Aloha from the International dateline aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70),
Clay has fondly compared the 2021 Razorbacks offensive backfield to that of the 1975 Hogs. As my memory serves (sorry, no press guides or other reference material handy), Mike Kirkland was the starting QB in the opener against Air Force and was later injured during the season and replaced by Scott Bull. Jerry Eckwood was enjoying a Heisman type season until he got injured against Utah State. Ike Forte later got injured with turf toe. The freshmen Ben Cowins and Michael Forrest ably picked up the slack. Roland Fuchs played like a living bowling ball.
The offensive line was no doubt stellar. But oh my, that defense was spectacular! LB Dennis Dirt Winston, DE Ivan Jordan, SS Bo Busby all were exceptional football players among many others.
As for Teddy Barnes, it was OH that tabbed him “The Immortal Teddy Barnes” after making an amazing catch back in the EZ late in the second qtr. against the Aggies. Teddy made that catch over the out stretched hands and arms of All-Americans Lester Hayes and Pat Thomas! That game and OH’s game story made such an impression, my family created a plaque with OH’s write-up and it was proudly displayed in our family house until my parents passed away years later.
The 31-6 victory over the #2 ranked undefeated Aggies is my all-time favorite game. The Aggies had beaten Texas the week before. Texas had beaten Arkansas at Fayetteville in October. The winner of the Aggies and Razorbacks game would go to the Cotton Bowl. The Aggies were a big favorite (18 pts?). National TV. It was huge. The electricity at the game was the best I have ever enjoyed. That was also the first season the Aggie band perfected their famous weave march.
One more lasting impression. Frank Broyles. I walked by the team’s bus after the game and saw Frank sitting in the front of the team’s bus. He had the happiest smile I’ve ever seen. He was one happy camper!
UA…Campus of Champions
I remember the headline in the sports page of the Tulsa World , the next morning, the Hogs give A&M “Liberty “, the loser of the game went to the Liberty Bowl.
Was at that game as a 15 year old Jr in HS. Little Rock was rocking that night. Even letting a few of us high schoolers in some local bars. Well we had in our letter jackets to. Lol.
2 years later played in the HS All Star game there as a WR. Was hoping to emulate Barnes catch in the end zone. Sigh, didn’t happen.
I was 21 and at the game. Pretty good recall. I’m not going to correct anything. Good read of a thread.
WPS!
Guy…great memories for sure.
And thanks for serving our country. You have my respect and prayers.
The 1975 season was the first one I can actually remember, though the memories are pretty vague. That game against the Aggies is probably the first specific game I have memories of, though for me it’s more memories of the circumstances (finally getting to go back to the Cotton Bowl) and the coverage of the game than the game itself. I know the early 70’s had been a bit of a struggle for Arkansas after having been so successful the previous decade, so the '75 season was a big deal for Hog fans.
I know the '76 season was disappointing, but I do remember watching the Hogs and Horns play in Coach Broyles final game in Austin (played in December that year). I definitely have some vivid memories of watching that game, and then the 1977 season is the year that I can remember watching them (okay, listening on radio mostly) game by game. I guess I would consider that season under Coach Holtz the beginning of me being a big fan.
Do young fans of today, who have been able to watch pretty much every game on TV, even know that back in the day it was a big deal when you found out that ABC had picked up a Razorback game to be on TV?
Oh, and either Ike Forte or Michael Forrest (can’t remember for sure which one) was a substitute teacher for one of my classes in Jacksonville as a high school student a few years later. I think it was Ike, but I do know that I remembered the name.
Great memories.
I was 12 when watching the Hogs take down the Aggies. Only about 50K attended the game but it was as loud as any crowd I’ve experienced.
“The Immortal Teddy Barnes” description actually originated with one J. Frank Broyles, who uttered it the next day…I believe during his Sunday afternoon television show. Orville Henry then picked up on it. OH, in his book, “A Story of Arkansas Football” says, “Scott Bull spotted Teddy Barnes (the “immortal Teddy Barnes,” Broyles was to say the next day) in the corner of the end zone. Bull threw a bomb. Two defenders were there–crowding, leaping–but Barnes came down with the ball. With 34 seconds left in the half, Arkansas led 7-0. And that, really, was enough.”
Was at that game. Remember it well. What a great team with some really good olinemen. All those great backs went down, but it didn’t matter. That line provided 5 yards before they would get hit anyway. Beat GA bad in Cotton Bowl when the swinging gate did not swing to well. The only way GA scored was on a bogus fumble (bad call on a pass). great team.
I went with my Dad and brother-in-law. I was 16 and it was my first Little Rock game. What a game to be at! HEY HEY HO HO ARKANSAS TO THE COTTON BOWL!!!
I remember that Cotton Bowl. Not only did I predict the score, but how the game would play out. Things worked out as I called it. Georgia got out to a fast start but folded under relentless pressure and the Hogs won going away. It was the 2nd best Razorback bowl game I’ve been to. The best came only 3 years later. Actually, those are the only bowl games I’ve been to. Considering the record, maybe I should go to more.
I played with the immortal Teddy Barnes my senior season year at Lepanto in 1968 graduating in 1969. Teddy moved up from the junior high team after their season ended that season. He was a tailback and I was the senior starting QB . I knew then he had great talent watching him in junior high and when he played with our senior high team the final games of our season. I went on to Arkansas my freshman year in 1969. Followed his seasons with the Lepanto High School team until he graduated . My sister was in his graduating class. I watched him play high school basketball those years and he made that same type of leap in basketball that he did in the A&M game many times. He had great body control. I was at the Arkansas and A&M game in the Rock when he made that catch right before halftime . Interesting that two eastern Arkansas athletes made that play. Scott Bull from Jonesboro, and Teddy Barnes from Lepanto made a memorable play in Razorback football history. On a side note Teddy still lives in the Lepanto area now. He’s not in the best of health and could use your prayers.
Clay, I knew you and Teddy were close. I used to see Teddy working for Boris Malcyzki in the late 70s. That was an interesting crew.
I was 16 years old, and it was the first game I attended “on my own”. My best friend and I drove from DeWitt. We felt so important.
As I recall it, on Coach Broyles’ Sunday afternoon show he declared that he (Barnes), “…would forevermore be known as the Immortal Teddy Barnes!” And it was so.
I believe that Coach Broyles commissioned a painting of “The Catch.”
Interestingly, I believe the other starter at wide receiver for that team was Freddie Douglas, who I recall being from McGehee. Both Teddy and Freddie were listed about 5’9’’, quite a difference from the measurements of most of today’s wideouts.
Wow famous quotes from AR Coaches,
I remember a quote from Lou Holtz once
Robert Farrel wasn’t just reaching for the ball, he was reaching for his scholarship.
Scott, what was the route from DeWitt to Little Rock – through Keo?