In addition to all of the legendary Razorbacks I’ve had the good fortune to watch play live and in person, the opposition has certainly brought its fair share of talent to the field over the years, as well. So many ballers have graced the turf inside Razorback and War Memorial Stadiums that to list them all would wear out my weekly word limit. So here are a few of my faves.
First on the list is The Tyler Rose, Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell. Although my memories of him are rather hazy, what does stand out about that day in Little Rock is a clear vision of #34 crossing the goal line with his white, tear-away, Longhorn jersey reduced to tatters, while a host of Razorbacks lay fallen in his wake.
Two of the greatest competitors I witnessed firsthand never won a Heisman nor a Natty but did quarterback their teams to Super Bowl titles and share the same famous last name. Both enjoyed illustrious, football careers and now produce award-winning, sports documentaries for Netflix. Of course I’m referring to the Manning boys – Peyton and Eli.
My encounter with the eldest Manning was in the fall of 1995, when he and the 10th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers came to Fayettenam for a Top 20 matchup against the 18th-ranked Razorbacks.
Barry Lunney, Jr., a standout dual-sport athlete in high school was a four-year starter at QB for the Hogs. As a capable and crafty signal caller, Lunney was fearless. He earned the starting role his freshman year and never relinquished it until he ran out of eligibility, crafting some monumental wins for the program along the way.
The two teams wasted little time in lighting up the scoreboard, trading touchdowns like Green Stamps. During the first half, Lunney went toe-to-toe, play-for-play and pass-for-pass with the sophomore leading the Hogs on four scoring drives. Manning tossed a 10-yard TD pass just before halftime to put the Vols up for good – 28-24. His first-half stats were a stunning 21-29, 262 yards, 4 TDs and one interception as he dropped dimes all over Razorback Stadium.
Fast forward to 2001 and the latest Manning QB on the college scene is Eli, and he’s also doling out touchdowns like Halloween candy, leading Ole Miss, his pop’s alma mater, to a 6-1 record and a national ranking.
Riding a three-game winning streak, a 4-3 Razorback team traveled southeast across the state line in November to face Manning 2.0 and the Rebels in a Saturday night SEC matchup. The game was tied after regulation and would go on to set an NCAA record for most overtimes played – seven. The 58-56 Razorback win immediately earned status an ESPN “Instant Classic.”
Eli, against a relentless Arkansas defense, played his tail off that night, completing 27 outta 42 passes for 312 yards and six TDs. After the marathon contest, our crew of six staggered across the Ole Miss campus and into the famous Grove, a usually rowdy spot on game night. Punch drunk from overstimulation, we wandered through a sea of red Solo cups, and you coulda heard a sorority pin drop.
Wouldn’t you know it, there’s yet another Manning QB on a campus, this time down in Austin, who goes by Arch. He’s a freshman at University of Texas and is already a viral superstar despite playing only sparingly. Expectations for this latest descendant of Grandpa Archie Manning are through the roof, and why not? With his genetics and available resources, there’s no reason to believe he won’t be as successful as his uncles, perhaps even moreso. Giddy up.