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.
The 45-rpm record featured on this post is one about a quarterback that played in 1963, 1965, and 1966. His name was Jon Brittenum and he had come to Fayetteville from the small town of Brinkley 61 miles to the east of Little Rock. After a red-shirt year in 1964, Brittenum as a junior helped the Hogs lead the nation in scoring with 331 versus 118 points by the opposition. This team had just come off of a national championship year and went 10 - 1 for the 1965 season losing only to LSU 14 - 7 in the Cotton Bowl (Brittenum had dislocated his shoulder in the first quarter and played only sparingly and ineffectively during portions for the remainder of the game). This was the Arkansas heyday when they were at the top of the national rankings. "The Rivermen" made a record about Jon Brittenum called "Quarterbackin' Man" and it is featured below.
The Arkansas-Texas rivalry goes back to the very beginning when the Cardinals (as they were known before they became the Razorbacks) met the Longhorns in Austin during their initial year of 1894. The Cardinals lost this game 54 - 0. Not a memorable day for Fayetteville fans. The rivalry had begun.
It would not be until 1933 that Arkansas (now known as the Razorbacks) would win their first game against the Longhorns of Texas. After 14 consecutive losses, this would turn into a score of 20 – 6 in favor of Arkansas played at Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. Since the rivalry began, Texas has won 56 games, while Arkansas has won only 27% or 21 times.
This has always been a David and Goliath type of rivalry and there were none more intense (especially during the Frank Broyles and Darrell Royal era of the mid '60s). Texas Week during this period meant no tests at the University, signs and banners being seen everywhere proclaiming "Beat Texas", and records playing on all of the popular radio stations throughout the state declaring the feats of the Razobacks, and exploits of its players. What a special time!
October 16, 1965
On October 16, 1965, #3 Arkansas (5 - 0) would face #1 Texas (4 - 0) in Fayetteville before a crowd of 42,000. It was partly cloudy and 74 degrees with a SSE wind at 15 mph for a scheduled 2:30 kickoff. For those that don't remember, all games played back then were day games, since Razorback Stadium had no lights on the field .
The first score came after a 58 yard punt by the Hogs. Texas halfback Phil Harris bobbled the ball inside the five yard line after end Richard Trail collided with him following the catch. The ball squirted free and ended up in the end zone leading to a fumble recovery by Martine Bercher with 5:49 left in the first quarter. Touchdown Arkansas. After a Ronnie South extra point, the scoreboard showed Arkansas 7 - Texas 0.
While still in the first quarter and 10 plays later, Texas had driven to the Arkansas 23 when Tommy Trantham would the take a Harris fumble and return it 77 yards for the next score. After a blocked extra point attempt, the score was 13 - 0 Arkansas. The score would remain at this for the final 2:18 of the quarter.
At the start of the second quarter after a Texas punt and holding call, Jon Brittenum took over on the Hog 40. He was determined that the offense would finally score (all of the scoring up to this point had been made by the defense). Brittenum stepped to the line and began his cadence. During the drive he hit "Lighthorse" Harry Jones on a pass for 23 yards, added a five yard keeper, and with 11:03 remaining in the quarter, he ended the drive with an 11 yard pass to end Bobby Crockett . Touchdown Arkansas. South's kick was good making the score 20 - 0. The drive had taken 9 plays for, 60 yards, and removed 4:33 off the game clock.
With 8:42 left in the half, David Conway finally put Texas on the board with a 35 yard field goal culminating a 8 yard, 5 play drive. The score was now 20 - 3 Arkansas.
The scoring for the half would end when Texas quarterback Marvin Kristynik would run a quarterback sneak for 1 yard ending a 9 play, 73 yard drive. At this point Darrell Royal decided to go for two. Greg Lott completed the two point conversion making the score at halftime: Arkansas 20 - Texas 11.
The only scoring in the third quarter was at 4:51 when Conway kicked a 34 yard field goal after 9 plays and 27 yards eating up 5:24 on the clock. Texas was inching back into the game with the scoreboard now showing Arkansas 20 - Texas 14. They were now only 6 points down.
