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Keep the history alive!
Keep the history alive!
What has become perhaps the premier football family in Arkansas and Razorback football history began with Hog greats Tommy and Bobby Burnett. Already members of a football family, they came to Fayetteville on scholarship (only one year scholarships were available in those days) having been raised in Smackover, Arkansas located in the southern part of the state. Tommy was a receiver and according to his brothers, perhaps the best athlete of the three brothers. Bobby, on the other hand, was a running back who excelled on the team and at the time became the team's rushing leader. Both Tommy and Bobby were members of the 1964 team and you know what that team was able to accomplish.
To be closer to the older boys, Clell Burnett (the dad and high school coach) moved the family in 1962 from Smackover to Bentonville where he taught math and physics at Bentonville High School. The youngest brother, Bill (see 01/06/2012) would go on and play for the Hogs with his most famous game coming on December 6, 1969, as the #2 Razorbacks played the #1 Longhorns in the "Big Shootout" (featured in "Hit That Line" along with the most famous games in Hog football history) which became known throughout the nation as the "Game of the Century". During his career, Bill became the career scoring leader for the Razorbacks during his playing days until it was finally broken just before halftime during the 2013 University of Louisiana - Lafayette by kicker Zac Hocker. The #33 would become famous as Bill and Bobby could not be stopped as they led the Hogs in rushing during their playing days.
To be closer to the older boys, Clell Burnett (the dad and high school coach) moved the family in 1962 from Smackover to Bentonville where he taught math and physics at Bentonville High School. The youngest brother, Bill (see 01/06/2012) would go on and play for the Hogs with his most famous game coming on December 6, 1969, as the #2 Razorbacks played the #1 Longhorns in the "Big Shootout" (featured in "Hit That Line" along with the most famous games in Hog football history) which became known throughout the nation as the "Game of the Century". During his career, Bill became the career scoring leader for the Razorbacks during his playing days until it was finally broken just before halftime during the 2013 University of Louisiana - Lafayette by kicker Zac Hocker. The #33 would become famous as Bill and Bobby could not be stopped as they led the Hogs in rushing during their playing days.
Bobby Burnett vs. SMU 1964. Click to enlarge But back to the beginning. Bobby came to Fayetteville from Smackover (which had previously produced Clyde Scott) in 1962 as a high school standout soon to be followed a year later by Tommy. As future Razorbacks, he and Tommy lived in Wilson Sharp Hall and had very few luxuries since they had come from a moderate income family and shared most items found in student rooms at the time.
Tommy relates the following tale about their playing days: On one occasion, he and Bobby had gone up to Bentonville on a Friday night to watch Bill play in one of his football games. While they were there, they ran into Frank Broyles who was a real stickler for team discipline. The game was running long and they knew that they would have to hurry to make it back in time for bed check, so they asked Broyles if it would be alright for them to see the remainder of the game. His response was that bed check was at 10:00 pm, and that meant 10:00 pm. Being young and wanting to stay and watch Bill, Bobby and Tommy figured that this meant that it was okay to stay if they could get back down Highway 112 to Wilson Sharp by 10:00. They would worry about that after the game. No problem here!
As it happened, they had a friend coming up from Smackover to spend the weekend with them and he had arrived while they were in Bentonville, tired and ready to crash. He was coherent enough that he was able to find Tommy's bed where he promptly covered up and found a new home to rest his head.
Meanwhile, the game ended and the race began between the Burnett boys and the clock. Well you guessed it, the clock won as Tommy and Bobby arrived just after their room was checked. Since Bobby's bed was still empty, it was logged that he had missed bed check. As the next morning arrived, he was told that he would have to move out of Wilson Sharp. To put this in perspective, he was the main rushing leader on the team and now he had been told that he couldn't live in the same dorm as the rest of the team. Discipline ruled. Where would they live now? Since they shared most everything that they had, it not only meant that Bobby would be moved out, but also Tommy.
Tommy relates the following tale about their playing days: On one occasion, he and Bobby had gone up to Bentonville on a Friday night to watch Bill play in one of his football games. While they were there, they ran into Frank Broyles who was a real stickler for team discipline. The game was running long and they knew that they would have to hurry to make it back in time for bed check, so they asked Broyles if it would be alright for them to see the remainder of the game. His response was that bed check was at 10:00 pm, and that meant 10:00 pm. Being young and wanting to stay and watch Bill, Bobby and Tommy figured that this meant that it was okay to stay if they could get back down Highway 112 to Wilson Sharp by 10:00. They would worry about that after the game. No problem here!
