Join us on the 6th of  each month for the newest blog in our series on hawg-tales.com. Feel free to make comments and suggestions for subjects that you would enjoy seeing. Be sure and tell your friends about us, so they can also take part. Thanks for your support.

This month's blog tells about a quarterback that came from Little Rock's Central High School to begin the '60s dominance in the SWC. His name was Billy Moore and he played defensive back and option quarterback.

The '60s were probably the most unique decade in American history, not only for the Hogs, but also for the nation. The decade began with the songs It's Now or Never by Elvis Presley, Walk Don't Run by The Ventures, and The Twist by Chubby Checker leading the Top 100 Chart according to Billboard Magazine for September 1, 1960. As television became more popular, the top three shows were Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, and Have Gun Will Travel.

The decade would see the space program go from Mercury to Apollo and man walking on the moon, assassination of a president, the Viet Nam war, the civil rights movement, hippies, protests against everything, bra burnings, changes in music, a National Championship for Arkansas, and the Big Shootout. What a decade!

By 1970 the top tv shows were Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Gunsmoke, and Bonanza. Music during this period according to Billboard Music listed the top songs as I Think I Love You by The Partridge Family, War by Edwin Starr, and The Tears of a Clown by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. It also introduced the world to Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and the psychedelic music.

Join us on the 6th of each month for the newest blog in our series on hawg-tales.com. Feel free to make comments and suggestions for subjects that you would enjoy seeing. Be sure and tell your friends about us, so they can also take part. Thanks for your support.

In previous blogs, we covered a few of the notable games. Now it's time that we will talk about one of the legends from the '60s. His name is Harry Jones, better known to fans as "Lighthorse" Harry Jones.

The 1960s
It was the decade of the '60s when music began with Lawrence Welk and ended with Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix. The Civil Rights Act had been enacted. It was a time when we went from a small Russian satelite named Sputnik to walking on the moon. Two Kennedys had been assassinated, along with a young southern Baptist preacher named Martin Luther King. With Viet Nam at its peak, protests were running rampant throughout the country. Although in Fayetteville (since it was pretty much isolated with only limited accesss from the outside world) life centered around the school, Vic Mons, and the Razorback football team. Life was good in the Ozarks and the nation began taking notice that there was something special going on there.

Throughout the decade, college football was being dominated by the Southwest Conference and its leaders Arkansas, and the Longhorns from Austin. For eight of the ten years during the '60s, the winner of the Texas-Arkansas game would go on to either own a share or be the outright winner of the Southwest Conference and play in the Cotton Bowl. The latter half of the decade would usually find either Arkansas or Texas as the #1 football team in the nation.

Born in Huntington, WV, and coming to Fayetteville from Enid, Oklahoma, 6'-2", 195 lb. “Lighthorse” Harry Jones became an overnight folk hero as a sophomore when he returned an interception, with his 9.7 second speed, for a touchdown against TCU leading to a 29 – 6 win in the miraculous 1964 season. During his sophomore season while playing safety, he compiled 44 tackles and 2 interceptions averaging 29.5 yards. 

Being moved to a running back in 1965 and 1966, Jones gained a reputation for his breakaway runs. This national reputation won him an All-Southwest Conference selection in 1965, and All-American honors in 1966. During his career, "Lighthorse" Harry Jones led the nation in yards per carry (7.7 yardand set a school record of 293 yards rushing against Oklahoma State on September 18, 1965, in Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium. The notoriety didn’t stop there either. He became the first Razorback to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated (November 8, 1965 issue). Along with Darren McFadden (August 19, 2007 regional issue), Jones is the only other Hog football player to individually grace the SI cover.

During the 1965 miracle season coming off of a national championship and being undefeated, the Hogs routed North Texas State 55 – 20 on October 23. With this win, they were elevated to the #1 spot nationally for the first time in school history. Bobby Burnett scored three touchdowns while Jim Lindsey added two of his own. Not to be outdone, “Lighthorse” Harry Jones rushed six times for 123 yards, while scoring on an 83-yard touchdown run. Additionally, he had two other touchdowns called back.

As Hog fever was growing throughout the state, 45-rpm records began showing up and became popular by telling the glory of the team and its key players. These records became so well known that they could be heard on all of the popular radio stations throughout the state. Stock in “Lighthorse” Harry Jones had risen to the point that he had his own record declaring “Run Harry Run, Oh run, you son of a gun, Give the ball to Har-ry Jones.”

