Arkansas Razorback Records on the Line versus Kansas State in the 2012 Cotton Bowl

 

Since the arrival of Bobby Petrino as Arkansas’ head coach in 2008 the Razorback offense has taken off to new heights, especially in the passing game. It comes as no surprise that the 2011 Razorback college football team could see several offensive records broken by season’s end. 

Here are a few team and individual single season and career records that could be lost or achieved for the Hogs in the 2012 Cotton Bowl against Kansas State.

Points per Game:

Arkansas currently averages 37.42 points per game ranking No. 14 in college football for the season. The previous single season record for the Razorbacks was in 2007 when the Hogs averaged 37.3 points per game. 

If the Hogs pull up short of their season’s scoring average against the Wildcats they will fall behind the 2007 team.

Kansas State allows 27.83 points per game ranking No. 70 in college football.

Pass Completions for the Season:

In 2010 Arkansas completed 301 passes. Led by Ryan Mallett’s 266 pass completions with the help of Tyler Wilson’s 34. 

This season Tyler Wilson has the Hogs on the cusp of breaking a record he helped set.

The Hogs have completed 279 passes entering the Cotton Bowl, 257 by Wilson. 22 more completions will tie the single season mark. 

The Wildcat pass defense is ranked No. 104 in CFB allowing an average of 267.33 yards per game.

KSU allows an opponent completion rate of 63 percent.

Total Team Points Scored in a Season:

The 2007 Razorback team was the most prolific scoring team in school history compiling 485 points behind the play of Doak Walker Award winner Darren McFadden and his backfield teammates Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis. 

The Hogs almost eclipsed the 2007 scoring record last season when they posted 474 points, the second highest total in school history. 

If Arkansas hits their 2011 points per game average (37.4) against the Wildcats they will pass the 36 total points needed to tie the 2007 mark and set the single season scoring record.

Total Individual Points Scored in a Season:

Sophomore kicker Zach Hocker is 13 points behind Bill Burnett’s 1969 record of 120 points scored in a season and 2 points behind Alex Tejada’s second place mark of 109 points set in 2007.

Hocker has kicked 53 PATs and 18 field goals in 2011 to reach the third highest total in a season – 107.  

Total Touchdowns in a Season:

The 2007 Razorback team scored 62 total touchdowns to set the school record. The past two seasons Bobby Petrino’s offense has scored 60 touchdowns each year to set the mark for second most touchdowns scored passing the 2003 mark of 56.

If Petrino’s offense can score six more touchdowns against Kansas State they will tie the single season record of 62.

Kansas State’s total defense is ranked No. 73 in college football giving up 398.75 yards per game.

Single Season Receiving Touchdowns:

Senior wide receiver Jarius Wright is tied with former Razorback receiver Markus Monk for the most touchdown receptions in a season with 11. One more receiving touchdown places Wright as the single season record setter.

Career Receiving Yards:

Jarius Wright set the single season receiving yardage total at Arkansas in 2011 – 1,029.

Anthony Lucas set the career receiving yard mark for the Razorbacks between 1995-1999 piling up 2,879 total yards. 

Wright has 2,846 total career receiving yards entering the Cotton Bowl putting him 33 yards away from tying Lucas’ career total.

Career Receiving Touchdowns:

Wright is also within reach of tying Markus Monks’ career receiving touchdown total of 27 for the Razorbacks. Monk set the record during the 2004-2007 seasons.

Wright has 23 career touchdowns.

2011 SEC Receiving Totals:

Wright needs 11 more receiving yards to overtake Da’Rick Rogers (Tennessee) for the SEC lead in receiving yards. Rogers has 1,040 total yards.

Wright is also five receptions (63) shy of passing Rogers for the SEC lead in total catches. Rogers has 67 total receptions.

Wright is the league leader in total receiving touchdowns with 11.

The 2012 Cotton Bowl will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas January 6, at 7:00 p.m. CST on FOX.

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Arkansas Razorback’s 2012 College Football Schedule Should Yield another 10-win Season

 

On Wednesday the University of Arkansas athletic department released a tentative 2012 college football schedule, a schedule that should give the Razorbacks their third 10-win season in a row.

Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino is leading Razorback fans into uncharted waters. The Razorbacks have never had three straight seasons of 10 or more wins. After back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2010 and 2011, Petrino has the Hogs on the cusp of the college football elite.

