Tusk to Tail: If This Is Goodbye, It's Been One Helluva Ride, War Memorial

By: Todd Rudisill

“Little Rock, Arkansas, that’s the loudest place I’ve ever played. Entirely concrete structure. It’s as if you had a football game in the neighbor’s basement and all the kids were yelling louder than hell.”

Coach Mike Leach - Played at WMS when he was Assistant Coach at Kentucky

All signs point to the curtain closing on a legendary chapter of Arkansas Razorback football—77 years of Saturday magic in Little Rock. This weekend, the Razorbacks will finally face in-state foe Arkansas State, and fittingly, it may serve as the Hogs’ swan song at War Memorial Stadium.

If this is the end, Saturday won’t just be a football game. It’ll be a farewell—one last chance to soak in the echoes, cheer until your voice is gone, and send the old stadium off the way only way Razorback fans can.

The Hogs christened War Memorial Stadium in 1948 with a 40–6 win over Abilene Christian, cheered on by a then-record crowd of 27,000. What followed was a remarkable run: a 114–52–2 record, good for a .727 winning percentage. But the numbers only tell part of the story.

Let’s skip the stadium debate—everyone’s had their say, and then some. Instead, let’s focus on what really matters: the memories. From the deafening roars that rattled Houston’s “Run and Shoot” in ’89, to Matt Jones’ miracle drive against LSU in ’02, to the redemption throw from Casey Dick to London Crawford in ’08, War Memorial has delivered some of the program’s most unforgettable moments. It hosted upsets, comebacks, heartbreakers, and triumphs—each one etched into Razorback history by the fans who lived them.

1954 vs. Ole Miss — “Powder River Pass”

This one-run trick play became legendary. A 66-yard halfback pass from Buddy Bob Benson to Preston Carpenter broke the 0–0 tie and gave Arkansas a 6–0 win. Coach Bowden Wyatt dubbed it the “Powder River Pass”, referring to a deceptively shallow yet wide river in his home state of Wyoming.

1960 vs. Ole Miss - “The Tommy Bell Game”

In the fiercely contested 1960 matchup between Arkansas and Ole Miss—dubbed “The Tommy Bell Game”—a late-game field goal sealed a 10–7 victory for the Rebels and sparked lasting controversy. Arkansas fans were outraged when referee Tommy Bell appeared to signal the kick as “good” almost immediately after it was snapped, despite what many believed should have been a delay of game penalty and the kick did not go through the uprights.

Picture of Ole Miss kicker being carried of the field says it all.

The game remains one of the most controversial moments in Razorback football history.

"Each December, a man in Arkansas sends me a Christmas card," wrote legendary Ole Miss head coach John Vaught in his 1971 memoir "Rebel Coach." “The man draws slanted goal posts on the back of the card. He wants to haunt me, not wish me a Merry Christmas.”

“He missed it. It was wide and everybody knew it. There was so much confusion on the field, no one knew what was happening. The officials just lost control. After we got through dressing, they were still trying to break up the fights around the stadium.”

Mickey Cissell - Razorback Kicker

1975 vs. #2 Texas A&M

An improbable upset. No. 18 Arkansas demolished undefeated, No. 2 Texas A&M 31–6. The win clinched a share of the SWC title and marked a signature moment for Coach Frank Broyles.

1979 vs. #2 Texas

In a classic Southwest Conference showdown, #10 Arkansas upset #2 Texas 17–14 in front of 55,838 roaring fans, marking the Razorbacks’ first win over the Longhorns since 1971. Defensive star Billy Ray Smith led a relentless effort that kept the high-powered Texas offense in check, while Gary Anderson delivered key plays on the ground. The game came down to the wire, with Texas missing a 51-yard field goal in the final moments, sealing the Razorbacks' dramatic victory under Coach Lou Holtz. It was a signature win that ended the Hog drought in the storied rivalry and sent shockwaves through college football.

1981 vs. Baylor

A high‑octane back-and-forth affair. Baylor jumped out to a 27-17 lead before the Hogs reeled off 3 touchdowns to take a 38-27 lead. The Bears fought back though and took a late 39-38 lead with minutes to go. But a last second heroic 27-yard field goal by Bruce LaHay gave the Hogs a 41-39 win.

1989 vs. #12 Houston

In what many still call the loudest game ever at War Memorial Stadium— I was there and agree—Arkansas fans answered Coach Ken Hatfield’s call to bring the noise on every snap against Houston’s explosive “Run and Shoot” offense. The 1989 showdown between Razorback quarterback Quinn Grovey and Heisman winner Andre Ware turned into an unforgettable track meet. With Houston on NCAA probation, the game wasn’t televised, making it a “had to be there” experience. The two teams combined for a staggering 1,228 yards—second-most in Southwest Conference history. Grovey was electric, throwing for 335 yards and accounting for five total touchdowns, leading #13 Arkansas to a thrilling 45–39 victory in a true War Memorial classic.

