Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1189332
You can debate this all winter and it won't change a thing. Arkansas was going for all of it, a chance to lead Tex- as by 21-8, 22-8 or at worst, 20-8, and that's what every fan is normally for. It's not kosher to oppose it only when it doesn't work. What this sort of thing does is to degrade the magni- tude of the players' effort, the greatest ever under Broyles. This was Montgomery's greatest game, and Dicus', and Powell's, and just about everybody's, under enor- mous pressure, against a tremendous team. In fact, it was the best Ar- kansas team I've ever seen, against the best Texas team under Darrell Royal, and the way they played, it was fitting that the winner be granted the national title, as Texas will be barring unusu - al developments. The Porkers set up at the Texas 22 and 37, getting their 14 points that way, and had an average of 65 yards to go on 11 possessions. Arkansas ran 27 plays in Texas territory; Texas ran only 18 in Arkansas territory. Montgomery ran for 37 yards, flashing out of some traps, and he got caught or blitzed more than usual, especially at the start, but primarily the Steers tried to rush with only their front four. This let them double cover and pick up receivers. But they couldn't manage Di - cus at all on the long drive to the seven-yard line. Even after a penalty wiped out one 20-yarder, Dicus ripped right back into the thick middle for a 21-yarder that netted the first down all over again. Chuck caught nine for 146, compared to 12 for 169 against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, and had two wiped out for 47 yards and a touchdown. But in the pinch, it was the same old Texas: The Steers wouldn't let the Razorbacks run when they wanted to. They had to be fooled, and they had to be hit just right (not two downs in a row) at their split-four defense's one play. To get anything going, the Porkers had to mix it up mighty good. They did, but then Street exploded. As the third quarter end- ed, Dan Jenkins, the great writer for Sports Illustrated, was explaining to me why and how Arkansas would rout Notre Dame in the Cot- ton Bowl. The Irish, big and well- schooled and determined but slow, could never cover Di- cus, he said, nor handle Ar- kansas' quickness. Sad, that. But that's how she goes in this greatest collegiate series in the 1960s. Texas does everything best in 1964 except for Ken Hatfield's 81-yard punt re- turn and Fred Marshall's third-and-seven 34-yard TD pass to Crockett, and Texas is denied a second straight national title. Name a year, name the heroes and the heartbroken team. Broyles saluted his assis- tant coaches — "they must be the best in America" — for drawing up a game plan that stood up without flaw. "We never had a game plan go so well for three q u a r te rs ," sa i d B royl e s . "Against anyone. It was the first time any game plan had held up all the way against Texas. "Our defense unnerved them, and gave us conf i- dence. They had been put- ting games away in the first quarter, their first team retir- ing by halftime. At halftime, they hadn't scored." It was the first scoreless half for Texas in 19 games. They'd trailed Texas Tech 21-0, and lost 31-22. That was when Royal inserted Street for Bill Bradley at quarter- back, changing everything. "We mixed up our de- fense," Broyles said. "What we had to do first was keep 'em from getting outside on the triple option. Those have been walk-acrosses for them. We'd take that away, give 'em the inside. We played some overshift. We'd move into it late, so they couldn't audi- bilize. We mixed it up. You have to guess right. And you v Continued from preceding page File photo/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Arkansas coach Frank Broyles (front) is followed by players Steve Benoit (58) and Dick Bumpass (61) prior to a game against Texas on Dec. 6, 1969, in Fayetteville. File photo/AP Texas coach Darrell Royal smiles after his team defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks 15-14. See HenRy, Page 5S The Big Shootout ∂ ∂ FRiDAy, DeCemBeR 6, 2019 v 3S Authentic Impressions since 1990! • Residential • Commercial • Interior • Exterior • Wide Variety of Colors • Variety of Realistic Textures • Endless Possibilities 1411 E Apple Blossom Ave Lowell, AR