The most prolific era of Razorback football in terms of wins came from 1985-1989 under former head coach Ken Hatfield. During that five-year span the Hogs won 48 games with 13 losses posting two back-to-back 10 win seasons in 1988 and 1989 for only the second time in school history – 1964 11 wins and 1965 10 wins.

Previewing the 2012 schedule coupled with the amount of talent the Hogs have returning, 10-wins should be attainable next season.

The Hogs start the 2012 college football season off with Jacksonville State on September 1, in Fayetteville followed by another non-conference game against Louisiana-Monroe. The Hogs then begin SEC play at home against Alabama on September 15.

After the Alabama game the Hogs have an opportunity to fill the following weekend versus a non-conference team or have an open date.

The next three opponents include Texas A&M and Auburn on the road and then back home to face Kentucky.

October 20, is another weekend the Razorbacks can leave as an open date or fill against a non-conference opponent.

Starting on October 27, The Hogs have back-to-back home games against Ole Miss and Tulsa before going on the road to face South Carolina and Mississippi State.

As the schedule is currently laid out, Arkansas will host LSU on Saturday November 24, instead of on Friday the day after Thanksgiving. CBS has traditionally aired the Battle for the Golden Boot on Friday. Should CBS pick up the game again in 2012 the game day could be moved.

For now it appears that South Carolina will remain Arkansas’ annual SEC East opponent as former Big 12 conference foes, Texas A&M and Missouri, will be paired against one another as SEC Divisional rivals.

The Razorbacks keep A&M on the schedule but no longer as a non-conference game. The site of the game has not been confirmed. The Arkansas athletic department has let it be known that they would like to keep their game against the Aggies in Arlington, Texas at the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium instead of alternating venues.

The Razorbacks rotate Vanderbilt off their schedule and lose the backend of the home-and-away matchup against SEC East rival Tennessee in 2012.

The two big games on Arkansas’ schedule appear to be Alabama and LSU, either team will be the defending 2011 BCS National Champion.

Alabama is the lone SEC West opponent Petrino has not defeated as head coach of the Razorbacks. Not counting the potential loss of underclassmen, the Tide’s football team is set to lose 24 total players off this season’s BCS National Championship Title team – 11 offensive players, 12 defensive, and 1 on special teams.

LSU is slated to lose 21 total players to graduation – 9 on offense, 9 on defense, and 3 on special teams.

Arkansas will lose 20 to graduation – 7 offense and 13 on defense.

The Razorbacks will have a tough time replacing senior wide receivers Joe Adams, Greg Childs, and Jarius Wright. Petrino will also have to replace Grant Freeman and Grant Cook along the offensive line.

On defense, new defensive coordinator Paul Haynes will have an even tougher time replacing defensive end Jake Bequette, cornerback Isaac Madison, safety Tramain Thomas, and linebackers Jerrico Nelson and Jerry Franklin after their collegiate eligibility is finished.

A saving grace for Petrino is he could have two Heisman Trophy candidates, quarterback Tyler Wilson and running back Knile Davis, on offense in 2012 to lead the Razorbacks to another 10-win season or more.

The Arkansas Razorback 2012 Schedule

Jacksonville State, September 1, Home

Louisana Monroe, September 8, Home

Alabama, September 15, Home

Open Date, TBD

Texas A&M, September 29, TBD

Auburn, Auburn, AL

Kentucky, Home

Open Date, TBD

Ole Miss, Home

Tulsa, Home

South Carolina, Columbia, SC

Mississippi State, Starkville, MS

LSU, Home

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SEC Football: Two Recruits Commit Giving Arkansas an Early Christmas Gift

Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino received an early Christmas gift when Austin Flynn became the first official recruit for the 2012 class to sign a letter of intent with the Razorbacks on Wednesday.

Flynn, 6’4”, 250 pounds, with 4.55 forty-yard speed is listed as a three-star defensive end (Rivals.com). Flynn, from Wilmington, California, played at Los Angles Harbor Community College the past two seasons.

Petrino received another verbal commitment on Wednesday from three-star Manvel, Texas defensive end Taiwan Johnson. Johnson is listed at 6’3”, 240 pounds, and runs a reported 4.8 forty-yard dash.

Johnson recorded 86 total tackles this season with 11 sacks and 1 fumble recovery. In 2010 he had 61 total tackles, 7 sacks, with 1 fumble recovery.

