Tag Archives: little rock touchdown club

IN MEMORY OF COACH BOWDEN Bobby Bowden named to Broyles Award Selection Committee jh25

August 8, 2021 – 8:15 am
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The Broyles Award Trophy, made out of solid bronze, depicts Broyles (kneeling) and longtime University of Arkansas assistant coach Wilson Matthews (standing), watching over a Razorback football game or practice. Matthews was the coach of Little Rock Central High School before joining Broyles on the Razorback’s staff.

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Today at the Little Rock Touchdown Club Luncheon, Bobby Bowden spoke, but before he spoke, David Bazell announced that Bowden is the newest member of the Broyles Award Selection Committee. The committee includes Frank Broyles, Don James, Vince Dooley, Haden Fry, Dick MacPherson, Grant Teaff, and LaVell Edwards.

The Broyles Award is an annual award given to honor the best assistant coach in college football. First awarded in 1996, it was named after former University of Arkansas men’s athletic director Frank Broyles. The award is presented in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Bowden told a funny story about the 1980 victory at Nebraska. He pointed out that Nebraska was ranked #3 and was expected to possibly win the national championship. At that time Florida State had not won a game against a top 5 team yet, and FSU went into the game as big underdogs. In fact, the week before FSU had lost 10-9 in a game where they had been heavily favored because of the 10 fumbles they had because their first and second team centers had season ending injuries.

In practice the next week Bowden got several players together to compete for the starting center position and it was won by a walk-on player. The next game against Nebraska, Florida State had no turnovers while Nebraska had 4 and Florida State came away with a 18-14 victory.

Bowden noted that the walk-on center was horrible at blocking, but he was very dependable at providing good snaps. Bowden uses this illustration when he talks to business people to encourage them to seek dependable employees.

Bowden asserted, “That will always go down in my book not neccessarily my favorite win, but probably the most important win in Florida State’s modern day history.”

Below you will see a clip that discusses that 1980 matchup and you will notice that former Arkansas defensive coordinator Reggie Herring is interviewed twice in the 4 minute clip. Herring played on the FSU defense.

In 2006 I went to the Shiloh Christian at Bauxite playoff game in Saline County. It was a cold night, and I noticed Gus Malzahn and several other notable persons at the game. Arkansas had played LSU earlier in the day in Little Rock. During the second half I saw a monster hit by a linebacker from Shiloh, and I exclaimed, “Who was that guy?” The gentleman next to me who was wearing a ski mask responded, “That is my son Adam Herring.” I had been standing next to Reggie Herring for 2 hours and did not even know it.

Bobby Bowden Head coach Bobby Bowden of the Florida State Seminoles watches his team while taking on the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium November 24, 2007 in Gainesville, Florida.

In This Photo: Bobby Bowden
By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)

IN MEMORY OF COACH BOWDEN Bobby Bowden’s Christian Faith (Part 5) jh28

August 8, 2021 – 8:13 am

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Bobby Bowden was probably the best speaker I have ever heard at the Little Rock Touchdown Club. Here is an article about his Christian faith:

Football and faith are big business for Bobby Bowden
Tuesday, Jun 12, 2001
By Sandra Vidak
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (BP)–Whether it’s leading his team to a national championship on the gridiron, or carefully tending his flock of football players, Florida State’s Bobby Bowden is on-mission for the Lord — 24 hours a day.During 46 years of coaching, Bowden has concerned himself with the salvation of nearly 5,000 young men who have providentially found themselves at his coaching door. Sitting at his desk — family photographs to his right and a picture-window view of the football playing field at Doak Campbell Stadium on his left — the larger-than-life personality becomes the down-to-earth mentor to players and coaches alike. He is just as concerned about his players “getting saved” as he is about them learning playbooks.In fact, when a student athlete signs to play football at Florida State University, one of the first things the coach does is send a letter to the parents asking for permission to take the student to church.Bowden takes the players, as a team, to church twice each season. The churches selected are not necessarily Baptist; typically one is predominantly Anglo and the other predominantly African-American.

“I make all my boys, black or white, go because I want them to see that they are welcomed here in this church no matter what the color of their skin. I want them to understand that.”

He also tells the parents, “I want them to carry on the way that you have trained them in your home because I know how it is when kids get away to college — the first thing they do is quit going to church.”

And while Bowden may be a man of character and integrity, don’t under estimate him as an opponent. Firm coaching principles are as important to him as winning the game.

Tangible evidence of the success of this football legend’s program is on display in the Coyle Moore Athletic Center. The football wing is a museum that houses two Waterford crystal national championship trophies (1993 and 1999), along with hundreds of other awards, rings, trophies, outstanding player portraits and memorabilia from 24 years of winning football games.

