Arkansas QB (Sort of) Blames Bad Game on Justin Bieber T-shirt

By Brendan Menapace

Athletes are superstitious. Michael Jordan used to wear mesh UNC shorts under his Bulls shorts (and put a few bucks on the game), and Jason Giambi wore, uh, significantly less fabric under his pants. Wade Boggs ate chicken before every game (and possibly drank a ton of beer), and took batting practice and sprints at weirdly specific times. Gretzky threw some baby powder on his stick (and we can't argue with his success, honestly).

Whatever works, right?

For former Texas A&M quarterback Nick Starkel, now throwing for Arkansas, "whatever works" meant rocking a Justin Bieber T-shirt under his jersey every game, according to Yahoo Sports. But, whatever magic the Biebs was giving him from under his pads seems to have worn off, as Starkel threw five picks to dismal San Jose State, a team that had won three games over its last two seasons.

Starkel took the loss hard, and didn't entirely not blame it on the Bieber shirt.

I let my brothers, my family, my coaches, my University and the whole state of Arkansas down... I promise that we will respond.

— Coach Nick Starkel (@NickStarkel) September 22, 2019

Bieber shirt has been ripped in half and thrown away. No more nonsense. No more distractions. All I’m focusing on is this team and this season. Nothing else. ✌🏼

— Coach Nick Starkel (@NickStarkel) September 22, 2019

Poor Biebs. Just as Starkel took the loss to San Jose State badly, Bieber took the symbolic loss of Starkel's trust equally hard, posting his tweets with a little message of his own:

https://twitter.com/Kelli_Stacy_/status/1175893022854340608

I feel like it's my editorial duty to remind you that Justin Bieber isn't the best guy to have on your sports team. Here he is having his face crushed against the boards by Chris Pronger during a celebrity hockey game. Here he is tripping and then missing a short pass during a celebrity basketball game. Here he is eating pavement on a skateboard!

Starkel and Arkansas are heading to the Dallas Cowboys' stadium in Arlington, Texas, to face off against his old school. If he doesn't find another Canadian pop star to bring him luck, he might just find himself in a losing position again.

Might we suggest Carly Rae Jepsen?