The addition of Flynn and Johnson should help offset the loss of senior defensive end Jake Bequette to graduation.

More Arkansas Recruiting News

Arkansas lost out on one of the top rated junior college cornerbacks when Mo Seisay verbally committed to Nebraska on Tuesday after visiting Arkansas over the weekend of December 17.

The Hogs are now in the running for tailback Greg Garmon from Erie, Pennsylvania. Garmon is ranked the No. 26 prospect in the nation. He is listed at 6’1”, 200 pounds with 4.36 forty-yard dash.

Garmon was recruited by new offensive coordinator Paul Petrino while he was at Illinois and Arkansas’ new defensive coordinator Paul Haynes while he was at Ohio State.

If Garmon were to commit he would join running backs Donovan Roberts of Norman, Oklahoma and Jonathan Williams of Allen, Texas.

Roberts was recently offered by University of Oklahoma. Roberts kept his verbal commitment to Arkansas despite being offered by one of the top colleges in the nation that happens to reside in his hometown.

Garmon reports over 40 scholarship offers.

Arkansas’ football team is currently ranked No. 25 in the nation in recruiting by Rivals.com, No. 17 by Scout.com, and moved up three spots to No. 26 by ESPN.com.

Here’s a list of the 22 Razorbacks recruits:

1. OG Cordale Boyd, Memphis, TN
2. CB Ray Buchanan Jr., Suwanee, GA
3. WR Jalen Cobb, Warren, AR
4. CB Jared Collins, Tulsa, OK
5. WR D’Arthur Cowan, Olive Branch, MS
6. DE Austin Flynn, Wilmington, CA
7. WR Courtney Gardner, Roseville, CA
8. CB John Gibson, Missouri City, TX
9. WR Keon Hatcher, Owasso, OK
10. WR Eric Hawkins, Longview, TX
11. DE Taiwan Johnson, Manvel, TX
12. DE Brandon Lewis, Memphis, TN
13. DB Defonta Lowe, Bearden, AR
14. ATH Nathan Holems, Port Arthur, TX
15. RB Donovan Roberts, Norman, OK
16. TE Jeremy Sprinkle, White Hall, AR
17. LB Jakarri Thomas, Tallahassee, FL
18. LB A.J. Turner, Lepanto, AR
19. OG Jeremy Ward, Pottsville, AR
20. DE JaMichael Winston, Prichard, AL
21. RB Jonathan Williams, Allen, TX
22. DE Deatrich Wise Jr., Carrolton, TX

Position by position breakdown of Arkansas 2012 verbal commitments:

Offensive line: Two

Tight ends: One

Defensive line: Five

Linebackers: Two

Secondary: Four

Running backs: Two

Wide receivers: Five

Quarterbacks: Zero

Athletes: One

Kickers: Zero

All verbal commitments are non-binding until a letter of intent is signed. 

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SEC Football: Razorbacks Add another Verbal Commitment for 2012 Class

Lose two recruits but gain one big one in the process. Arkansas fans and the Razorback staff are getting a first-hand look at how finicky college football recruiting can be in the modern era.

The first week of December Arkansas added three-star (Rivals.com) junior college defensive tackle Mike Pennel to the verbally committed list only to have him de-commit a couple of days later.

Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino wasted little time adding another junior college recruit when four-star (Rivals.com) wide receiver Courtney Gardner verbally pledged to join the Hogs on Thursday.

Gardner plays for Sierra Community College in California and will be a summer enrollment for the Hogs. He is listed at 6’3” 215 pounds and runs a 4.4 forty-yard dash.

In 2010 Gardner caught 22 passes for 403 yards with 5 touchdowns. This season he had 61 catches for 1,099 yards and 13 touchdowns.

After committing to the Hogs during the summer, Chicago quarterback Robert Gregory has opened his recruiting back up.

No word if Gregory’s decision is based on former offensive coordinator Garrick McGee leaving the program to be the head coach at University of Alabama-Birmingham or if Arkansas has a line on another top quarterback prospect chasing Gregory away.

The Razorbacks are still in the running for Springfield, Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. Green-Beckham or “DBG” is listed as the top recruit in the nation regardless of position.

DBG caught 119 passes for 2,233 yards with 24 touchdowns as a senior.

Arkansas’ football team is currently ranked No. 25 in the nation in recruiting by Rivals.com, No. 17 by Scout.com, and moved up three spots to No. 26 by ESPN.com.