With only fifteen minutes remaining, the game couldn't end quick enough. The fourth quarter started with Kristynik weaving his team in seven quick plays both inside and outside for 40 yards ending with a 14 yard run of his own, giving Texas their first lead in the game at 21 - 20. There were only ten minutes left in the game and Arkansas found itself now behind. Texas had now scored 21 unanwered points and things were getting just a little bit tense.
The Hogs could maintain possession for only one minute before they were forced to give the ball back to Texas. Kristynik now moved Texas and took the ball 54 yards in 11 plays where Conway again kicked a 34 yard field goal. His third field goal of the game, making the score 24 - 20 Texas. During the drive, Kristynik had runs of 19 and 16 yards. Now it was 24 unanswered points and the hammer was falling. Afterall, this was the #1 team in the nation. The Hogs had seen it too many times before with Texas. Was the winning streak over?
Following the touchback after the kickoff, Arkansas found itself 80 yards away from scoring with 4:06 left in the game. It would take a touchdown to win, a field goal would still be a loss. Now it was time for Brittenum to go to work. After immediately hitting Crockett for 22 yards, Brittenum rolled out and hit Crockett for 13, 8, and 11 yards ending up at the Texas 22. With third and four from the 15, Brittenum rolled right while Crockett sprinted toward the right corner. Brittenum launched the ball to Crockett's outstretched hands. With all of the effort that he could muster, he dove and made the catch while rolling out of bounds at the one.The Hogs would not be denied. Brittenum then took the ball the final yard and punched it into the Texas endzone with 1:32 left in the game. He was home. Final score: Arkansas 27 - Texas 24. After losing the Arkansas game in 1964 and costing Texas a national championship, this was the first time a Darrell Royal team had lost two consecutive years to the same team. #1 Texas had now fallen to #3 Arkansas.
In the game, Brittenum had gone 10 for 19 passing, gaining 131 yards. Arkansas had a total offense of 181 yards to 401 for Texas. When the polls came out, Arkansas was the new #1 team in the nation. GO HOGS!
Quarterbackin' Man written by J. Paul Scott,
performed by The Rivermen
The 45-rpm record featured on this post is one about a quarterback that played in 1963, 1965, and 1966. His name was Jon Brittenum and he had come to Fayetteville from the small town of Brinkley 61 miles to the east of Little Rock. After a red-shirt year in 1964, Brittenum as a junior helped the Hogs lead the nation in scoring with 331 versus 118 points by the opposition. This team had just come off of a national championship year and went 10 - 1 for the 1965 season losing only to LSU 14 - 7 in the Cotton Bowl (Brittenum had dislocated his shoulder in the first quarter and played only sparingly and ineffectively during portions for the remainder of the game). This was the Arkansas heyday when they were at the top of the national rankings. "The Rivermen" made a record about Jon Brittenum called "Quarterbackin' Man" and it is featured below.
The Arkansas-Texas rivalry goes back to the very beginning when the Cardinals (as they were known before they became the Razorbacks) met the Longhorns in Austin during their initial year of 1894. The Cardinals lost this game 54 - 0. Not a memorable day for Fayetteville fans. The rivalry had begun.
It would not be until 1933 that Arkansas (now known as the Razorbacks) would win their first game against the Longhorns of Texas. After 14 consecutive losses, this would turn into a score of 20 – 6 in favor of Arkansas played at Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. Since the rivalry began, Texas has won 56 games, while Arkansas has won only 27% or 21 times.
This has always been a David and Goliath type of rivalry and there were none more intense (especially during the Frank Broyles and Darrell Royal era of the mid '60s). Texas Week during this period meant no tests at the University, signs and banners being seen everywhere proclaiming "Beat Texas", and records playing on all of the popular radio stations throughout the state declaring the feats of the Razobacks, and exploits of its players. What a special time!
October 16, 1965
On October 16, 1965, #3 Arkansas (5 - 0) would face #1 Texas (4 - 0) in Fayetteville before a crowd of 42,000. It was partly cloudy and 74 degrees with a SSE wind at 15 mph for a scheduled 2:30 kickoff. For those that don't remember, all games played back then were day games, since Razorback Stadium had no lights on the field .
