By Clay Henry
The Hogs+ documentary on the 1998 Arkansas football team is called “Resurgence.” I just remember it as the return to the good times for Razorback Nation.
It is confirmation of the key aspects — just as I remembered — of a turnaround from back-to-back 4-7 seasons to a 9-3 that so excited Frank Broyles that he expanded Razorback Stadium.
There is footage of a giddy Broyles after a victory over Kentucky that probably was shown on coach Houston Nutt’s weekly TV show, but that I’d forgotten. Broyles bragged on the team’s character and belief.
“A team without character and belief would have failed today,” Broyles said.
The Hogs won 27-20 after falling behind 20-7 to a Hal Mumme passing offense led by Tim Couch.
That is so appropriate, because it’s that belief part that was the key to the turn around. It’s exactly what Nutt said needed to be fixed when he took the reigns.
They had the talent. Ford had top recruiters on his staff like Jim Washburn and Fitz Hill. They had mined fertile ground in north Louisiana and East Texas, respectively.
Nutt recalls looking at the team in winter conditioning after studying tape from the last Danny Ford season. He kept asking trainer Dean Weber what was keeping them from winning.
“I saw everything we needed,” Nutt said in an interview this summer with Bo Mattingly. “I kept asking Dean what I was missing. He said, ‘Coach, they don’t believe they can win.’”
The documentary has everything you need for a fun evening when it is released Thursday night. Editor Haley Ordway should be congratulated for finding many of the key players from the 1998 season.
There is a fresh interview with Nutt along with long sit downs with key players Clint Stoerner, Anthony Lucas, Kenoy Kennedy, Hubert Loudermilk, Russ Brown and Joe Dean Davenport. The raw emotion from each is clear as they recall that fun 1998 season.
Nutt said it was clear what those really good players needed was a new approach. Ford had done a lot of good things, including recruit solid linemen. The team was tough because of Ford’s grinding methods.
Clint Stoerner said it was a case of Nutt changing the narrative. It would be positive. And while Nutt’s system was full of tough workouts and lots of middle drills, it paled in comparison to what Ford had asked. After winning the SEC West in 1995, Ford’s reward at the CarQuest Bowl was three practices a day.
Nutt called off a practice during two-a-days that first August and took the team next door to a swimming pool. That stunned the team in a good way.
It’s a great watch, especially the segments dealing with “Dedication Night,” a tradition Nutt rolled out in year one just a week before the opener.
“We didn’t have a meeting room big enough for everyone, so we went up the hill to the Tyson building,” he said. “I spoke first, then every coach, then the seniors. We had a new helmet under a tablecloth. You know in two-a-days, you don’t get a logo sticker of the Razorback on your helmet. That doesn’t happen until game day.
“But we had one all new and shiny and had a spotlight on it when it was uncovered. I put my hand on it and dedicated all my energy from daylight to bedtime to the team. Each coach got a turn. When players started to go, it became very emotional. The tears were flowing.”
Star wide receiver Anthony Lucas said it was a turning point. He told Nutt on the walk back to the Broyles Center afterwards that it was a stroke of master coaching.
There is lots of video of Nutt’s patented locker room speeches, thanks to the KATV archives. No one had shown video of pre-game and post-game locker room scenes before and it captivated the state.
“He was exactly what we needed,” said Grant Garrett, who as a team leader sat on the search committee appointed by Broyles.
“I knew he was what we needed when he came to interview. I knew our team would love him.”
There is a scene of Nutt talking to Garrett during a pre-practice stretch. Nutt asked him what he was thinking. Garrett said, “That in 15 years I hope you are still the coach here.”
Of course, that didn’t happen. There could be 15 more documentaries on why that didn’t happen. But it is great fun to recall a time when 75 Arkansas counties were excited about the Razorbacks. It was time to expand the stadium.