Here’s a list of the 20 Razorbacks recruits:

1. OG Cordale Boyd, Memphis, TN
2. CB Ray Buchanan Jr., Suwanee, GA
3. WR Jalen Cobb, Warren, AR
4. CB Jared Collins, Tulsa, OK
5. WR D’Arthur Cowan, Olive Branch, MS
6. WR Courtney Gardner, Roseville, CA
7. CB John Gibson, Missouri City, TX
8. WR Keon Hatcher, Owasso, OK
9. WR Eric Hawkins, Longview, TX
10. DE Brandon Lewis, Memphis, TN
11. DB Defonta Lowe, Bearden, AR
12. ATH Nathan Holems, Port Arthur, TX
13. RB Donovan Roberts, Norman, OK
14. TE Jeremy Sprinkle, White Hall, AR
15. LB Jakarri Thomas, Tallahassee, FL
16. LB A.J. Turner, Lepanto, AR
17. OG Jeremy Ward, Pottsville, AR
18. DE JaMichael Winston, Prichard, AL
19. RB Jonathan Williams, Allen, TX
20. DE Deatrich Wise Jr., Carrolton, TX

Position by position breakdown of Arkansas 2012 verbal commitments:

Offensive line: 2

Tight ends: 1

Defensive line: 3

Linebackers: 2

Secondary: 4

Running backs: 2

Wide receivers: 5

Quarterbacks: 0

Athletes: 1

Kickers: 0

All verbal commitments are non-binding until a letter of intent is signed. 

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Liberty Bowl Preview: Vanderbilt versus Cincinnati in SEC-Big East Matchup

The Liberty Bowl has a storied tradition of producing can’t miss bowl games and this year’s contest is no exception. On December 31, Memphis, Tennessee will host an up and coming 6-6 Vanderbilt team against a powerful 9-3 Cincinnati squad in a SEC versus Big East showdown.

Both teams feature head coaches looking to establish themselves at their new schools.

In his first year at Vanderbilt, James Franklin has brought an excitement to the Commodore program not seen since the mid 1970’s when Steve Sloan and Fred Pancoast were roaming the sidelines as the head coach. No coincidence that was the last time Vandy had back-to-back winning seasons.

Franklin managed to surpass the Commodores’ total wins from 2009 (2) and 2010 (2) while changing the mentality of an overlooked program to one opposing team’s fear.

Vandy had an opportunity to beat Georgia, Arkansas, Florida, and Tennessee this year. As with many young teams the Commodores are still learning how to win and appear to be only a year away from being a SEC East contender.

After three seasons at Central Michigan (2007-2009), Butch Jones followed his predecessor Brian Kelly from CMU to Cincinnati when Kelly departed for the Notre Dame job opening.

Jones had a tall order to fill in 2010. The Bearcats were 12-1 in 2009 coming off an undefeated regular season and a Big East Championship with their lone loss coming in the Sugar Bowl to No. 5 Florida. Cincinnati struggled to a 4-8 record but Jones instilled in his players a blueprint for what would be a great 2011 campaign.

The Bearcats hard work paid off in 2011 with tough wins over Louisville, South Florida, and Pittsburgh. A heartbreaking three point loss to West Virginia November 12, led to a let down loss to Rutgers the following weekend which cost the school a BCS game and the outright Big East Championship.

It is no coincidence that Cincinnati struggled after the injury to senior quarterback Zack Collaros in the WVU game. Despite missing the final three games of the season due to a fractured ankle, Collaros finished the season ranked No. 7 in the Big East in total passing yards (1,854) and second in quarterback rating (139.9).

Scouting the Offenses

Call it overcoming adversity or plug and play, Vanderbilt and Cincinnati both went through quarterback changes during the season on their way to the Liberty Bowl matchup.

Senior quarterback Larry Smith started the season for Vandy before giving way to Jordan Rodgers October 22, against Army. Rodgers looked uncomfortable in the pocket at first but has grown into a dual-threat quarterback. He has 10 or more rushing attempts and 10 or more passing attempts in every game he has started this season.

Rodgers finished the season with a quarterback rating of 119.6 and was sixth in the SEC with 1,498 total passing yards. His touchdown to interception ration (9/9) leaves room for improvement.