Sure, Bowden is proud of winning but it’s mainly others — boosters, media and fans — who bring up the impressive, record-breaking statistics. Bowden unequivocally gives God the glory for his success.

“God hasn’t blessed many coaches more than He has me. He sure has blessed me” and for that “I am very thankful,” Bowden said. Specifically, he mentioned that, “God has given me a great family. We’ve all been very fortunate.”

Bobby and Ann Bowden have been married 51 years and their family includes six children — all married — and 21 grandchildren, all healthy.

Bowden truly loves people. Just to watch him walk around the athletic complex is a lesson in people skills as he speaks and nods to every person he sees. Colleagues say he “never walks past an admiring child without a wink and a smile.”

The Birmingham, Ala., native evidences a God-given talent to motivate others. The genteel charm, quick wit and Southern drawl, mixed with a friendly and outgoing man who loves life and lives it to the fullest, makes people just want to be around him.

“I just love to coach,” he affirmed. “That may sound simple, but I think sometimes people like the things that go around coaching and not the actual job.”

Colleagues use words like “respect, sincerity, class, honesty, charisma, charm and humor” to describe Bowden. His faith in God, commitment to Christ and “rock-solid character” are the things that define this man — not wins, losses or coaching records.

“Our mission on earth is to glorify God, in whatever [situation] He’s put us.” So if you’re doing it to the glory of God, he added, then it better be good.

“I’ve always felt like He put me in coaching to try to reach young men through coaching, through playing ball, you know? It opens a lot of doors for them.”

Startling numbers of Bowden’s players become first-round NFL draft picks, but Bowden encourages them to seek God’s will in planning their futures.

“God is going to find a way for you to make a living,” he said. “He is going to find a profession for you. And to me that’s what all these college students should be doing — searching for the profession into which God wants them to go. Now most of them are going to be led into it by their abilities. Some of them just feel like they want to go into medicine, law, teaching, coaching or criminology. In other words there’s something that just leads you in there, and I feel like if people will ask and seek, that God will lead them where He wants them to go.”

Reflecting on his career and what God has taught him through coaching, Bowden said, “If you love Him and serve Him and try to be loyal to Him and obedient to Him, He’s not going to let you fail. That’s the thing that has happened to me.”

Ever mindful of his Christian testimony, Bowden has “always tried to put God first — I’ve tried. I don’t want people to think that ‘Bobby really thinks he’s a good boy.’ No, I don’t think I’m good. I try to be good. But the thing about it is that God has taught me that if you try to be obedient and try to follow the rules and try to do what He asks you to, you still can be a success.”

Win, lose or draw, Bowden’s first order of business at the end of a game is to immediately shake the other coach’s hand. He is acutely aware of the constant audience of players, coaches, fans and media watching for his reaction, particularly during turbulent times.

Bowden was “raised in a very good Christian home” under the care of “great” parents. They took him to church all of his life, had prayer in the home and read Scripture.

Bowden made a public profession of faith when he was around age 10, but said it wasn’t until he was 23 he really “got the picture” and rededicated his life to the Lord.

He recalled, “As I came up, I thought that being good was being a Christian. I knew you had to join the church. I joined the church. I knew you had to be baptized. I was baptized. I thought that — plus being good — makes you a Christian.

“I finally realized that you are saved by grace.” It’s “nothing that you did and nothing that you earned. Once I understood that, it made life simpler to me. Because, with understanding grace, it makes you want to do better. Nobody’s perfect. I make mistakes every day and do things that are wrong, though I try not to. But that’s the thing about being a Christian and really believing: You try not to.”

He added, “The older I get the stronger I get about my Christian beliefs and faith.”

Ever since his 1953 rededication experience, Bowden has accepted invitations to speak whenever and wherever he can, particularly to church groups, and particularly when he is on the road with the team. Whether the media is watching or not, he minces no words when speaking of eternal salvation.

Comparing his role as a coach and that of ministers, who he admires because “they have got the toughest job in the world,” Bowden acknowledged, “In coaching I can’t make everybody happy. There’s no way. If you win, you didn’t win by a big enough score. … If you are a minister and you are preaching” the responsibility is greater. “You can’t make everybody happy there; don’t water it down so that these people who don’t believe don’t get their feelings hurt,” he admonished. “I think you’ve got to say it like it is, in the best loving way that you can say it now. But, again, preach the Bible and what the Bible teaches and I think your church will flourish.”
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By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)

IN MEMORY OF COACH BOWDEN Little Rock Touchdown Club speaker Bobby Bowden’s testimony (Part 4) jh27

August 8, 2021 – 8:13 am

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Uploaded by on Feb 7, 2010

2010 exciting Idlewild baptist church Bobby Bowden guest speaker FSU head coach speaking sermon pastor ken whiten talks about faith in Jesus Christ, God. small story about his mom.

