Arkansas

1952-57 Razorbacks
(Authentic Reproduction)
 

The Razorbacks took the field in red helmets but their fortunes remained bleak. The 2-8 season in 1952 sealed Douglas’ fate and he returned to the pro game, resigning to become an assistant on Weeb Ewbank’s Colts staff, and followed with head coaching tenures at Villanova and with the Calgary Stampeders. There was a great deal of optimism for 1953 but the final 3-7 record of Bowden Wyatt wasn’t much of an improvement over Douglas’ final season. However, his impressive credentials put the state solidly behind him and kept hopes high. A former All American and team captain at Tennessee under the legendary General Neyland, Wyatt was actually Barnhill’s second choice, as he had what appeared to be a final agreement in principle with Paul “Bear” Bryant that would have brought the unhappy Kentucky coach back to his home state. Bryant decided to remain at Kentucky one more year before departing for Texas A&M and Barnhill, reaching for a fellow Tennessean, plucked the seldom-spoken Wyatt from his successful head coaching duties at Wyoming. Arkansas’ return to the Tennessee Single Wing was easier to accept after the failures of Barnhill’s 1949 T-Formation and the so-called Pro Attack of Douglas. QB Lamar McHan completed a terrific All American senior season, leading the conference in passing, total offense, punt returns, and punting. Lew Carpenter’s younger brother Preston and Bobby Proctor provided the backfield blocking and receiving. Though Wyatt didn’t predict any greatness, the ’54 team would enter Arkansas annals as “The 25 Little Pigs” and become one of the greatest of all. Sophomore based, the squad reeled off seven consecutive victories, some of national importance before literally running out of gas. They lost two of three down the stretch and ended the season by falling to Georgia Tech 14-6 in the Cotton Bowl. The stunning upsets and unexpected success however, brought the entire state together and filled the home stadium. All American guard and Outland Trophy winner Bud Brooks and backs Carpenter, Proctor, and All SWC FB Henry Moore led the way with the sophs which included a talented Billy Ray Smith. The 6-0 upset of ranked Ole Miss came on what came to be known in Arkansas as “The Pass” when late in the game, a fake run turned into a sixty-six yard TD bomb to Carpenter and it is a play still enjoyed by Hogs fans. Their 8-2 record found them ranked at number ten, the first time they had achieved national ranking. On December 2nd, boosters presented Wyatt with a new Cadillac and a week after the Cotton Bowl loss, Wyatt drove his new car out of Fayetteville, having accepted the head coaching job at his alma mater. In 1956, he had taken Tennessee to an undefeated season and was National Coach Of The Year but by 1963, personal issues and erratic behavior had cost him his coaching career. Despite this, he is a member of The College Football Hall Of Fame and is still recalled fondly by long time Arkansas fans.

1955 brought a new head coach. Jack Mitchell began his collegiate career at Texas, served in the military for almost four years, and returned to Oklahoma University to complete his education. He had been one of Bud Wilkinson’s first stars at OU and his first All American quarterback. A master at running the Split-T Option, few knew that Mitchell took it upon himself to pitch the ball to a trailing back as soon as he was hit. From Arkansas City, Kansas, Mitchell was very much a “Kansas guy” and this would come into play toward the end of his tenure at Fayetteville. He ascended the coaching ranks quickly and at the age of twenty-eight became head coach at Wichita State for 1953. He was immediately successful and his two season record of 13-5-1 included a 9-1 Missouri Valley Championship year in 1954. An emotional individual, Mitchell’s teams played emotionally and thus were inconsistent. Preston Carpenter stood out on the ’55 squad, joining the Browns as their first round draft pick and playing productively in the NFL through 1967 with five teams. FB Henry Moore earned All SWC honors and played with both the Giants and Colts. Tackle Billy Ray Smith continued to develop as Mitchell put his Split-T to work in an up-and-down 5-4-1 season. The 1956 defense wasn’t as strong as ’55 although All SWC Smith blossomed and went on to a heralded thirteen year pro career, primarily with the Colts. Overcoming huge graduation losses was a key to the 6-4 year and Gerald Nesbitt replaced Moore at FB and almost won the conference rushing title. The former Marine fell but two yards short of TCU’s great Jim Swink. The blocking of center Jay Donathan won All Conference accolades. The Hogs got off to a fast 4-0 start in 1957 and were noted as being “fast” and “quick” on the field. A loss to Texas and an upset win over sixth ranked Ole Miss seemed to drain the squad and they lost three straight, including a tough 7-6 game to number one Texas A&M the week following the Mississippi game. The 6-4 mark was disappointing but FB Nesbitt was again All SWC joining center Donathan with similar honors. Promising Barry Switzer played behind Donathan. Despite what was an obvious improvement in the program, Mitchell decided that Kansas was a better head coaching job and AD Barnhill decided to seek out a coach for the long haul.

If interested in any of these Razorback helmets please click on the photos below.