The top receiving target for the Commodores is Jordan Matthews. Matthews finished the season fourth in the SEC in total receiving yards (722) and first in average yards per catch (19.5). He had three 100 yards games with Jordan under center – Arkansas, Florida, and Kentucky.

Chris Boyd is the big play possession receiver for the Commodores. Of his 29 catches on the season 7 were for touchdowns. He had 404 total receiving yards during the regular season.

The down-field threat of Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd coupled with the improved offensive line play has allowed junior running back Zac Stacy the opportunity to break the single season rushing record for Vanderbilt (1,136).

Stacy had five 100-yards rushing games (Ole Miss, Army, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Wake Forest) and added 13 rushing touchdowns. He finished third in the SEC in total rushing yards and second in rushing touchdowns.

Stacy is not a receiving threat out of the backfield. His game high is three catches for 51 yards against Arkansas.

Isaiah Pead is the focal point for the Bearcat offense. He finished second in the Big East in total rushing yards (1,110) and first in rushing touchdowns (11).

Pead played his best against Cincinnati’s better opponents. He had 155 yards rushing against Tennessee’s defense, 167 against North Carolina State, 151 against Louisville, 118 against Pitt, and 113 against WVU.

Pead is a threat to move the chains as a receiver. He had a season high 9 catches for 112 yards against Syracuse with one touchdown. He broke loose for a 69 yard receiving score in that same game.

Cincinnati is not deep at tailback. Even though he has missed the last three games of the season, Callaros is second on the team in total rushing yards (242) with 8 touchdowns. Backup running back George Winn is fourth on the team in total rushing yards.

Sophomore quarterback Munchie Legaux filled in for the Bearcats under center after the injury to Callaros. The big 6’5” quarterback did not play well in his first two games with extended playing time. He struggled with his accuracy and opted to run for yardage instead of checking down his progressions.

In the last two games of the season against Syracuse and Connecticut, Legaux found his footing passing for 169 and 217 respectively. He had a season high three touchdown passes against Connecticut.

Through the quarterback changes wide receivers Anthony McClung, Kenbrell Thompkins, and D.J. Woods made the most of their opportunities.

McClung finished the season sixth in the Big East in receiving yards (675) and tied for sixth with five receiving touchdowns. McClung had a season best 8 catches for 142 yards with 2 touchdowns against Connecticut.

Scouting the Defenses

Defensively both teams get after their opponents, especially with their pass defense.

Cincinnati’s Derek Wolfe ranked No. 10 nationally in total sacks (9.5) for a total of 63 yards lost. As a group the Bearcats sacked the opposition 44 times and forced 14 interceptions.

Senior defensive tackle Tim Fugger leads the Commodores with 6.5 sacks, 47 yards lost. As a team in a run-first conference Vandy has 24 total sacks.

Another similarity between the two defenses is their heart and soul senior linebackers, Chris Marve for Vanderbilt and J.K. Schaffer for the Bearcats.

Schaffer is the active leading tackler in the Big East. His 105 total tackles in 2011 ranks No. 48 in CFB and he is tied with teammate Devan Drane for most interceptions on the team (3). Marve has 47 solo tackles and a total of 84 on the year.

Casey Hayward is the shut-down corner back for Vandy. He has a team high five picks on the year for a unit that came up with 17 total interceptions.

Vanderbilt may have the sixth best total defense (324.58) in the SEC but do not let that fool you. That translates to a No. 19 ranking in college football.

Cincinnati has the No. 47 ranked total defense allowing 362.58 total yards per game.

The special teams nod goes to the Bearcats. Freshman kicker Tony Millano has made 16 of his 22 attempts and 43 of 46 extra point attempts.

Field goal kicking is not a strong suit for Vanderbilt having only converted 7 out of 13 attempts.

The Analysis

Will he or won’t he play? That is the question centered on Zach Callaros. Reports are he has been practicing but on a limited basis. Even if his ankle was full strength would he be sharp enough against Vanderbilt’s defense after missing so much time?

Having Callaros in the lineup gives the Bearcats a presence and leadership not provided by Legaux. Much of Callaros’ game is the ability to pick up yards with his running. If he is slowed by his ankle Vanderbilt could have a field day with him sitting in the pocket.

The Schaffer versus Stacy and Marve versus Pead matchups should be worth watching the Liberty Bowl alone. If one of these backs can break a long score that could be all either team needs to win.

Should Jones stick with Legaux, Vanderbilt should do a good job of containing Legaux and forcing fourth down plays.