In the 1965 and 1966 seasons, Jones rushed 166 times for 974 yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught 29 passes for 598 yards and five touchdowns for a total of 1572 and 12 touchdowns making him a true legend that started out as a defensive safety and ended up as a folk hero running back. This was a time when football was played for the love of the sport with no thought of trying to make millions in the pros. Many went on to play pro, but it was always about the game and the love. “Run Harry Run"

Light Hoss Harry    written by J. Paul Scott, 
                           performed by The Rivermen

Join us on the 6th of each month for the newest blog in our series. Feel free to make comments and suggestions for subjects that you would enjoy seeing. Be sure and tell your friends about us, so they can also take part. Thanks for your support.

The 1963 football season was coming to an end with what was to become the Hog's longest winning streak. It was a season that couldn't end a moment too soon. This blog will cover how the season ended leading to a complete turnaround in the program.

Continuing with our posting of 45-rpm songs that were played across the state during the '60s, we are adding a copy of The Big Red performed by Cecil Buffalo and the Prophets. This song was written and produced by J. Paul Scott on Sho-Boat Records.

Texas Tech 11/23/63

In what was predicted to be a SWC Championship season, the Hogs ended with a disappointing 5-5 record and no bowl bid. They had been perhaps one of the best Razorback football teams in school history, yet they ended up with the worst record in Frank Broyles’s coaching tenure since his first season losses in 1958. Among the things that led to their final record was a lack of leadership provided by a clear starter being named at quarterback. Along with Freddie Marshall, the lack of consistency at the quarterback position was only aggravated by the use of quarterbacks Bill Gray, and Jon Brittenum. In 1964, Gray would be moved to defensive back, and Brittenum would return as the starting quarterback for the 1965 and 1966 seasons.

Compounding the situation with the quarterbacks, would be a NCAA rule regarding player substitution and one platoon participation (players required to play both offense and defense – established in 1954). Typically, players at Arkansas could play one position very well, but it was asking a lot for them to learn two positions (offense and defense, both). Oftentimes, this would lead to timeouts or delay of game penalties in order to get the right personnel on the field as possession of the ball changed hands.

These issues would all be rectified by the 1964 season.

The week before - On the plane ride back from Dallas following the SMU game played on Nov. 16, 1963 (loss 7-14), quarterback Freddie Marshall and end Jerry Lamb approached Broyles. The season had been weighing heavily on both the team and the coaching staff. This had now reached a boiling point. It was a point where, during their discussion, they mentioned that the team was embarrassed and wanted to begin scrimmaging the following Monday in preparation for their upcoming game against Texas Tech. This was something new. It was widely known that a Broyles’s team had never scrimmaged during in-season, but worked on assignments in order to keep the team fresh and injury free. Monday came and, along with it, so did the scrimmage.

Broyles realized that the team was lacking a consistent leader and he now knew that he had found one in Marshall. While on the plane ride back from Dallas, Broyles let it be known to Marshall that if he would come back for his senior year he would be given sole possession of the starting quarterback position.

On Monday preparation for the upcoming Texas Tech game began. The last game of the season was scheduled for November 23, 1963, against Texas Tech at Fayetteville. It was a time when I’m Leaving It Up To You was Billboard’s Hot 100 #1 45-rpm record, and Billboard’s top LP was (Blowing) In The Wind  by Peter, Paul, and Mary. The Beverly Hillbillies, Bonanza, and The Dick Van Dyke Show were the top three shows on TV that season. Times were good, and the team was preparing like they had never prepared before, they were scrimmaging during in-season. All focus was being placed on winning the last game of the season. This would be their bowl game and they needed it to propel them strongly into the next season.

The ‘60s had escorted in a change to the nation. It was no longer a Father Knows Best or Leave It To Beaver place to live. Times can change in an instant, and on November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. A popular president now laid dead.

A gloom had settled over Fayetteville, just as it had for the rest of the country. Due to what had just happened, all SWC games for the next day were cancelled: except the one to be played in Razorback Stadium. Despite the student protests against the game, Coach J.T. King had already brought his Texas Tech team with All American halfback Donny Anderson and receiver Dave Parks to Fayetteville for a match up with the Hogs. They played a pro-I with two receivers which was an adaptation of the USC offense used by Southern Cal the year before to win the 1962 National Championship. It may have worked for USC, but it did not work for the Red Raiders of Tech.