As it happened, they had a friend coming up from Smackover to spend the weekend with them and he had arrived while they were in Bentonville, tired and ready to crash. He was coherent enough that he was able to find Tommy's bed where he promptly covered up and found a new home to rest his head.
Meanwhile, the game ended and the race began between the Burnett boys and the clock. Well you guessed it, the clock won as Tommy and Bobby arrived just after their room was checked. Since Bobby's bed was still empty, it was logged that he had missed bed check. As the next morning arrived, he was told that he would have to move out of Wilson Sharp. To put this in perspective, he was the main rushing leader on the team and now he had been told that he couldn't live in the same dorm as the rest of the team. Discipline ruled. Where would they live now? Since they shared most everything that they had, it not only meant that Bobby would be moved out, but also Tommy.
"There have never been three brothers to have successful careers in Hog football history, especially during some of the most famous games and seasons for the team, except for the Burnett brothers ..."
Unknown to Broyles, this is where assistant football coach Wilson Mathews, who Tommy described as having a good heart, stepped in. Mathews took the boy's plight under his wing and silently took them down to the storage room in the basement where the player's boxes and trunks were stored at the beginning of each fall. This would now be their new home. Not what they were used to but, still with the team. It was a true storage room with concrete walls and a single light bulb loosely hanging from a wire. With Mathew's help, beds, lamps, and desks were found and set up. Unknown to Broyles, the boys remained and lived in this room for the remaining years until they graduated.
It was not until the twentieth anniversary of the 1964 National Championship celebration that the facts of this story came out. All of this time, Broyles thought that his star running back and one of his leading receivers were living off-campus. It was a secret that had been kept for over two decades and now finally had come out of the shadows. As smart as Broyles was, this was one that completely went unknown.
During his career, Bobby Burnett as an All SWC choice halfback, led the SWC in touchdown scoring, set the Hog's single season scoring record with 16 touchdowns, received the Charles T. Myers award as the team's Most Valuable Player, led the SWC in rushing, in the top five in a number of categories for the nation, scored the winning touchdown in the 1965 Cotton Bowl that gave the National Championship to Arkansas which was named as the most memorable moment in Arkansas sports history by Sports Illustrated, and scored two touchdowns during his playing time in the Senior Bowl. Clell, Bobby, and Bill are now all members of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and are the only family to have three members inducted for football.
It all started with Bobby and Tommy. There have never been three brothers to have successful careers in Hog football history, especially during some of the most famous games and seasons for the team, except for the Burnett brothers, making this family a unique part of the program and Arkansas football history.
It was not until the twentieth anniversary of the 1964 National Championship celebration that the facts of this story came out. All of this time, Broyles thought that his star running back and one of his leading receivers were living off-campus. It was a secret that had been kept for over two decades and now finally had come out of the shadows. As smart as Broyles was, this was one that completely went unknown.
During his career, Bobby Burnett as an All SWC choice halfback, led the SWC in touchdown scoring, set the Hog's single season scoring record with 16 touchdowns, received the Charles T. Myers award as the team's Most Valuable Player, led the SWC in rushing, in the top five in a number of categories for the nation, scored the winning touchdown in the 1965 Cotton Bowl that gave the National Championship to Arkansas which was named as the most memorable moment in Arkansas sports history by Sports Illustrated, and scored two touchdowns during his playing time in the Senior Bowl. Clell, Bobby, and Bill are now all members of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and are the only family to have three members inducted for football.
It all started with Bobby and Tommy. There have never been three brothers to have successful careers in Hog football history, especially during some of the most famous games and seasons for the team, except for the Burnett brothers, making this family a unique part of the program and Arkansas football history.
"Find out more with the new everyday low price: You will need to join Smashwords.com to purchase the book (it's a 100% safe website, and there is no spamming from it). Your e-mail is safe and is not sold or given to anyone. The account allows Smashwords.com to keep up with which books you purchase from them.
Keep the history of Hog football alive, don't let it disappear. The new e-book available describes the history of the Razorback football program. It tells of the coaches, legends, "Voices of the Razorbacks", traditions, and of course, the memorable games (most of which have not been previously discussed on hawg-tales.com). This is the first e-book telling about the complete Razorback football program. The e-book is now available through Smashwords.com (click to visit the world's largest distributor of e-books), the Apple iStore, Barnes and Nobles (barnesandnoble.com), Kobo, etc. and is available for virtually all e-readers, smart phones, tablets, and computers. Look for 'Hit That Line!' ."
Join us next month, as we once again recall tales of the games, players, and coaches from the past. Also, be sure and take a look at the FREE sample of the new e-book "HIT THAT LINE!" (click here) about the total history of the Razorback football program.
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