1969 Arkansas Razorbacks football team

The 1969 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1969 NCAA University Division football season. In their 12th year under head coach Frank Broyles, the Razorbacks compiled a 9–2 record (6–1 against SWC opponents), finished in second place behind Texas in the SWC, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 353 to 103.[1][2] The team finished the season ranked #7 in the final AP Poll and #3 in the final UPI Coaches Poll and went on to lose to Ole Miss in the 1970 Sugar Bowl.

1969 Arkansas Razorbacks football
Sugar Bowl, L 22–27 vs. Ole Miss
ConferenceSouthwest Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 3
APNo. 7
1969 record9–2 (6–1 SWC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDon Breaux
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorCharlie Coffey
Base defense4–3
Captains
  • Rodney Brand
  • Bruce Maxwell
  • Cliff Powell
  • Terry Stewart
Home stadiumRazorback Stadium
War Memorial Stadium
1969 Southwest Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 1 Texas $ 7 –0 –0  11 –0 –0
No. 7 Arkansas 6 –1 –0  9 –2 –0
Texas Tech 4 –3 –0  5 –5 –0
TCU 4 –3 –0  4 –6 –0
SMU 3 –4 –0  3 –7 –0
Rice 2 –5 –0  3 –7 –0
Texas A&M 2 –5 –0  3 –7 –0
Baylor 0 –7 –0  0 –10 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 20Oklahoma State*No. 2
W 39–051,125
September 27Tulsa*No. 3
W 55–043,617
October 4TCUNo. 3
  • War Memorial Stadium
  • Little Rock, AR
W 24–648,127
October 11at BaylorNo. 3
W 21–730,200
October 25Wichita State*No. 4
  • War Memorial Stadium
  • Little Rock, AR
W 52–1436,178
November 1Texas A&MNo. 4
  • Razorback Stadium
  • Fayetteville, AR (rivalry)
W 35–1343,140
November 8at RiceNo. 4
W 30–632,290
November 15at SMUNo. 4
W 28–1535,673
November 27Texas TechNo. 2
  • War Memorial Stadium
  • Little Rock, AR (rivalry)
W 33–035,287
December 6No. 1 TexasNo. 2
L 14–1544,598
January 1No. 13 Ole MissNo. 3
L 22–2782,500
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll

Roster
  • QB Bill Montgomery, Jr.

Game of the Century
Main article: 1969 Texas vs. Arkansas football game
"The Big Shootout"
#1 Texas at #2 Arkansas
1 234Total
• Longhorns 0 0015 15
Razorbacks 7 070 14
  • Date: December 6
  • Location: Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Arkansas
  • Game start: 12:20 pm
  • Game attendance: 47,500
  • Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C), overcast with rain, Wind SE 10 mph (16 km/h)
  • Referee: Carl Landiss


With two legendary coaches (Broyles and Royal), two neighboring states, two football powerhouses (8 of last 10 SWC Championships), and two recent National Championships (Arkansas in 1964 and Texas in 1963), Arkansas and Texas had developed a rivalry. The game was moved from the usual third week in October to the first week in December so it could be televised nationally on ABC. President Richard Nixon attended the game, and AstroTurf was even installed in Razorback Stadium in preparation for the game.

Arkansas' top-rated defense was going up against the #1-rated Texas offense, but the Hogs got on top early, with a 1-yard TD run by Bill Burnett. After halftime, Chuck Dicus hauled in a 29-yard touchdown pass, giving the Razorbacks a 14–0 lead heading into the game's final quarter. Longhorn QB James Street then led his squad to its first touchdown, and as coach Darrell Royal had planned, Texas attempted and completed the two-point conversion, which would in all likelihood prevent a tie.

Arkansas then had the ball and the lead, and a 73-yard drive later, the Hogs were in good position to tack on a field goal that would put the game out of reach, but Razorback QB Bill Montgomery was intercepted in the end zone, giving the Longhorns new life. The Texas drive appeared stalled at the Longhorns' own 43, on a 4th and 3, when Royal gambled again. A 44-yard pass to Randy Peschel, who caught the ball in double coverage, put Texas at the Arkansas 13. Longhorn RB Jim Bertelsen would run in for the tying six points. The extra-point snap was high, but was snared by third-string QB Donnie Wigginton and the kick was converted by Longhorn kicker Happy Feller, giving Texas a 15–14 lead with 3:58 to play.

Arkansas drove to the Texas 40, looking for a field goal from All-American kicker Bill McClard, but the turnover bug struck again as Montgomery was again picked off.

Sugar Bowl
1 2 3 4 Total
Razorbacks 0 12 3 7 22
Rebels 14 10 3 0 27

Rivals Ole Miss and Arkansas met in the 1970 Sugar Bowl.

Ole Miss RB Bo Bowen scampered 69 yards to open the scoring, with Archie Manning adding another 18-yard TD run. Down 14–0, Arkansas responded with a 12-yard TD run by Bill Burnett, but the extra point was missed, and after a Rebel field goal and Archie Manning 30-yard TD strike, were down 24–6. Before halftime, Chuck Dicus hauled in a 47-yard pass from Bill Montgomery, but the two-point conversion was incomplete, and the Rebels took a 24–12 halftime lead.

The third quarter produced a field goal from each team, and in the fourth quarter fullback Bruce Maxwell caught a six-yard strike from Montgomery to cut the lead to five, but the rally fell short, the Hogs losing by a 27–22 final.

References
  1. "Arkansas Yearly Results (1965-1969)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  2. "1969 Arkansas Razorbacks Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
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