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Keep the history alive!
Keep the history alive!
Out of Tennessee in 1946, Arkansas would find a new head football coach - John Henry (“Barnie”) Barnhill. He would coach for four seasons until he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. After the diagnosis, he retired from coaching the Hogs to become the full-time “Top Hog” as the athletic director, where he remained until his retirement in 1970.
Barnhill who had played guard for the Volunteers (1925–1927), had come to Arkansas after being head coach at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee (1941–1945). While at Tennessee, he led the Volunteers to a record of 32–5–2. A record like this was what the fans were eagerly awaiting.
In 1946, the Hogs would win the SWC title and go to the Cotton Bowl Classic where they met LSU. The 9–1 LSU Tigers, led by quarterback Y.A. Tittle were lining up against the 6–3–1 Razorbacks. A crowd estimated at 38,000 faced the cold weather of a wintery New Year’s Day in Dallas in what would become known as the "Ice Bowl". Throughout the game, LSU had amassed a 15–1 advantage on first downs, however the Hogs stiffened in the red zone keeping the Tigers from scoring. On the final two plays of the game, Tittle threw a pass to a streaking Jeff Adams headed for the end zone. At the last second, Clyde Scott tackled Adams at the one-yard line preventing the score. On the next play, with LSU in position to win, a bad snap at the 1 ended the LSU dream of a victory. The game ended in a 0–0 tie.
The next season brought another bowl game. The season ended with Arkansas tied for fifth in the SWC with a record of 6–4–1. January 1, saw Arkansas meet the William and Mary Indians in the 1948 Dixie Bowl at Legions Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The game was played before an estimated crowd of 15,000.
William and Mary struck first in the initial quarter when Jack Cloud scored on a touchdown run following a fumble recovery. Arkansas had attempted a quick kick, but instead it backfired, resulting with the fumble. Cloud scored again in the second quarter. However, the extra point was missed by Stan Magdziak, the William and Mary quarterback. This would not be the only gift that Magdziak would give the Hogs that day. The Hogs were now down 13–0, but not yet done.
While still in the second quarter, Arkansas quarterback Kenny Holland fired a pass to a streaking Ross Pritchard for a 59-yard touchdown. The extra point was good by Aubrey Fowler making the score now a more respectable William and Mary 13, Arkansas 7.
Now for Magdziak’s second gift, Hog defender Melvin McGaha intercepted a Magdziak pass and turned it into a 70-yard touchdown run. After a successful PAT by Fowler, Arkansas had finally made a comeback and took a 14–13 lead into halftime.
William and Mary came out after halftime and regained the lead once again on a completed pass for a touchdown from Magdziak to Henry Bland. For the third time, the Hogs got a gift from Magdziak when he missed the extra point attempt. After three quarters it was now 19–14, Indians.
During the final quarter it would take a touchdown to win the game. A field goal would do no good. With 5 minutes remaining, Leon “Muscles” Campbell would take the ball from the 7-yard line and punch it in for the go-ahead touchdown. Arkansas 21, William and Mary 19. Arkansas wins.
Barnhill would have one more season as head coach before his health would force him to give it up. He finished with a record of 22–17–3. Along the way, he had taken the Hogs to two bowl games, winning one and tying the other.
As Athletic Director, he would later in 1958, be responsible for hiring Frank Broyles as head football coach until his own retirement.
Barnhill who had played guard for the Volunteers (1925–1927), had come to Arkansas after being head coach at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee (1941–1945). While at Tennessee, he led the Volunteers to a record of 32–5–2. A record like this was what the fans were eagerly awaiting.
In 1946, the Hogs would win the SWC title and go to the Cotton Bowl Classic where they met LSU. The 9–1 LSU Tigers, led by quarterback Y.A. Tittle were lining up against the 6–3–1 Razorbacks. A crowd estimated at 38,000 faced the cold weather of a wintery New Year’s Day in Dallas in what would become known as the "Ice Bowl". Throughout the game, LSU had amassed a 15–1 advantage on first downs, however the Hogs stiffened in the red zone keeping the Tigers from scoring. On the final two plays of the game, Tittle threw a pass to a streaking Jeff Adams headed for the end zone. At the last second, Clyde Scott tackled Adams at the one-yard line preventing the score. On the next play, with LSU in position to win, a bad snap at the 1 ended the LSU dream of a victory. The game ended in a 0–0 tie.
The next season brought another bowl game. The season ended with Arkansas tied for fifth in the SWC with a record of 6–4–1. January 1, saw Arkansas meet the William and Mary Indians in the 1948 Dixie Bowl at Legions Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The game was played before an estimated crowd of 15,000.
William and Mary struck first in the initial quarter when Jack Cloud scored on a touchdown run following a fumble recovery. Arkansas had attempted a quick kick, but instead it backfired, resulting with the fumble. Cloud scored again in the second quarter. However, the extra point was missed by Stan Magdziak, the William and Mary quarterback. This would not be the only gift that Magdziak would give the Hogs that day. The Hogs were now down 13–0, but not yet done.
While still in the second quarter, Arkansas quarterback Kenny Holland fired a pass to a streaking Ross Pritchard for a 59-yard touchdown. The extra point was good by Aubrey Fowler making the score now a more respectable William and Mary 13, Arkansas 7.
Now for Magdziak’s second gift, Hog defender Melvin McGaha intercepted a Magdziak pass and turned it into a 70-yard touchdown run. After a successful PAT by Fowler, Arkansas had finally made a comeback and took a 14–13 lead into halftime.
William and Mary came out after halftime and regained the lead once again on a completed pass for a touchdown from Magdziak to Henry Bland. For the third time, the Hogs got a gift from Magdziak when he missed the extra point attempt. After three quarters it was now 19–14, Indians.
During the final quarter it would take a touchdown to win the game. A field goal would do no good. With 5 minutes remaining, Leon “Muscles” Campbell would take the ball from the 7-yard line and punch it in for the go-ahead touchdown. Arkansas 21, William and Mary 19. Arkansas wins.
Barnhill would have one more season as head coach before his health would force him to give it up. He finished with a record of 22–17–3. Along the way, he had taken the Hogs to two bowl games, winning one and tying the other.
As Athletic Director, he would later in 1958, be responsible for hiring Frank Broyles as head football coach until his own retirement.
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. This ebook contains most of the items not covered in hawg-tales.com, and focuses totally on the coaches, players, games, "Voices of the Razorbacks", and many other topics within the total history of the program.
Join us next month, as we once again recall tales of the games, players, and coaches from the past.
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