Like It Is

No question El Paso was Richardson's town

Former University of Arkansas head coach Nolan Richardson addresses a gathering during his enshrinement ceremony for the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., Friday, Aug. 8, 2014. Richardson led Arkansas to the 1994 National Championship and to three Final Four appearances in 1990. 1994 and 1995. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Former University of Arkansas head coach Nolan Richardson addresses a gathering during his enshrinement ceremony for the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., Friday, Aug. 8, 2014. Richardson led Arkansas to the 1994 National Championship and to three Final Four appearances in 1990. 1994 and 1995. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

In 1989, the Arkansas Razorbacks had a great season, winning their first five games and ranked No. 7 in the nation.

After a loss at Texas, Ken Hatfield's Hogs won their next five games but the Southwest Conference champions, for a second consecutive season, lost a heart-breaker in the Cotton Bowl, 31-27 to Tennessee, after a late fumble.

The third victory of that season was 39-7 over Texas El-Paso at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

This Saturday, the Hogs open the season at Reynolds Razorback Stadium against the Miners, and most feel another 39-7 victory is in the future as UTEP has 11 starters back from a 7-6 season. One of those losses was 30-26 to Texas Tech, which the Razorbacks beat 49-28 at Lubbock.

Back in 1989, at the height of the fabled Little Rock newspaper war, a crew from the old Arkansas Democrat would go to the upcoming opponent's campus, watch practice and interview players and coaches. This was long before college football adopted the Bill Belichick disclosure policy.

The trip there became very educational, but it wasn't about football. It was about one of El Paso's most beloved natives, Nolan Richardson, who was in the process of building a national championship basketball team at Arkansas.

Everyone from the hotel clerk to a policeman who was asked directions had a story about Richardson, and they were all success stories. One might have thought he fought in the Alamo the way people talked about him.

Things Richardson had talked about in his news conferences came alive. A drive down the street outside the home where he was raised showed the house was gone, but someone said years after leaving Richardson had bought the lot where his grandmother's house was.

From the front yard you could see the fencing that separated Mexico from America.

A trip to the King's X restaurant, which Richardson once owned, was like going to a Richardson family reunion. Employees and patrons went on and on about the city's favorite athlete who not only had an NBA tryout but an NFL tryout with the San Diego Chargers.

The only thing missing in El Paso was a statue of Richardson, but a few years later a middle school was named after him.

El Paso was a bit dusty and very warm, but the city was extremely loyal to Nolan Richardson.

...

If he knew you, and trusted you, Jim Bryan would talk about his record-setting days as a high school basketball player at Valley Springs in 1954-1958.

He would mention, just briefly, that he lettered in basketball first at Arkansas Tech and then at Henderson State, where he said he experienced one of life's greatest moments. That was where he met Ann, his wife for more than 50 years.

Jim was an humble man, quiet even, but his heart was that of a warrior who wanted to win.

He was never a bad sport. If they still had sportsmanship trophies they should be named after him, but he was a fierce competitor.

He was a successful investment banker for many years, and when he decided to get into men's softball, he did so in a big way.

Jim recruited guys who took playing defense as seriously as they did their turns at bat.

His players became like sons to him, although none could actually rival his own children, who he openly bragged on without provocation.

Mostly known as Ahart & Bryan, Jim's teams won on every level and he was always the last to get in the team picture. He also was a member of the Arkansas Softball Hall of Fame.

Jim was a great American who touched thousands of lives in a positive way, and he will be missed by all of them. He passed away Tuesday morning after a courageous battle with an illness.

Sports on 09/02/2015

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