayetteville Police Department.
If perception is reality, then the reality for all involved, especially the university, the coaching staff and the local police department, is that a lot of public relations work will be in order over the coming days.
This couldn't come at a worse time for Pittman. His team just wrapped up a 6-6 season and is in desperate need to get across the finish line with his entire recruiting class intact in a few weeks.
There is no doubt that Arkansas commits will become prime targets of opposing coaches as other universities try to spin the recent drama to their advantage.
Below is an account of what fans had to say.
Numerous posts contained too many expletives to be displayed here, but the following still includes numerous samples. Some content was removed so it could be deemed appropriate to print. This is indicated by a white line.
Sam Pittman
Myles Slusher
Fayetteville Police
HOGS FEED:
SEC DITCHES BIG 12, ACC BAILS ON BIG TEN, WILL JOIN ESPN FOR ACC-SEC CHALLENGE
WHO SHOULD PITTMAN HAVE ON SPEED DIAL SHOULD BRILES DEPART?
HOG FANS ANXIOUS ABOUT WHEN DEBUT OF NICK SMITH WILL OCCUR
HEALTH OF RAZORBACK FOOTBALL PROGRAM GETS DIAGNOSED
NUMBER OF RAZORBACKS DEPARTING PROGRAM STARTING TO PILE UP
RAZORBACKS UNABLE TO CLINCH FIRST WIN IN MISSOURI
ANDY HODGES' PREGAME FINAL LOOK BEFORE HOGS' GAME WITH MISSOURI
PORTAL ACTIVITY WILL SAY A LOT ABOUT PITTMAN'S APPROACH TO BOWLS
WATCH-LISTEN: HOGS LOOKING TO KEEP MIZZOU OUT OF BOWL GAME
LET THE ERIC MUSSELMAN APOLOGY TOUR START
TOUGH WIN IN MAUI WILL PAY BIG IN MARCH
LIVE REACTION TO HOGS' OVERTIME WIN OVER SAN DIEGO STATE IN MAUI
AZTECS THE MATCH-UP ARKANSAS NEEDED AFTER TOUGH LOSS
MUSSELMAN SQUARES OFF AGAINST FORMER RIVAL
SEC ROUND-UP: LANE KIFFIN STAKES HEAT UP, GATORS PULL SCHOLARSHIP FOR RACIAL SLURS
HOGS MOTIVATION AGAINST MISSOURI IS MORE PRACTICE TIME; TIGERS JUST QUALIFYING FOR A BOWL
CREIGHTON DELIVERS CLINIC TO HOGS ON VALUE OF TEAMWORK
LOTS OF POSITIVES FOR HOGS IN LOSING CLOSE ONE TO NO. 10 CREIGHTON
SEC ROLL CALL TROLLS VANDERBILT FOR SECOND WEEK IN A ROW
SEC SHORTS HAS TENNESSEE, OLE MISS MEETS WITH THE PLAYOFFS
AUBURN POTENTIALLY STUCK IN A TEEN ROM-COM
RANDOM OBSERVATIONS FROM RAZORBACKS BLOWING OUT LOUISVILLE IN MAUI
TRANSFER PORTAL NEWS PROBABLY WON'T WAIT UNTIL MONDAY MORNING
OLE MISS COACH LANE KIFFIN MAY HAVE GIVEN A CLUE TO WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH AUBURN
DID PITTMAN LAY GROUNDWORK TO SHOP AGGIES BLACK FRIDAY SALE?
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