A cold front had come through the night before with game time temperatures in the mid 30s to low 40s, and a wind around 10 mph. Influenced by the events that happened the previous day, the game was played without the normal emotions associated with a Razorback football game. Regardless, the Hogs were able to secure a 27-20 win. The win against Tech, despite the controversial setting, was the first win in what would turn out to be the longest winning streak in college football to occur during the 1960s. This was the end of the 1963 season, and the beginning of the famous 22 Straight.

After the season Broyles announced to the team that Freddie Marshall would be the starting QB for the entire 1964 season. Although injury would prevent him from being the only quarterback used that year, he would provide the leadership necessary to continue the streak and follow the path all the way to the Hogs first football National Championship. It was a season and championship that was 80 years in the making.

The second key factor in the upcoming Hog success was when the 1964 seniors approached Broyles and let it be known that they were committed to correcting the mistakes encountered during the 1963 season. 1964 would not be a repeat of ’63. With no post-season bowl game came a pledge, by the seniors-to-be, to start practicing for the 1964 season as soon as they returned from Christmas break. Their commitment expanded to the whole team as they returned in the fall in top physical condition for the upcoming ’64 season. The story doesn’t end here, the Hogs are now ready and there’s plenty more to come.

The Big Red    written by J. Paul Scott, 
                    performed by Cecil Buffalo and the Prophets
                         

Have you ever wanted to recollect how it was "back in the day" when the Hogs played in the old SWC? Well, as the first post of HAWG-Tales.com, we're going to provide blogging info on Hog football with a primary emphasis on Razorback football history. Each post will contain stories about games played in the past. Sometimes there will be music from the old 45 rpm records played on radio stations in the mid and late '60s about the Hog football players and teams. Sometimes there will be Razorback football trivia. Sometimes it will just be stories from the past games and players. 

There is an abundance of Razorback forums and blogs about the current news of the program and players. This is all GOOD stuff, but we will try to fill the niche about Hog stories, games, players, and music that helped bring the program to where it is today. If you agree, add comments, stories, trivia, etc. that others will find interesting and we will provide the place to get these items out. Next post will be on September 6th.

First up on the list is a recollection of the 1965 Nebraska Cotton Bowl when the Hogs won their first National Championship. Following that, comes music about the '64 Hog football team written by J. Paul Scott and performed by Cecil Buffalo and the Prophets. It was a 45 rpm record known as Razorback Number One and played throughout the state on local AM radio stations (there were only a few FM stations, back then and they seemed to only play "elevator" music).

 Nebraska 1/1/65

Tensions were high in Dallas on that New Year’s Day, when Frank Broyles brought his SWC Conference champion Hogs face-to-face against Bob Devaney and the Big 8 Conference champion Cornhuskers of Nebraska. It was estimated that a capacity 75,504 loyal fans were in attendance for this Cotton Bowl Classic.

As the stadium filled up, it was hard to tell which team the fans were rooting for. From overhead, it appeared to be a sea of red with that being the home color for both teams. On the field though, Arkansas would don the red home jerseys while Nebraska would be in the white visitor’s uniform. The outcome for this game could lead to a flawless season and the Hogs only football national championship crown. It was a game to be played for “all of the marbles.”

Prior to the game, Broyles had made the decision to play a defensive game against Nebraska. This proved to be a good decision since the Hogs were able to hold Nebraska to 100 yards rushing and 68 yards passing. This was not only a decision by Broyles, but Devaney also envisioned the same game plan as the ‘Huskers were able to limit the Hogs to 45 yards rushing and 131 yards passing. Both teams had outstanding defensive squads and with the wind in Dallas, the strongest defense would have the advantage in the game.

In Dallas, the game would begin as a day that was warm, humid, and having a southerly wind. After Nebraska won the toss and choose to receive, Arkansas decided to take the wind. The wind would go on to play a key role in the outcome of the game.