College football fans are well aware of the great matchups The Liberty Bowl provides. Over the past seven years the average margin of victory has been 5.6 points. Look for this one to follow suit.

Common 2011 Opponents

Vanderbilt 21 – Tennessee 27

Cincinnati 23 – Tennessee 45

Vanderbilt 24 – Connecticut 21

Cincinnati 35 – Connecticut 27

All-Time Bowl Records

Cincinnati is 6-6 having lost their last two bowl games – Virginia Tech 2009, Florida 2010.

Vanderbilt is 2-1-1 in bowl games having won their last bowl game – Boston College 2008.

The Prediction

If Callaros does not play against Vanderbilt the Vandy defense should be able to keep the Bearcat offense in check.

Cincinnati should keep the Commodore offense in the zone but Rodgers has a way of breaking a run off here and there to keep drives alive.

  

The Bearcats secondary can be exploited if the defense front is not getting enough pressure.

Both teams have something to play for but James Franklin has his players believing they can win every game.

Final Score

Vanderbilt 24 – Cincinnati 13

Kickoff for the Liberty Bowl is set for 3:30 p.m. EST December 31. 

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Is Arkansas the most Influential State for College Football of All-Time?

Since the first football game was played November 6, 1869, between Rutgers and Princeton, football fans have battled over whose team is better, which team has the best players, and why for over 100 years.

The most overlooked area in college football and perhaps the most important is what state is the most influential. What makes your criteria, the most Heisman Trophy winners per state, the most first round NFL draft picks, or the coaches that got those players to their prominent positions?

Based on coaching, would you believe Arkansas may be the most influential college football state of all-time?

Penn State fans will argue about the legacy of Joe Pa, Florida State fans will “Tomahawk” you to death with Bobby Bowden all the while Bill Walsh and Cardinal fans will nickel and dime you down the field in the West Coast offense. But if one looks closely at the coaches born in the state of Arkansas or those that cut their teeth coaching at the University of Arkansas, you might change your mind.

Here are a few coaches that have made their mark in the world of college football after passing through the great state of Arkansas.

Paul “Bear” Bryant

Who is arguably the greatest college football coach of all-time? Most fans, especially those who support Alabama, will tell you Paul “Bear” Bryant is the end all be all and for good reason. Coach Bryant won six national championships at Alabama and 15 conference titles between the SEC and Southwest Conference.

When Bryant retired he owned a 323-85-17 coaching record; that is a winning percentage of 76. After his passing in 1983, Super Bowl XVII was dedicated in his honor. The National Coach of the Year Award is even named in his honor.

Three coaches that got their start under Coach Bryant went on to win National Championships – Danny Ford, Gene Stallings, and Howard Schnellenberger. Other notable head coaches that got their start under Bear Bryant include David Cutcliffe, Jackie Sherrill, Pat Dye, Sylvester Croom, Jim Owens, Charles McClendon, and Neil Callaway.

What does Coach Bryant have to do with Arkansas? He was born in Fordyce, Arkansas. Alabama and college football fans, you are welcome.

Frank Broyles

The next great Arkansas coach would have to be Frank Broyles. Coach Broyles was the head coach at the University of Arkansas for 19 years compiling a record of 149-62-6 (69 winning percent) making him the all-time winningest coach in school history.

Coach Broyles won a national championship in 1964 and seven Southwest Conference titles from 1958 - 1976.

His showdown against University of Texas in 1969 was considered “The Game of the Century” before this year’s Alabama and LSU teams were even a consideration. There was so much national attention on the game President Nixon showed up in Fayetteville to watch.

Broyles was in the broadcast booth with Keith Jackson on ABC from 1977-1985 influencing generations of college football fans watching the games at home.

In 1996 college football started the Frank Broyles Award to honor the top college football assistant in the nation. Past winners include Randy Shannon, Norm Chow, Gene Chizik, and Gus Malzahn.

Broyles helped Johnny Majors (Tennessee), Joe Gibbs (Washington Redskins), Barry Switzer (Oklahoma and the Dallas Cowboys), and Jimmy Johnson (University of Miami and the Dallas Cowboys) all get their start in coaching. Between the four coaches they have won five college football national championships and six Super Bowls.

Of the players Coach Broyles mentored over 30 have gone on to coach at the college or pro levels.