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When I attended the Little Rock Touchdown Club on September 12, 2011 I thought that I  something may have to do with Bobby Bowden’s testimony and sure enough he started off with a story about him being a Southern Baptist. However, he did not go into details about his faith in Christ. Here I am posting those details:

CBN.com – Bobby Bowden is a coaching legend. His name is synonymous with success. He’s the all-time winningest coach in Division One history, and he’s directed the Florida State University Seminoles to two national championships.

But he says the defining moment in his life came before his coaching career even began, when he rededicated his life to Jesus Christ.

“When I recommitted my life, my whole thinking was…God I’m making myself available to You. I think You’ve led me into coaching. I think this is what You want me to do, God,” he remembers.

And unashamedly, Coach Bowden has been using football at the stadium as a pulpit to witness to young men for the last 53 years.

“You know, that’s all I’ve done over the last 50 years is make it available, and you can’t believe the boys that have called me 20 to 30 years later.”

According to Bowden, his former players have said, “Coach I’m so glad you did this. I’m so glad you said that.”

“You can’t imagine how many boys I’ve coached here that become ministers. That has to be just as satisfying as winning a football game,” he says. “All we got to do is present it. We ain’t gonna save nobody. But He will, and all He asks us to do is to present it.”

Talk to players, coaches, and the people who work most closely with Bobby Bowden over the years, and the thing you hear over and over again is how much he genuinely cares for people.

“As a coach, he’s had a big influence on my life. He hired me because I was a player here. Bobby showed a lot to me by example as a leader — dependability and accountability,” says defensive line coach, Odell Haggins.

“He’s like a second father to me. He’s been so gracious to my family and I forever,” adds former assistant coach, Chuck Amato. “I’ve often said Coach Bowden is a sermon in shoes. What he says and what he preaches, he follows up. He treats the custodian that cleans the commode in his office just as well as he treats the president of the university. He sees no class in people. He sees no difference in race. He treats everybody kind and with respect.”

He’s fair, but tough — much like a general. In fact, had he not gone into coaching, Bowden said he probably would’ve chosen the military as a career.

“I was raised during World War II. So I became very interested in the military.”

“A lot of those skills and strategies carry over. I get a lot of sayings out of it. Some things that General Patton or Stonewall Jackson said, I can use and you’d be amazed at how much the strategy is alike,” says Coach Bowden.

Coach says one attribute that should carry over whether it’s the battlefield or the football field is character — a trait that he instills in his players.

“I’m one of those guys that thinks if you don’t have adversity, forget about character. Because your character is going to be developed by how well you handle adversity,” he says. “Now if you never have adversity, how are you going to develop character?”

And it’s through his own adversity Coach Bowden’s character shines. He’s been criticized for giving second chances to players who break team rules.  But Coach says God extended grace to him and when given the opportunity, he’ll do the same.

“I was a boy myself one time. If someone had not forgiven me for some of the things I had done, I would never have made it. So I’m coaching these young men, and I know what they go through and the temptations they’re faced with.”

“They’re going to make mistakes. I made them! I still do! But if it’s up to me, and I’ve got a chance to save someone, and it’s the first time they’ve done something like this … I’m going to give them a second chance.”

And he uses those opportunities to be a positive influence in his players’ lives.

“I believe young men need a male in the home. Young boys raised need a male figure in the home. It’s not what most of them got … somebody to discipline them,” he believes. “I take them to church, have bible reading with them, and pray at supper. I think that myself and the staff add a lot.”

The landscape of college football has changed since Bowden arrived on the scene. A lot of coaches have come and gone. But Coach Bowden has had success with a simple philosophy.

“When I put everything in God’s hands, I don’t have to worry about anything. I don’t have to worry about winning ballgames. I want to. I want to win as much as anybody does, but I don’t have to worry about this. I know that when I die, I live eternally with my God, so the pressure’s off!”

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IN MEMORY OF COACH BOWDEN Bobby Bowden at Little Rock Touchdown Club (Part 3) jh24

August 8, 2021 – 8:10 am

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I really enjoyed hearing Bobby Bowden speak at the Little Rock Touchdown Club on September 12th and I wanted to put one more post up about it.

Below is an article by Harry King on the Bowden talk.

