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The tale this month tells the old story about how Arkansas' team became the Razorbacks. It all started 15 years earlier in 1894 when John Clayton Futrall along with 14 players started the first University of Arkansas football team. It was in Futrall's first year as a Latin professor, that he coached the team on a part time basis. While still in his first year, they won two games played against a Fort Smith team made up primarily of Fort Smith High School athletes, and lost to the University of Texas in a game played in Austin by the score of 54–0. The rivalry was now ON. The team was first known as the Cardinals, after having been named after the school colors of cardinal and white. Not very imaginative, but it worked (at least for a while).
Fifteen years later would turn out to be one of the "special" years. But backing up one year, it was now 1908 and the coach was a former University of Chicago fullback named Hugo Bezdek. He had come to the University of Arkansas after coaching only one year during 1906 at the University of Oregon where he had accumulated a record of 5–0–1. As an All-American fullback, Bezdek had learned the game from legendary football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg. Born in Prague, Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic), his family immigrated to Chicago when he was five. He was now 24 years old and the coach at Arkansas.
As a coach, Bezdek was a true task master. During his practices you could hear comments made by his players that indicated “playing the other team on Saturday was the easiest thing that we would do all week.”
The tale this month tells the old story about how Arkansas' team became the Razorbacks. It all started 15 years earlier in 1894 when John Clayton Futrall along with 14 players started the first University of Arkansas football team. It was in Futrall's first year as a Latin professor, that he coached the team on a part time basis. While still in his first year, they won two games played against a Fort Smith team made up primarily of Fort Smith High School athletes, and lost to the University of Texas in a game played in Austin by the score of 54–0. The rivalry was now ON. The team was first known as the Cardinals, after having been named after the school colors of cardinal and white. Not very imaginative, but it worked (at least for a while).
Fifteen years later would turn out to be one of the "special" years. But backing up one year, it was now 1908 and the coach was a former University of Chicago fullback named Hugo Bezdek. He had come to the University of Arkansas after coaching only one year during 1906 at the University of Oregon where he had accumulated a record of 5–0–1. As an All-American fullback, Bezdek had learned the game from legendary football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg. Born in Prague, Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic), his family immigrated to Chicago when he was five. He was now 24 years old and the coach at Arkansas.
As a coach, Bezdek was a true task master. During his practices you could hear comments made by his players that indicated “playing the other team on Saturday was the easiest thing that we would do all week.”
1908 Cardinal football team. Click to enlarge The 1908 season began with a win over Haskell College in a game played in Fayetteville. The next week Ole Miss came to town with the Cardinals coming out on top 33–0. The first loss came in the third game played against St. Louis University at St. Louis. Henderson State was next with a Cardinal win at Fayetteville, followed by two losses on the road at the University of Oklahoma, and Texas. Back home yielded two more wins against Pittsburg State, and Ouachita College. Seems like they would have wins at home, and only lose while on the road. Their game faces must have been left at home. The season ended in Little Rock with a loss to LSU. So ended Bezdek's first season with a 5–4–0 record.
But, this would not be replayed the following year. Next would come the "special" year of 1909. When 1909 came around, other teams would find it hard to keep up with the speed, kicking game, and defense of the Cardinal football team.
But, this would not be replayed the following year. Next would come the "special" year of 1909. When 1909 came around, other teams would find it hard to keep up with the speed, kicking game, and defense of the Cardinal football team.
1909 Cardinal/Razorback football team. Click to enlarge After winning its first four games (not counting the two games that were cancelled for various reasons - Carlton College, and Ole Miss), Arkansas was primed to meet LSU on November 13 in Memphis. The Cardinals had lost the final game in 1908 to LSU in Little Rock by 36–4 (back then field goals were counted as 4 points) and so there was obviously a revenge factor to be considered. LSU at that point was 4–1. This provided Arkansas with its first real showdown in school history. The crowd was estimated at 4,000 … a large crowd by any standard in 1909. Although not in Memphis, an excited crowd had also gathered at the Western Union office in Fayetteville to follow the game. The halftime score came over the wires indicating the score was Arkansas 5, LSU 0 (not sure how they got five point, but...). Although not favored, Arkansas went on to win 16–0. It was after this game that Bezdek made his famous statement on a November day following the game as the train pulled into Fayetteville. As he greeted the home crowd, he spoke the words about the football team which led to the official mascot change in 1910. Although the name had changed, it was not until 1916 before the yearbook changed its name from The Cardinal (based on the school colors; not the mascot) to The Razorback.
After a November 20 win against Ouachita (now Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia) on the team's return trip from the LSU game in Memphis, Bezdek would end his perfect season (7–0) by playing Washington University from St. Louis in a game on Thanksgiving Day at Little Rock. This would be Arkansas’ first undefeated season. The game was played with an Arkansas win of 34–0.
This undefeated season would not be repeated for 55 more years when it would again take place during another "special" year in 1964. However, in this "magical" season Arkansas had scored 186 points, while the defense had given up only 18 (although 6 points were given to Drury College due to a decision of the officials which was not in accordance with the rules). For the complete season, the offense had scored more than ten times that of the opponents. What a team! What a year for the birth of a Razorback!
Bezdek went on to coach through the 1912 season before returning to the University of Oregon in 1913. For the first time, Arkansas football had finally shown a glimpse of what it could become.
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After a November 20 win against Ouachita (now Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia) on the team's return trip from the LSU game in Memphis, Bezdek would end his perfect season (7–0) by playing Washington University from St. Louis in a game on Thanksgiving Day at Little Rock. This would be Arkansas’ first undefeated season. The game was played with an Arkansas win of 34–0.
This undefeated season would not be repeated for 55 more years when it would again take place during another "special" year in 1964. However, in this "magical" season Arkansas had scored 186 points, while the defense had given up only 18 (although 6 points were given to Drury College due to a decision of the officials which was not in accordance with the rules). For the complete season, the offense had scored more than ten times that of the opponents. What a team! What a year for the birth of a Razorback!
Bezdek went on to coach through the 1912 season before returning to the University of Oregon in 1913. For the first time, Arkansas football had finally shown a glimpse of what it could become.
Follow and Like us on Facebook at hawg-tales, and on Twitter at @hawg_tales.
How many of the pictures did you recognize? You can also see the slideshow on YouTube by searching for "razorback football history", and watching Arkansas Razorback football history.wmv .
