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As foes go, Ole Miss has been one since 1908 where the Cardinals pulled out a win 33-0. Since then the Hogs have held the edge by winning 34, losing 27, while having one tied and one cancelled in 63 games. The only cancellation occurred during the undefeated 1909 Bezdek led season (which would most likely added one more win to the total).
Controversies have abounded with Ole Miss. Perhaps it's the proximity of the locations, players, or who knows, but what ever it is they have been around since the 1914 season. During which coach E.T. Pickering brought his squad to meet the Ole Miss Rebels at West End Park in Little Rock on November 13 of that year. The Hogs contend that Ole Miss forfeited due to an ineligible player. A charge that the Rebels deny. This has led to a win record held by Ole Miss that is one more than that held by Arkansas. But yet the controversies continue ...
In October 1954, Ole Miss coach John Vaught gathered his undefeated No. 5 rated Rebels to meet the Hogs in Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium. During the '50s and '60s, Ole Miss was known as having one of the winningest programs in the nation and on that gameday brought this game into national prominence. The Ole Miss quarterback was a player named Eagle Day who was widely known as the best passer in the nation. But between coach Bowden Wyatt and defensive end Teddy Souter, Day would never get the needed time to make the 40 and 60 yard passes that the Rebels had used as the cornerstone for their season.
With 3:50 left in the game, Wyatt called the play that would be the most notable play in Hog football history to that time. The Hogs had advanced the ball from the 17 to the Arkansas 34 yard line. With time running out and the real possibility that Arkansas might not get the ball back again, Wyatt made his famous call. This would be a 66 yard pass play from a direct snap to running back Buddy Bob Benson who launched a 30 yard pass to Preston Carpenter who had lined up as a blocking back prior to the snap who ran untouched for the remaining 36 yards. The Hogs would go on to claim a 6-0 victory over the No. 5 Rebels. The play would later be deemed by Wyatt as the Powder River Pass Play.
The 1960 game was once again played at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock and became a game steeped in controversy. The score was tied seven all when in the final seconds Ole Miss would attempt a game winning field goal.
Tommy Bell, who was an official at the game, called an official’s timeout to quiet the Hog fans (imagine that). Ole Miss’ kicker Allen Green didn’t hear the whistle and proceeded to kick the ball splitting the goal posts. GOOD! 10–7, but wait a minute, there was a timeout called before the kick. Ole Miss lined up again. The ball was snapped. This time, in his second attempt after the timeout, the kick by Green was wide.
Whether the kick was good or not, and whether Bell signaled it good prior to its going through the uprights has always been controversial. Ole Miss was given the win 10–7. Controversy spread, and fights broke out following the game. Arkansas had been robbed and they knew it. The game for the next year was rescheduled and would be played in Jackson, MS at a neutral field. However, it was 20 years after the Jackson game before the series would be renewed in 1981.
Controversies have abounded with Ole Miss. Perhaps it's the proximity of the locations, players, or who knows, but what ever it is they have been around since the 1914 season. During which coach E.T. Pickering brought his squad to meet the Ole Miss Rebels at West End Park in Little Rock on November 13 of that year. The Hogs contend that Ole Miss forfeited due to an ineligible player. A charge that the Rebels deny. This has led to a win record held by Ole Miss that is one more than that held by Arkansas. But yet the controversies continue ...
In October 1954, Ole Miss coach John Vaught gathered his undefeated No. 5 rated Rebels to meet the Hogs in Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium. During the '50s and '60s, Ole Miss was known as having one of the winningest programs in the nation and on that gameday brought this game into national prominence. The Ole Miss quarterback was a player named Eagle Day who was widely known as the best passer in the nation. But between coach Bowden Wyatt and defensive end Teddy Souter, Day would never get the needed time to make the 40 and 60 yard passes that the Rebels had used as the cornerstone for their season.
With 3:50 left in the game, Wyatt called the play that would be the most notable play in Hog football history to that time. The Hogs had advanced the ball from the 17 to the Arkansas 34 yard line. With time running out and the real possibility that Arkansas might not get the ball back again, Wyatt made his famous call. This would be a 66 yard pass play from a direct snap to running back Buddy Bob Benson who launched a 30 yard pass to Preston Carpenter who had lined up as a blocking back prior to the snap who ran untouched for the remaining 36 yards. The Hogs would go on to claim a 6-0 victory over the No. 5 Rebels. The play would later be deemed by Wyatt as the Powder River Pass Play.
The 1960 game was once again played at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock and became a game steeped in controversy. The score was tied seven all when in the final seconds Ole Miss would attempt a game winning field goal.
Tommy Bell, who was an official at the game, called an official’s timeout to quiet the Hog fans (imagine that). Ole Miss’ kicker Allen Green didn’t hear the whistle and proceeded to kick the ball splitting the goal posts. GOOD! 10–7, but wait a minute, there was a timeout called before the kick. Ole Miss lined up again. The ball was snapped. This time, in his second attempt after the timeout, the kick by Green was wide.
Whether the kick was good or not, and whether Bell signaled it good prior to its going through the uprights has always been controversial. Ole Miss was given the win 10–7. Controversy spread, and fights broke out following the game. Arkansas had been robbed and they knew it. The game for the next year was rescheduled and would be played in Jackson, MS at a neutral field. However, it was 20 years after the Jackson game before the series would be renewed in 1981.
"Once a Razorback, always a Razorback" - Houston Nutt
Fast forward to 2008. It was then that coach Houston Nutt resigned and made his famous quote "Once a Razorback, always a Razorback" and turned up the next morning being announced as the new Ole Miss head football coach replacing Ed Orgeron.
And who will ever forget the "Hunter Henry Heave" that led the Hogs to a 53-52 win last fall in the 4th overtime period.
And who will ever forget the "Hunter Henry Heave" that led the Hogs to a 53-52 win last fall in the 4th overtime period.
Wow! How 'bout them Hogs.
So, as time marches on, the Ole Miss - Arkansas rivalry and controversies are surely going to continue.
So, as time marches on, the Ole Miss - Arkansas rivalry and controversies are surely going to continue.
If you are one of those rabid Razorback fans interested in knowing even more about the history of the Hog football program, then get your very own copy of "Hit That Line" from the Apple Store, Barnes and Nobles online, or the world's largest e-book publisher - Smashwords.com.
Join us next month, as we once again recall tales of the games, players, and coaches from the past.
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