Punch lines on cue from Bowden

Posted on 13 September 2011

By Harry King

LITTLE ROCK — Some of his material could use an update, but Bobby Bowden’s timing and inflection are good enough for an opening act at a comedy club.

The 81-year-old former Florida State football coach evoked lots of yucks at the Little Rock Touchdown Club on Monday, although a couple of punch lines were familiar and his story about autographed pictures would have worked just as well in Alabama by subbing Nick Saban’s name for that of Bobby Petrino.

Bowden left me wanting more inside football. He talked briefly about how college realignment is driven by money, how winning football attracts students, and how the 25-scholarship limit plays a big role in the number of upsets. He said he could live without a playoff in college football — “It’s not going to get much better than Oregon-Auburn” — and that he didn’t think it would happen because a large majority of college presidents are against it.

Although Missouri and West Virginia are mentioned most often as possible partners with Texas A&M in a move to the Southeastern Conference, Florida State is often in the speculation. They could have joined Arkansas in the SEC 20 years ago, but chose the Atlantic Coast Conference where Bowden believes they will remain.

“People older like I am like tradition,” he said.

Bowden mentioned how he harped on enthusiasm when he was hired at Florida State in 1976 and how persistence might be the most valuable asset in football. He recalled losing two centers in one game early in the 1980 season and losing to Miami the next week when the snap was fumbled 10 times. A week later, the Seminoles were going to play at No. 3 Nebraska and the only two candidates at center had originally been scheduled to be redshirted.

A 185-pound walk-on won the job over a 235-pound scholarship player. At Nebraska, the Seminoles couldn’t do anything in the first half and trailed 14-3. In the second half, the FSU quarterback rolled out regularly to escape the noseman.

The center, he said, hasn’t blocked the Nebraska noseman yet, but the Seminoles did not have a turnover and the Cornhuskers had four in a loss that put FSU on the map.

His message, often delivered to business owners, is to get dependable people.

Bowden opened the comedy with a story about him speaking to a group of Methodists in Georgia. A Southern Baptist, Bowden was asked by a Methodist minister if he was comfortable addressing the audience.

Sure, Bowden said, adding that the two groups worship a bit differently. Asked again, Bowden said he explained, “Y’all continue to do it your way; we’ll continue to do it His.”

The one about trying to get rid of his 10 complimentary game tickets the first year he was at FSU was more predictable. He accommodated family and neighbors and still had two left. Even the school janitor turned him down so he drove to a mall in Tallahassee, put the tickets on the car windshield, and went for a haircut.

An hour later, he came out and there were six tickets on the windshield.

During the three years prior to Bowden’s arrival, the Seminoles won four games. From 1987 to 2000, FSU finished in the top five in The Associated Press poll.

Under Bowden, Florida State won two national championships. Given my druthers, he would have expounded on those teams and some of his others.

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Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media’s Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com.

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Bobby Bowden at Little Rock Touchdown Club (Part 2)

I went to the Little Rock Touchdown Club and heard Bobby Bowden of Florida State speak. It was outstanding. Here is an article below on his visit from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: LITTLE ROCK — Former Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden is familiar with pressure brought on by high expectations. Two years ago, after the Seminoles […]

Bobby Bowden named to Broyles Award Selection Committee

    The Broyles Award Trophy, made out of solid bronze, depicts Broyles (kneeling) and longtime University of Arkansas assistant coach Wilson Matthews (standing), watching over a Razorback football game or practice. Matthews was the coach of Little Rock Central High School before joining Broyles on the Razorback’s staff. ______________ Today at the Little Rock […]

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IN MEMORY OF COACH BOWDEN: Bobby Bowden at Little Rock Touchdown Club (Part 2)jh25

August 8, 2021 – 8:09 am

I went to the Little Rock Touchdown Club and heard Bobby Bowden of Florida State speak. It was outstanding. Here is an article below on his visit from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:

LITTLE ROCK — Former Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden is familiar with pressure brought on by high expectations.

Two years ago, after the Seminoles finished the season 7-6, Bowden, 81, wanted to coach one more season. But he was not given that opportunity.

Florida State President T.K. Wetherell asked him to step aside as coach and stay with the team in the diminished role of university ambassador — which would have given him little input on the day-to-day operations of the football team.

Bowden declined. He announced his retirement, and Jimbo Fisher, who had been appointed as the school’s coachin-waiting two years earlier, was given the head-coaching position for the 2010 season.

“That’s just the way it is now,” Bowden told members of the media after speaking to the Little Rock Touchdown Club at the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock on Monday. “I had wanted to coach one more year and try and get to 400 wins.”

