Greatness isn’t always appreciated the moment it’s birthed. For example, John Carpenter’s The Thing was a box office bomb. How’s that even possible? Here’s what Roger Ebert said about The Thing in his 1982 review:

“The Thing” is a great barf-bag movie, all right, but is it any good? I found it disappointing, for two reasons: the superficial characterizations and the implausible behavior of the scientists on that icy outpost.

Roger Ebert

What the hell, Roger? How were you, a winner of the Pulitzer Prize, unable to recognize the masterpiece before you? Honestly, The Thing is the finest performance of Richard Masur’s career, and probably Keith David’s too. Calling The Thing a “barf bag move” is like calling the Mona Lisa a selfie. It’s inexcusable. It’s a travesty.

That’s why I feel compelled to apologize for being so late to appreciate the Red Wolves home schedule brilliance.

Look at it – and marvel, y’all! There’s not a weak noodle in the bunch. It’s sublime. It’s perfect. There’s not a single game a Red Wolves fan would miss without experiencing intense emotional agony.

September 4, University of Central Arkansas Bears

The first game of the Butchboro Era is one that can’t be missed or lost. Coach Blake Anderson never truly recovered from his defeat to the Purple Bears, and Butch Jones won’t want to repeat that travesty on the season opener.

September 11, University of Memphis Tigers

We’ve played these cats for 100 years, and few rise to the level to hated enemy than the Tigers. Memphis v A-State games always draw an incredible crowd, and I expect The Cent to be filled – with people and rancor.

October 7, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

First conference home game is with the Sun Belt champs? Yes to that! The road to the Sun Belt Sheriff’s Badge runs through Conway, SC, and the biggest statement Butch Jones and the Red Wolves can make this season is to fry the Chants in front of a home crowd.

October 21, Louisiana Ragin Cajuns

In 2013, new head coach Bryan Harsin made the unforgivable error of losing to Memphis AND Louisiana. Butch Jones won’t dare make that mistake because nothing makes the Red Wolves fan base crankier than losing to the Cajuns. Nothing. NOTHING!

November 6, Appalachian State Mountaineers

The Mountaineers have ruled the Red Wolves in Jonesboro, and that’s about enough of that. The Chants and Cajuns may be getting the Top 25 love, but the Mountaineers are still Sheriff in these parts, and it will be satisfying to see Butch Jones pull it off their chest.

November 27, Texas State Bobcats

How many times have the Red Wolves closed a championship season by pimp-slap’n the Bobcats? It’s tradition, right? Texas State needs an attitude adjustment after defeating the Red Wolves in San Marcos last year. Jones & Associates will deliver the perfect punctuation to the season.

PHOTO CREDIT: Yeah I made that