Rick Schaeffer - 100 Things Arkansas Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die

This book is dedicated to my wife, Adelaide, and my son, Benny, and his best friend Eddie, who is like a son, who graciously have surrendered time with me, so that Razorbacks fans may enjoy stories about their favorite coaches, players, broadcasters, and things to do.

This volume is also dedicated to the memory of Bob Cheyne, Arkansas first sports information director, from 1948 to 1968. I spent two delightful hours with Bob, and his contributions to this work are significant. Five weeks later he passed away. We will miss him.

Contents

Foreword by Quinn Grovey

When I arrived on the University of Arkansas campus as a freshman quarterback, I had my thoughts about how special this university could be. I also had notions about how special the people of this great state would be and how crazy and fanatical they would be. I was not disappointed.

The pride and passion of the people of Arkansas far exceeded my expectations. At the University of Arkansas, we have the most recognizable mascot in the entire country. Regardless of what city I am in, I smile with a sense of pride every time I see the Razorbacks logo.

Quick story: I was in the airport with my family, headed on vacation to the Bahamas. We saw a person walking through the airport with his family. He was wearing a Razorbacks hat and a Razorbacks shirt. We pointed at him and asked each other, Did you see the Razorbacks fan? Then, when we got to our destination in the Bahamas, we saw the same person and his family get on the shuttle bus that was headed to our resort. At that point, we struck up a conversation, and after a few minutes of talking Razorbacks football, you would have thought wed been best friends forever.

We continued swapping Razorbacks stories, knowledge, and experiences, and before we knew it, a Hog Call broke out in the Bahamasand we were proud to be part of it. Thats the power of the Razorback. 100 Things Arkansas Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die captures the great moments, stories, people, and things you should know and experience as a Hog fan that will continue to enhance your Razorbacks experience.

One of the things you should know about me is when I wake up every morning Im proud to be a Razorback, and when I go to sleep at night Im proud to be a Razorback. The choice I made to attend the University of Arkansas was one of the best decisions Ive ever made. I thank my mother, Bobbye Grovey, and my father, Robert Grovey, for guiding me in the right direction. If I were a high school senior being recruited to play football again, I would choose Arkansas 10 out of 10 times, without hesitation.

When I committed to Coach Hatfield to play at the University, I referred to the eight-year Southwest Conference championship drought and told him I could lead the team to a championship if he hitched the wagon to me. I told him I wasnt coming to win games; I was coming to win championships. And win championships we did. I was very fortunate to play with great players and for great coaches who made it possible to win back-to-back SWC championships. In my opinion, we were one win away from playing for a national title in 1988. Needless to say, Coach Hatfield had a great impact on my life. I still consider him a mentor to this day.

After my playing career ended, I was blessed with the opportunity to work on the Razorback Sports Network as an analyst on Razorbacks football broadcasts. Im so lucky to be a part of another fantastic team. Chuck Barrett, Scott Inman, Keith Jackson, and Rick Schaeffer are all incredible people. I cant tell you how awesome it is to show up each Saturday and describe Razorbacks football action to the most passionate fan base in the country. Its a privilege and an honor.

When preparing for a broadcast I sometimes find myself thinking about the moments when families are sitting around the radio, with no TV, listening to our broadcast. I think about the families who cant attend the game and are listening to us in their car because they are traveling to see a family member in need. I think about the hunters in the woods during deer season who are listening to our broadcast on their battery-powered radios. I think about all of the people who listen to our broadcast who couldnt wait for Paul Eellsand now, cant wait for Chuck Barrettto say Touchdown Arkansas!

All of these things matter to me as a former player, and thats why I love being associated with this great university and this great state. The people of this great university and great state have enriched my life in so many ways. I have been so lucky to play quarterback at the University of Arkansas, to work for the Razorback Sports Network for 16 years and counting, to make my home in Arkansas, and to have married an Arkansas girl. All of these things have been true blessings to me, and have come because I made one of the best decisions of my life: to become a Razorback and attend the University of Arkansas.

Speaking of great people, the author of this book, Rick Schaeffer, is one of the finest people you will ever meet. I met Rick when I arrived on the UA campus as a freshman. The first thing that really stood out to me about him was how pleasant and nice he was to everyone. I thought to myself, Theres no possible way he can be that nice and respectful 24 hours a day . Well, Im here to tell you, 24 years later he still treats people the same way. Hes really a great person and he shows respect for all people.

When it comes to Razorbacks history, Ricks knowledge is second to none. In preparation for our game broadcasts each week, I spend time watching film, reviewing notes, and analyzing stats. I usually come into the radio booth with a huge binder of information to help me break down the game. Rick strolls in with a flip card that shows the two-deep depth charts of the offense and defense. He reads the newspaper and hes ready.

Each week before we go on the air I watch to see if Rick will take any additional notes in preparation for the broadcast. He rarely does. Thats because hes already mentally prepared for the broadcast. And when it is time for him to unleash his Razorbacks sports knowledge past or present, its impressive to watch. Rick can describe a play from the 1960s and tell you which way Arkansas was moving down the field when the play happened, on what hash mark the ball was lined up, in what quarter of the game the play occurred, and how that game or play impacted the rest of the season.

The games, the players, the coaches, the winning plays, and the losing plays are embedded in his mind, and it is truly incredible to watch him unlock his mental vault. He is the Fort Knox of Razorbacks history. Ill admit that Im occasionally guilty of using Rick as my personal Razorbacks Google search. Most of the time its just easier for me to ask him instead of firing up my computer and going online to find the answer.

With this book, he can be your personal Razorbacks expert, too. Rick Schaeffer is a true historian regarding Razorbacks athletics, and with this book he will educate you and point you in the right direction when creating your Razorbacks fan bucket list. Enjoy!

Quinn Grovey

Introduction

During my 24 years in the sports information office at the University of Arkansas, it was my pleasure to serve hundreds of coaches and thousands of student-athletes who brought favorable attention to the school through their efforts as Razorbacks. It was a privilege to work with each and every one of them. They all had one common denominator: they competed fiercely because they so appreciated the support they were given by the fantastic fan base. Those fans take enormous pride in the accomplishments of the Razorbacks.