Bowden retired with a career record of 377-129-4 after the NCAA forced Florida State to vacate 12 victories from the 2006-2007 seasons for academic problems with his former players.

“They are paying the head coach so much money now that they demand you to win,” Bowden said. “The thing is, head coaches make so much money now that you can retire. There aren’t going to be a lot of coaches who last as long as Joe [Paterno] and I did.”

Paterno has coached 46 years at Penn State with a 402-136-3 record.

Bowden said he made approximately $40,000 per year when he was hired at Florida State in 1976; he was making $2.5 million when he retired two years ago.

His Florida State team won 10 or more games from 1987-2000, never finished lower than fourth in the final AP poll, and won national championships in 1993 and 1999.

But during his last five seasons as coach, the Seminoles went 38-27 and only won 1 ACC championship.

“Those last few years, we didn’t do a good job evaluating players like we once did,” Bowden said. “We would see a kid we wanted, and he wasn’t as good as advertised.”

Failing to live up to expectations also cost Bowden’s sons, Terry and Tommy, their coaching jobs.

Terry Bowden posted a 47-17-1 record from 1993-1998 at Auburn, but he stepped down in 1998 with the Tigers at 1-5 and his job security up in the air.

Tommy Bowden went 72-45 at Clemson from 1999-2008, but resigned when the Tigers started the season 3-3 after being ranked ninth in the preseason Associated Press poll in 2008.

Terry Bowden is now coaching at NCAA Division II North Alabama, while Tommy Bowden is out of coaching.

Bobby Bowden still cares about Florida State football, despite not being able to retire on his own terms. The Seminoles, 2-0 and ranked fifth in this week’s AP poll, host No. 1 Oklahoma Saturday night.

Bowden also acknowledged many of other changes in college coaching, but he remains a traditionalist:

Bowden does not approve of conference realignment, but said it is inevitable.

“Texas A&M is going to leave the Big 12, and if a bunch of schools from the Big 12 leave, then it’s going to change everything,” Bowden said.

On the lack of a playoff in college football: “I don’t think we’ll have a playoff, and it won’t happen because the presidents don’t want it.”

On the coach-in-waiting concept that Florida State, Texas, Maryland and Oregon have used with mixed results: “I think it’s good for the coach-in-waiting,” Bowden said, acknowledging that the coach-in-waiting usually gets promoted or a pay raise if the school doesn’t promote him by a certain date. “The president and athletic council came up with it, and I went along with it because I was at the end of my career.”

On the value a good college football team brings to a university: “When I first came to Florida State in 1976, when I would go recruiting, the president would say, ‘When you go to Tampa, please visit this girl because she’s a straight-A student and we want her,’” Bowden said. “Four years later, we went undefeated, played in our first major bowl game and were on national television. We would take about 2,500 students every year, but were getting 5,000-6,000 applicants because a successful football team attracts students.”

This article was published today at 4:28 a.m.Sports, Pages 19 on 09/13/2011

Sports 19

Former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden

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ESPN’s Mark Schlabach at Little Rock Touchdown Club (Part 2)

November 23, 2011 – 12:46 pm

Tyler Wilson

Earlier I wrote about where I think Arkansas could win a national championship with just two more wins.

Below is a portion of an article by Jim Harris of the website Arkansas 360:

STILL THERE’S LES AT LSU: Schlabach, in saying that LSU and Alabama are the two best teams in the country, had high praise for Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson as being tops in the SEC. Mississippi State Coach Dan Mullen, one of three coaches to face the top three in the SEC West this year, concurred. Tennessee’s Derek Dooley and Ole Miss’ Houston Nutt didn’t want to go on the record comparing the teams, Schlabach said.

The ESPN.com writer said that while LSU has the fastest defense around and has the most team speed, “All that being said, Les Miles is still coaching LSU.” And that drew a huge laugh in the room of Touchdown Club members.

Then, seriously, Schlabach said of Miles, “I love the guy … It might be that Les Miles is a geniius and we’re just now figuring that out. If LSU beats Arkansas, it’s got to be the greatest SEC team. They’ll be undefeated and would have beaten four teams ranked in the top four of the BCS … They lost a starting offensive lineman who hasn’t played a game, their quarterback was suspended, they had to suspend four players for synthetic marijuana, they have other quarterback issues now.”

The message is: Miles has pulled off quite a feat. Maybe it’s time to give him credit for being a pretty good coach, as well as a good guy.

Schlabach recalled a trip to Baton Rouge to interview Miles in which the coach “gave me an hour and a half of his time. There’s not many coaches who would have done that.”