1991 vs. Texas

The last Southwest Conference matchup in the long storied rivalry between these two as the Hogs headed to the SEC. Hogs stormed out to a 14-0 halftime lead. Texas came back scoring two touchdowns but missed the extra point to leave the game at 14-13 Hogs. They also missed at 39 yard field goal with just under 4:00 minutes left in the game and the Hogs held on.

Head Coach Jack Crow said “Ain’t no rematch. Best thing of all, ain’t gonna be no rematch.”

Mic drop from Coach.

But football is a humbling game. Less than a year later, Crowe's Razorbacks lost their 1992 season opener to Division I-AA The Citadel, and he was fired the next day. As for The Hogs and Horns wouldn’t face off again until the 2000 Cotton Bowl, nearly a decade later.

1998 vs. #Kentucky

In what might have been the second loudest game in War Memorial history, the 1998 clash between Arkansas and Kentucky delivered pure SEC fireworks. And just like Coach Hatfield did against Houston in 1989, Coach Nutt asked all Hogs fans to bring it every snap versus Kentucky. The Wildcats, led by star quarterback Tim Couch and Coach Hal Mumme's "Air Raid" offence, jumped out to a 20–7 lead behind Couch’s monster performance—499 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. But the Hogs refused to fold. Fueled by a roaring Little Rock crowd, Clint Stoerner led a thrilling comeback, throwing for 308 yards and 3 touchdowns, including two scores in the fourth quarter. His final strike—a 10-yarder to Hubert Loudermilk with 9:32 remaining—put Arkansas ahead for good. The Razorbacks piled up 504 total yards, storming back to win 27–20, improving to 4–0 and keeping their dream of it’s first outright SEC Western Division title alive.

2002 vs. LSU - “Miracle on Markham”

With the SEC West title and a trip to the SEC Championship on the line in 2002, the Razorbacks pulled off one of the most stunning finishes in program history. Trailing LSU 20–14 with just 34 seconds left, quarterback Matt Jones needed only 25 seconds and two plays to flip the script. First, he connected with Richard Smith for a 50-yard bomb down the sideline. Then, with 9 seconds remaining, Jones found DeCori Birmingham in the back of the end zone for a jaw-dropping 31-yard touchdown. A 15-yard penalty for excessive celebration pushed the extra point back to 35 yards, but David Carlton’s kick just snuck inside the upright. The #25 Hogs walked away with a miraculous 21–20 win—and an SEC West crown.

“We lost this one in 34 seconds.”

LSU Coach Nick Saban

2008 vs. LSU - “Miracle on Markham Part 2”

In Bobby Petrino’s first season as head coach in 2008, Arkansas found itself trailing LSU 30–14 in the third quarter, and just like in the Hogs’ 2002 comeback, many disheartened fans had already exited the stadium. And just like in 2002, those fans missed an unforgettable finish. Down 30–24 with just 21 seconds remaining and facing 4th-and-1 at the LSU 24, everyone expected a run—so did the Tigers. Instead, Casey Dick lofted a perfect over-the-shoulder pass to London Crawford in the exact same corner of the end zone where DeCori Birmingham made his miracle catch six years earlier. The touchdown and extra point sealed a stunning 31–30 victory, etching another chapter in Razorback lore that most fans now swear they stayed and witnessed.

2010 vs. #5 LSU

In my opinion, this was the biggest game ever played at War Memorial Stadium. It was #12 Arkansas vs. #5 LSU, with a berth in the Sugar Bowl on the line. The game would also mark the last time the Hogs and Tigers played in Little Rock, making it all the more historic.

Ryan Mallett was absolutely spectacular, throwing for 320 yards and 3 touchdowns in one of the defining performances of his Razorback career.

The game will forever be remembered for three iconic plays:

The Bomb Before Halftime: With just six seconds left in the first half and the game tied 14–14, most expected Mallett to take a knee and head to the locker room. Instead, he launched a deep ball to midfield. Two LSU defenders collided, and Cobi Hamilton made the catch and went the distance—an 80-yard touchdown that stunned everyone and gave the Hogs a 21–14 lead at the half.
The Fourth-Down Conversion: After LSU closed the gap to 21–20 in the third quarter, Arkansas faced a critical 4th-and-3 at the LSU 39. Rather than punt, Mallett saw man coverage and hit his favorite target, Joe Adams, who turned upfield and found the end zone—putting the Hogs ahead 28–20 and swinging momentum back to Arkansas.
The Game-Sealing Strip Sack: With under a minute left and Arkansas up 31–23, LSU was backed up at their own 6-yard line. Andru Stewart came flying into the backfield, stripped LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson, and Freddy Burton recovered the ball at the 1-yard line. Moments later, Mallett took a knee to seal the win—and the Razorbacks' trip to the Sugar Bowl—as “Pour Some Sugar on Me” blared through the War Memorial speakers.