The first score came after a 58 yard punt by the Hogs. Texas halfback Phil Harris bobbled the ball inside the five yard line after end Richard Trail collided with him following the catch. The ball squirted free and ended up in the end zone leading to a fumble recovery by Martine Bercher with 5:49 left in the first quarter. Touchdown Arkansas. After a Ronnie South extra point, the scoreboard showed Arkansas 7 - Texas 0.
While still in the first quarter and 10 plays later, Texas had driven to the Arkansas 23 when Tommy Trantham would the take a Harris fumble and return it 77 yards for the next score. After a blocked extra point attempt, the score was 13 - 0 Arkansas. The score would remain at this for the final 2:18 of the quarter.
At the start of the second quarter after a Texas punt and holding call, Jon Brittenum took over on the Hog 40. He was determined that the offense would finally score (all of the scoring up to this point had been made by the defense). Brittenum stepped to the line and began his cadence. During the drive he hit "Lighthorse" Harry Jones on a pass for 23 yards, added a five yard keeper, and with 11:03 remaining in the quarter, he ended the drive with an 11 yard pass to end Bobby Crockett . Touchdown Arkansas. South's kick was good making the score 20 - 0. The drive had taken 9 plays for, 60 yards, and removed 4:33 off the game clock.
With 8:42 left in the half, David Conway finally put Texas on the board with a 35 yard field goal culminating a 8 yard, 5 play drive. The score was now 20 - 3 Arkansas.
The scoring for the half would end when Texas quarterback Marvin Kristynik would run a quarterback sneak for 1 yard ending a 9 play, 73 yard drive. At this point Darrell Royal decided to go for two. Greg Lott completed the two point conversion making the score at halftime: Arkansas 20 - Texas 11.
The only scoring in the third quarter was at 4:51 when Conway kicked a 34 yard field goal after 9 plays and 27 yards eating up 5:24 on the clock. Texas was inching back into the game with the scoreboard now showing Arkansas 20 - Texas 14. They were now only 6 points down.
With only fifteen minutes remaining, the game couldn't end quick enough. The fourth quarter started with Kristynik weaving his team in seven quick plays both inside and outside for 40 yards ending with a 14 yard run of his own, giving Texas their first lead in the game at 21 - 20. There were only ten minutes left in the game and Arkansas found itself now behind. Texas had now scored 21 unanwered points and things were getting just a little bit tense.
The Hogs could maintain possession for only one minute before they were forced to give the ball back to Texas. Kristynik now moved Texas and took the ball 54 yards in 11 plays where Conway again kicked a 34 yard field goal. His third field goal of the game, making the score 24 - 20 Texas. During the drive, Kristynik had runs of 19 and 16 yards. Now it was 24 unanswered points and the hammer was falling. Afterall, this was the #1 team in the nation. The Hogs had seen it too many times before with Texas. Was the winning streak over?
Following the touchback after the kickoff, Arkansas found itself 80 yards away from scoring with 4:06 left in the game. It would take a touchdown to win, a field goal would still be a loss. Now it was time for Brittenum to go to work. After immediately hitting Crockett for 22 yards, Brittenum rolled out and hit Crockett for 13, 8, and 11 yards ending up at the Texas 22. With third and four from the 15, Brittenum rolled right while Crockett sprinted toward the right corner. Brittenum launched the ball to Crockett's outstretched hands. With all of the effort that he could muster, he dove and made the catch while rolling out of bounds at the one.The Hogs would not be denied. Brittenum then took the ball the final yard and punched it into the Texas endzone with 1:32 left in the game. He was home. Final score: Arkansas 27 - Texas 24. After losing the Arkansas game in 1964 and costing Texas a national championship, this was the first time a Darrell Royal team had lost two consecutive years to the same team. #1 Texas had now fallen to #3 Arkansas.
In the game, Brittenum had gone 10 for 19 passing, gaining 131 yards. Arkansas had a total offense of 181 yards to 401 for Texas. When the polls came out, Arkansas was the new #1 team in the nation. GO HOGS!
Quarterbackin' Man written by J. Paul Scott,
performed by The Rivermen