As the athletic director for Arkansas in 1992, Coach Broyles led Arkansas to college football’s first mega-conference when they departed the now defunct Southwest Conference for the Southeastern Conference.

Lou Holtz

Lou Holtz succeeded Coach Broyles in 1977 as the head coach at Arkansas after stops at William and Mary, North Carolina State, and a one-year stint as the New York Jets head coach. Coach Broyles gave the embattled coach an opportunity to get back into college coaching before taking Notre Dame to a national championship in 1988.

Holtz won the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award in 1977 after leading Arkansas to a 1978 Orange Bowl victory over Oklahoma. Had Oklahoma won the game that would have been the third national championship in four years for the Sooners. OU was coached by Barry Switzer.

Younger generations may only know of Coach Holtz from his work on ESPN’s College Football Score Board and College Football Live or his time as South Carolina’s head coach (1999-2004).

Houston Nutt

Recruited by Broyles and played under Lou Holtz, Houston Nutt not only was born in Arkansas and played for the Razorbacks but he was also the head coach at the University of Arkansas from 1998-2007. Coach Nutt won three SEC West titles and was named SEC Coach of the Year three times.

In 1998 Coach Nutt was awarded coach of the year by The Football News for leading Arkansas to a 9-3 record after being picked to finish last in the SEC West during the preseason.

Coach Nutt had eight winning seasons while at Arkansas, two as the head coach at Ole Miss. Nutt’s teams have appeared in seven New Year’s Day bowl games.

He coached Darren McFadden to back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Heisman Trophy Award – 2006 and 2007.

Jimmy Johnson

Jimmy Johnson played his college ball at the University of Arkansas before becoming the defensive coordinator under Broyles from 1973-1976. Johnson went on to be the head coach at Oklahoma State University (1979-1983) and University of Miami (1984-1988) before going to the NFL.

Coach Johnson won the 1987 national championship at Miami before taking over as the Dallas Cowboys head coach in 1989. While in Dallas, Johnson won the Super Bowl in 1992 and 1993. The foundation Johnson laid for the Cowboys set up another Super Bowl win in 1995.

Johnson’s coaching tree includes native Arkansans Tommy Tuberville and Butch Davis. Johnson also helped start the careers of Norv Turner, Dave Wannstedt, and Dave Campo.

Randy Shannon was the starting linebacker for Johnson’s national championship team. Shannon was the head coach at University of Miami from 2007-2010.

Barry Switzer

As the head coach at University of Oklahoma from 1973-1988 Barry Switzer had a college record of 157-29-4 winning three national championships (1974, 1975, and 1985) and won 12 Big Eight Conference Titles.

Coach Switzer won 82 percent of his games at OU. His teams finished in the Top 10 of the AP Poll 12 times during his tenure.

He won Super Bowl XXX in 1995 as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

Switzer played for the Razorbacks from 1956-1960 before taking a position as an assistant from 1961-1965 with the Hogs.

Coach Switzer was born in Crossett, Arkansas.

Ken Hatfield

Ken Hatfield was born in Helena, Arkansas. He played at Arkansas under Frank Broyles, was the head coach at Arkansas from 1984-1989 compiling a record of 55-17 with three 10 win seasons – 1985, 1988, and 1989.

Hatfield was also the head coach at Air Force, Clemson, and Rice.

Butch Davis

Coach Davis was a defensive end for the Razorbacks before starting his coaching career at Fayetteville High School in Arkansas.

Coach Davis helped turn the University of Miami program around and laid down the tracks for success for Larry Coker and their BCS Championship winning team in 2001. Davis was the head coach at Miami from 1995-2000 before taking over as the head coach for the Cleveland Browns (2001-2004).

Davis was recently the head coach at North Carolina – 2007-2010.

He won three Big East Championships while at Miami – 1995, 1996, and 2000.

Butch Davis recruited Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Reggie Wayne, Clinton Portis, Bryant McKinnie, Antrel Rolle, Sean Taylor, and Jeremey Shockey, just to name a few of the more noteworthy NFL players under his mentorship.

Hayden Fry

Coach Fry got his big coaching break when Frank Broyles brought him on staff as his offensive backfield coach in 1961. After Arkansas was the Southwest Conference co-champions that same year, SMU hired Fry as their head coach for the 1962 season.

Fry is most remembered as the head coach for the Iowa Hawkeyes (1979-1998). Fry won one Southwest Conference title (1966), one Missouri Valley Conference title (1973), and three Big Ten titles (1981, 1985, and 1990).