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Why is this victory over the Vols so sweet? Probably because of 71 and 98!! jh85

  Above is a picture from my camera at the game. Photo I have wondered why this victory meant over Tennessee meant so much to our Razorback Nation. I guess the answer is simply that we have lost so many close heartbreaking games to the Vols over the years and the 1971 and 1998 games […]

 

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)

After blowout at Arkansas, Vols coach Dooley felt like celebration after Vandy win was warrented

November 23, 2011 – 6:07 am

I saw the end of the Tennessee/Vandy game on tv and my brother-in-law went to the game (pictures from him below). I have written about the game earlier on this blog so I will not go into that again. I just wanted to comment on the video clip above. I think it is fine that Derek Dooley said some things in his locker room with the team that he doesn’t want to discuss anymore. All coaches do that. I just wanted to note that after the beating that Arkansas gave his team the week before it is understandable that the Vols would be excited to get back on the winning track.

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Johnny Majors speaks at Little Rock Touchdown Club (Part 10)jh78

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  Above is a picture from my camera at the game. Photo I have wondered why this victory meant over Tennessee meant so much to our Razorback Nation. I guess the answer is simply that we have lost so many close heartbreaking games to the Vols over the years and the 1971 and 1998 games […]

Majors speaks at Little Rock Touchdown Club (Part 8)jh76

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17 seniors play their last game in Fayetteville for Hogs jh82

    My son Wilson and I went to the game on Saturday in Fayetteville and saw the Razorback Stadium. Above is a picture of the seniors and Seth Armburst is running out on the field. Below is an article by Wally Hall that mentions the names of all  of the 17 seniors for the […]

Arkansas has convincing win over Vols

Photo by Jason Ivester Arkansas running back Dennis Johnson scored on two touchdown runs of 71 and 15 yards Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, helping the Razorbacks post a 49-7 victory over Tennessee and rise from No. 8 to No. 6 in the BCS standings. _____________ My son Wilson and I enjoyed watching […]

Johnny Majors speaks at Little Rock Touchdown Club (Part 7)jh75

Uploaded by TheMemphisSlim on Sep 3, 2010 Johnny Majors from Huntland, TN tried out for the UT Football team weighing 150 pounds. His Father, Shirley Majors his HS Coach,encourage him and then 4 younger brothers all to be Vols. Johnny Majors was the runner-up in 1956 for the Heisman Trophy to Paul Horning, on a loosing Notre Dame […]

 

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Mangino speaks at Little Rock Touchdown Club (Part 2)

November 21, 2011 – 7:17 am
Mangino at a 2007 KU basketball game

Eric Mangino is a very good speaker. Here is a portion of an article by Jim Harris:

11/14/2011 at 3:37pm

It’s easy for fans who don’t follow Kansas football closely to forget just how successful Mark Mangino was in building the Jayhawks’ program before he was controversially shown the door nearly two years ago.

When Arkansas upset top-ranked LSU in Baton Rouge 50-48 in three overtimes in the 2007 regular-season finale, Kansas was sitting one slot behind the Tigers at No. 2 and playing Missouri that same weekend. Mangino’s Jayhawks lost their only game of the season to Missouri 36-28, but earned a BSC bowl spot anyway and defeated Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl to start 2008.

Mangino and the KU administration were in a dispute over his contract, and the coach was alleged to have struck a player. That gave the Jayhawk athletic brass at the time an excuse to unload Mangino and his big contract.

After nearly two full seasons on the sidelines, Mangino said Monday during a visit with the Little Rock Touchdown Club that he’s ready to return to coaching.

“My wife says I need a team,” he said after the luncheon at the Embassy Suites. “She’s had me around for a year and a half now and she says I really need a team to be around.”

Mangino said he’s had some overtures already, but he’s looking for the “right job” where the fanbase is fully behind the football program. Even at KU, football played second fiddle to the tradition rich basketball program, but that didn’t stop Mangino from guiding the Jayhawks to five bowls in eight years.

There were at least a couple of references during the Touchdown Club luncheon about the opening at Ole Miss. The Rebels could do a lot worse that Mangino, who took over at Kansas when the program was in the dumps. Last we checked, the Jayhawks weren’t doing too good without Mangino now, either. (Turner Gill was chosen to replace Mangino).

Mangino’s previous appearance in Little Rock before Monday was in early 2001, after Oklahoma had won the national championship, to accept the Broyles Award as the top assistant coach in the nation. He joined Bob Stoops at OU as offensive line coach in 1999, and became offensive coordinator the very next season when Mike Leach left Norman to become Texas Tech’s head coach.

