From the Sports Chest: #1 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels vs #2 University of Arkansas Razorbacks, February 10, 1991 Pom-Pon

February 10, 1991 – This game was bigger than big. It’s the #1 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels taking on the #2 Arkansas Razorbacks in Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It’s Tark the Shark vs Rollin' with Nolan. It’s Todd Day taking a swing at Larry Johnson. It’s the men vs the boys. It’s me getting on national TV by walking behind Lesley Visser during the CBS pre-game (true story - check the tape). It’s college students camping out all week for the best seats in the student section. It’s a controversial Sunday morning tip-off in the conservative, Bible-belt region of the country.

This pom-pon was given to each of the 9,640 fans in attendance that day. I’d venture a guess to say that I have one of the few remaining specimens in mint condition. This promotional item was sponsored by Magic 107.9 KEZA FM & Maxie’s Better Burgers To Go and included a plastic pull-off tab with a Maxie’s coupon.  While the Hogs lost the game 112-105 (the final score not indicative of how much UNLV really dominated the game), they finished the season 34-4 (15-1 in Southwest Conference play) and made it to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament (losing to Kansas, 93-81). The Runnin’ Rebels, on the other hand, finished the season 34-1, their only loss in the NCAA Championship game to the Duke Blue Devils.

From the Sports Chest: The Razorbacks: A Story of Arkansas football book by Orville Henry & Jim Bailey

Growing up in Little Rock, Orville Henry was one of my larger windows to the Arkansas Razorbacks. I would read his column in the Arkansas Gazette every Sunday morning following a big win or crushing defeat. I picked up this book, Razorbacks: A Story of Arkansas football, somewhere along the way but only actually began reading it in August of 2011. August is the toughest month of the year because the long summer nightmare is nearly over and the boys of fall are just about ready to take the field. I was craving anything college football and this vintage book (published in 1973) was a delightful diversion. I really enjoyed the historical perspective of the Razorback football program, especially in light of how much life has changed in the past 20 years since Arkansas joined the Southeastern Conference. There was one prophetic story in the book that talked about how Arkansas was a better fit for the schools in the Southeastern Conference than the all-Texas school Southwestern Conference.

I highly recommend this book (you can pick it up on Amazon) for any Razorback fan interested in the history of the program. Orville Henry & Jim Bailey do an excellent job telling these stories, providing us a window to look back on many of the past greats to wear the cardinal & white.

From the Sports Chest: Arkansas Upsets #1 Texas Button (1981)

“Whatever the Hogs do in the future, whatever may change their careers, May ’81 go down in history as the year they clobbered the steers.” – Chase

October 17, 1981 - I don’t know who “Chase” is but I love his quote and that this button captures the scoreboard with the goalposts already coming down (with 14 seconds still on the clock!) and the fact that this upset was so monumental that a button was made to celebrate it! My favorite story which I’ve retold several times (don’t tell me if it’s not true, I don’t want to know) is how Coach Lou Holtz handled the pregame locker room pep talk. Coach Holtz gathered the team together and said, looking out over his team of fighting Razorbacks, “Gentlemen, it’s not even going to be close. Let’s go!” Texas fumbled deep in their own territory on their very first play, the Hogs scored and the rout was on. Big victories over the hated Longhorns were rare. Victories over #1 Texas when the Hogs were unranked? Almost never. But this was Arkansas’ day. I’ve often remembered this game in recent years when the Hogs were facing a tough SEC opponent, hoping for another ’81 Texas game like outcome. Maybe on September 15, 2012 when Alabama comes calling?

From the Sports Chest: Arkansas vs Texas 1989 Baseball Game Ticket

April 29, 1989 – Arkansas vs. Texas is an event in any sport. I didn’t attend many Arkansas Razorbacks baseball games during my days as a student at the University of Arkansas, but when my interest level changed when the Burnt Orange came to town. As Ernie Banks would say, “Let’s play two!” The Hogs won 2 games on this day at George Cole Field, 8-4 and 14-7, and won the series against their hated Southwest Conference rival. My ticket is for the first game (Saturday at 2:00) and I don’t recall if I saw both games that day. I do remember having a great time, giving the downward Hook ‘em Horns sign a lot and enjoying a day at the ballpark. Coach Norm DeBriyn and the Diamond Hogs were co-champions of the Southwest Conference, finished 51-16 on the season and made it to the College World Series.