Johnny Majors

Coach Majors may be considered “Mr. Rocky Top” but before he became the head coach at Tennessee he was an assistant under Frank Broyles from 1964-1967. Majors parlayed his time at Arkansas to a head coaching position at Iowa State (1968-1972) before two stints at University of Pittsburgh (1973-1976 and 1993-1996).

Majors won the SEC three times (1985, 1989, and 1990). His coaching record for the Volunteers was 116-62-8. In 1985 his Tennessee team finished the season ranked No. 4, his highest post season ranking.

Head Coaches Born in Arkansas

Fred Akers

Fred Akers was born in Blytheville, Arkansas. He was a running back, kicker, and punter for the Hogs before becoming a coach.

Akers is best remembered as being the head coach at University of Texas from 1977-1986. He also had head coaching jobs at Wyoming (1975-1976) and Purdue (1987-1990).

Akers twice led the Longhorns through undefeated seasons only to lose their bowl game each time – 1977 and 1983.

Gus Malzahn

Gus Malzahn, from Jonesboro, Arkansas, was the offensive coordinator for Arkansas, Tulsa, and Auburn before taking the head coaching position at Arkansas State.

He won the 2010 BCS National Championship as the offensive coordinator for Auburn.

As offensive coordinator, Darren McFadden had a runner-up finish in the 2006 Heisman Trophy Award and in 2010 quarterback Cam Newton won the Heisman while at Auburn.

Charlie Strong

Coach Strong was born in Batesville, Arkansas and attended University of Central Arkansas before embarking on his coaching career. Strong made a name for himself as a top SEC defensive coordinator at South Carolina (1999-2001) and Florida (2002-2009) before taking the head coaching job at Louisville in 2010.

Tommy Tuberville

The “Riverboat Gambler” was born in Camden, Arkansas and played safety at Southern Arkansas before beginning his coaching career at Arkansas State.

Coach Tuberville has been the head coach at Ole Miss (1995-1998) and Auburn (1999-2008) before taking the Texas Tech position in 2010. While coaching in the SEC Tuberville won one SEC Conference Title and five SEC Western Conference Division Titles.

In 2004 he led the Tigers to a 13-0 record. That same year he won the Paul “Bear” Bryant award. He was twice named SEC Coach of the Year – 1997 and 2004.

Fitz Hill

Coach Hill was an assistant on the Razorback staff from 1992-2000. He played collegiately at Ouachita Baptist (NAIA) in Arkansas. He was the head coach of San Jose State from 2001-2004 before returning to Ouachita Baptist as the school’s president.

Coaching Assistants at University of Arkansas

Joe Gibbs – Running backs coach 1971-1972, three time Super Bowl winner with the Washington Redskins.

Garrick McGee – Quarterback coach from 2008-2009, offensive coordinator from 2009-2010, and now the head coach at University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Monte Kiffin – Defensive coordinator from 1977-1979, parlayed stint at Arkansas into head coaching job at North Carolina State. He is considered the “father” of the Tampa Two defense. Kiffin is the current defensive coordinator at University of Southern California.

Pete Carroll got his first big coaching break as a graduate assistant coaching the secondary at Arkansas under then head coach Lou Holtz. On staff was Monte Kiffin who taught Carroll the “4-3 Under” defense and the principal of the Tampa Two defense. Carroll was the 2003 National Coach of the Year while at USC.

Arkansas’ Influences in other Areas of Football

Jerry Jones grew up in North Little Rock, Arkansas and played on Frank Broyles 1964 national championship team. In 1989 Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys and immediately made waves throughout the NFL by firing legendary head coach Tom Landry.

Jones has taken “America’s Team” to new heights in popularity while winning three Super Bowls as the team owner – 1992, 1993, and 1995.

He is also the general manager for the Dallas Cowboys.

Pat Summerall was a place kicker, tight end, and defensive end at Arkansas from 1949-1951. He spent 10 years in the NFL before working NFL telecasts in 1962. Summerall and John Madden became the definitive broadcast voices for NFL football covering 22 years.

In 1994 the Pro Football Hall of Fame awarded Summerall the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award for his contributions to football through radio and television.

From USC to Tennessee and Seattle to Miami, the coaching tree continues to spread its influence on college and pro football making Arkansas the most influential state in college football. 

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