That would be quite a pair together — Mangino and Leach. And Mangino had the large crowd Monday laughing about the year they were together on the OU staff, and Leach always seemed to end up watching Mangino’s TV, keeping the big man awake, during recruiting season well into the early morning. Hard to believe both are looking for jobs. And, just in case you didn’t notice, Texas Tech lost to Oklahoma State 66-6 on Saturday, the Red Raiders fourth straight shellacking after shocking Stoops and OU in Norman 41-38.

Mangino and a friend drove from Naples, Fla., to Fayetteville for Saturday’s Hog win over Tennessee and returned to Little Rock on Sunday, where some of the Touchdown Club board took them to dinner. Mangino was a guest in the USA Drug skybox on Saturday night. He said, “I’d never watched a college football game from a skybox like that.”

He was high on the Razorbacks after seeing them in first for the first time Saturday, as the Hogs walloped Tennessee 49-7. “They’ve got such great speed, both the offensive and defensive lines are physical and quick, and they are well coached.”

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Johnny Majors speaks at Little Rock Touchdown Club (Part 12)jh80

November 18, 2011 – 7:39 am

Uploaded by  on Sep 3, 2010

Johnny Majors from Huntland, TN tried out for the UT Football team weighing 150 pounds. His Father, Shirley Majors his HS Coach,encourage him and then 4 younger brothers all to be Vols. Johnny Majors was the runner-up in 1956 for the Heisman Trophy to Paul Horning, on a loosing Notre Dame team. So much for Northern politics with writers.

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Arkansas safety Tramain Thomas intercepts a pass for Tennessee wide receiver DeAnthony Arnett at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Nov. 12, 2011. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL)

Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess, ©KNS/2011

Arkansas safety Tramain Thomas intercepts a pass for Tennessee wide receiver DeAnthony Arnett at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Nov. 12, 2011. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL)

I got to hear Johnny Majors speak at the Little Rock Touchdown Club on 11-7-11. I got to hear Frank Broyles speak a couple of years ago. Of course, the most amazing thing was Broyles’ ability to hire top notch assistant coaches that later went on to win national titles and Super Bowls. Johnny Majors did just that (won a national title in 1976). In fact, did you know that as a player Majors lost the Heisman Trophy to Paul Hornung, who starred for Notre Dame. Wikipedia said that year Notre Dame had a losing record (2–8). To date, this is the only time the Heisman Trophy has been awarded to a player on a losing team. Many fans of college football, particularly Tennessee fans, believe that Hornung won the Heisman because he played for Notre Dame which at the time was one of very few college teams that enjoyed the benefit of having nationally televised football games. As a coach Majors did two things that I really respect. He won a national title at Pittsburgh and he returned UT to the top of the SEC by winning SEC titles in 85, 89, and 90.

Tennessee tailback Marlin Lane carries the ball against Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Nov. 12, 2011. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL)

Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess, ©KNS/2011

Tennessee tailback Marlin Lane carries the ball against Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Nov. 12, 2011. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL)

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Johnny Majors speaks at Little Rock Touchdown Club (Part 11)jh79

November 17, 2011 – 7:33 am

Interview with Johnny Majors after 1982 Kentucky game

Below is a picture of Lane Kiffin with Johnny Majors.

Image Detail

I enjoyed hearing Johnny Majors speak at the Little Rock Touchdown Club on 11-7-11. He talked a lot about the connection between the Arkansas and Tennessee football programs. It reminded me of what Frank Broyles had said two years earlier when I heard him speak. Broyles told a very interesting story that involved individuals that were involved with the UT football program. John Barnhill was the Athletic Director at Arkansas (former football coach of UT) and he hired a former UT player Bowden Wyatt to be the head football coach at Arkansas (future football coach of great UT team of 1956 with Johnny Majors at QB). John Barnhill noticed that in south Arkansas the radio stations were carrying the LSU football games and in the East part of Arkansas the radio stations were carrying Ole Miss and in the west they were carrying Oklahoma. Therefore, John Barnhill offerred all the radio staions in the whole state free access to the radio broadcast of the Razorbacks and the result was all the stations in the whole state carried the Razorbacks and Bowden Wyatt benefitted from the great increase in school spirit and support and a young Frank Broyles saw this great support in all the store windows of every store and every city in Arkansas had all this great support for the Razorbacks and Frank had never seen that at Baylor or Georgia Tech or any other school he had been around and he decided he would take the job as soon as it came open. Bowden Wyatt coached the first razorback team that got national attention but he left after getting the razorbacks to the cotton bowl and got a cadillac from the grateful fans of Arkansas and drove it straight to Knoxville where my Uncle Blythe told me that he used the talent left there and drank himself out of a job later.

Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray warms up with the team before the game against Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Nov. 12, 2011. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL)

Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess, ©KNS/2011

Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray warms up with the team before the game against Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Nov. 12, 2011. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL)

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 Tennessee football was both defined by and in a sense, spoiled by Robert Neyland, one of the all-time greats of college football coaching. “The Titan of Tennessee”, a College Football Hall Of Fame member, posted a 173-31-12 record in a twenty-one year coaching reign that spanned twenty-seven years as it was twice interrupted for military service. He played at Texas A&M and Army, served in World War I, then at West Point, worked directly for General Douglas MacArthur. Neyland eventually retired from the Army as a Brigadier General but served in Panama and in WW II which interrupted his UT coaching career. His unbelievable success put Tennessee football and his version of the Single Wing on the map, earning respect for southern football. He served to spoil fans and boosters with his .829 winning percentage and National Championships of 1938 and ’51. In one six-year period he went 53-1-5! After his retirement to the full-time athletic director’s position in 1952, every coach at UT was held to his standard. His final stint at UT spanned the years of 1946 through ’52. He inherited successful teams coached by John Barnhill who “kept the throne warm” for The General while he served during WW II. Barnhill was a former player and current assistant to Neyland when military duty called and upon Neyland’s return in ’46, Barnhill’s UT success brought him the head coaching job at Arkansas, one he kept for eight years until giving it over to former Tennessee star, assistant coach, and future head Volunteer mentor, Bowden Wyatt. Neyland of course, took Barnhill’s team to the next level, bringing the 1946 squad to the Orange Bowl.

Tennessee wide receiver Da'Rick Rogers looks for a call after he lost the ball against Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Nov. 12, 2011. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL)

Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess, ©KNS/2011

Tennessee wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers looks for a call after he lost the ball against Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Nov. 12, 2011. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL)

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After a two-year rebuilding effort, the 1949 team finished with a 7-2-1 mark

Former UT All American end Bowden Wyatt who had turned around the fortunes of Wyoming, at one point winning twenty-seven of thirty games, and then guided a down-trodden Arkansas to the Cotton Bowl in only his second year at the helm there, was rumored to be the incoming new Vols coach which predictably, contributed to the Hogs’ loss to Georgia Tech in their bowl game. On January 8, 1955 Wyatt was officially named and drove into Knoxville in a brand-new Cadillac that had been purchased by appreciative Razorback fans after clinching the Cotton Bowl berth. Using the same fundamental football he learned from General Neyland, Wyatt was tireless and dynamic in teaching the Tennessee Single-Wing which featured “fierce blocking and sound defense.” Wyatt’s first team featured John Gordy at tackle, Charley Coffey at guard, and Johnny Majors at tailback. Majors’ 1133 total yards made him the SEC MVP. Some felt that the 6-3-1 record would have improved if solid FB Tom Tracy had not had a personal falling-out with Wyatt which led him to quit the squad during spring ball. Tracy still went on to a productive nine-year NFL career with Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Washington.
Tennessee defensive back Izauea Lanier is unable to stop Arkansas wide receiver Jarius Wright from scoring at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Nov. 12, 2011. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess, ©KNS/2011Tennessee defensive back Izauea Lanier is unable to stop Arkansas wide receiver Jarius Wright from scoring at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Nov. 12, 2011. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL)

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A defensive stand-off that featured a lot of punting and strategy was the 1956 season’s highlighted game, a 6-0 win over powerful Georgia Tech in the seventh game of the year that spurred the Vols on to an undefeated season. All SEC T Gordy led the way for Majors and wingback Bill Anderson before the big lineman left to play for the Lions for eleven good years. Majors finished with 1101 yards, consensus All American ranking and finished second in the Heisman voting, an honor many experts believe he should have won. Once again his ability to run, pass, block and perform as one of the best punters in the nation gave him the SEC MVP for the second straight year and he was named as UPI’s National Back Of The Year. E Buddy Cruze was also All American and Wyatt was National Coach Of The Year for guiding his Vols to a number-two national ranking. The season ended on a down note as the mighty Vols lost a mistake-ridden Sugar Bowl game 13-7 to Baylor, the game marred when Vol guard Bruce Burnham was kicked by Baylor’s Larry Hickman after a play with Burnham going into convulsions. What was believed to possibly be a broken neck proved to be but a minor injury but the myth of an “unbeatable Tennessee team” had been exploded.
Tennessee tailback Marlin Lane carries the ball against Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Nov. 12, 2011. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess, ©KNS/2011Tennessee tailback Marlin Lane carries the ball against Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Nov. 12, 2011. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL)

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