The Cornhuskers received the kickoff and were immediately met by a strong Arkansas defense. Nebraska found it hard to move the ball against both the wind and the Hogs combined. With the help of the wind, the Hogs quickly gained possession of the ball and moved it down field into field goal range. With five minutes and thirteen seconds gone in the game, Tom McKnelly made it Arkansas 3, Nebraska 0 with his 31-yard FG. It was only the first quarter and Nebraska found itself in a hole. However, this would not be the flow for the remainder of the game.

After a Freddie Marshall fumble and with the assistance of the wind, Nebraska would make their only touchdown of the game. On a drive taking place about midway in the second quarter, Nebraska’s sophomore quarterback, Bob Churchich passed the ball to a turbo-charged 189-pound halfback named Harry Wilson for 36-yards that moved the ball from the Nebraska 46-yard line to the Arkansas 18. Four plays later Wilson would muscle his way into the Hogs end zone with 7:45 left in the quarter to end a streak of 21 consecutive scoreless quarters by the Arkansas defense. The PAT was added by Duncan Drum, making the score Nebraska 7, Arkansas 3. A score here came as the first score against the Hog defense in five games. This was not a position that Arkansas was used to being in. They were winners. They had won their last eleven games and a win here would match the longest winning streak in the nation. However, they would go into halftime in just this position, behind, with the national championship on the line.

The third quarter began with the Hogs having possession, but Nebraska had the wind at their backs.

It appeared that Arkansas’s plan was to capitalize on their defense and maintain field position while waiting until the fourth quarter when they would have the all important wind even if they were trailing by four. The Hog defense would have to hold.

To this point, Arkansas had maintained a field position advantage and on the opening of the last quarter, a Bobby Nix punt forced Nebraska well back into their own end of the field. The game continued with no significant plays. It was a stalemate.

Until midway in the fourth quarter, Wilson scrambled for 45 yards down to the Arkansas 36. The Hogs had seen their field advantage evaporate in just one play. The defense, recognizing what had just taken place, stiffened and allowed only 4 yards on the next three plays.

With a four-point lead and knowing that it would take a touchdown to beat them, Nebraska, counting on its defense, took a delay of game penalty, moving the ball back to the 37 where Ron Kirkland punted. The ball was kicked through the end zone for a touchback and brought out to the 20.

It was now time for Marshall to take charge of the destiny of this team. It had all come down to this. A field goal would do no good. A national championship was on the line. With 80 yards to go, Marshall began the journey with 9:21 showing on the clock. In this drive, he went 5 for 5 stacking up 60 yards passing starting with Jerry Lamb for 12, and then Burnett for 11.

Marshall scrambled for another 11 yards carrying the ball to the Nebraska 33. On the next play Jim Lindsey found himself alone at the 25 where he caught Marshall’s pass and rambled down to the five. First and goal. After a gain of 2, junior tailback #33 Bobby Burnett went the final three yards running wide on a perfectly timed pitchout from Marshall. Nebraska's linebacker, JoeMcNulty hit Burnett at the one-yard line, but could not overcome Burnett’s determination and momentum to keep him from scoring. McKnelly added the extra point, and with 4:41 showing on the clock it was Arkansas 10, Nebraska 7.
 
Throughout the year, Nebraska was known for their long plays. With 4:41 left on the clock, it was time for the defense to step up one more time. The defense stiffened and Marshall ran the clock out for the last minute and a half. Final: Arkansas 10, Nebraska 7.

Each team had ended up with 11 first downs in what was a defensive struggle played on both sides, This was the Hogs first Cotton Bowl Classic win in school history, thus ending a perfect 11 – 0 season.

The fate of the Hogs would be determined later that day as the #5 Texas Longhorns would meet the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Orange Bowl. Alabama was rated #1 by the AP and Coaches Poll prior to the bowl games.

For once all of the Razorbacks, and the whole state of Arkansas had temporarily turned burnt orange and were cheering for the Longhorns. This is not a common occurrence, but it seemed appropriate at the time. In what was a close game where Tommy Nobis made one of the most famous tackles in Longhorn history on fourth and inches, Texas defeated Alabama 21 – 17.

With the bowl games over, Arkansas was voted the Football Writers Association of America National Champions as the only undefeated football team in the nation.

In what started 80 years earlier with 14 inexperienced players, Arkansas had finally won its first football national championship.

Razorback Number One    written by J. Paul Scott, 
                                    performed by Cecil Buffalo and the Prophets