Hog Calls

UA Hall of Honor ceremony just a start

Arkansas forward Derek Hood runs after a loose ball during a game against Alabama State on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1998, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
Arkansas forward Derek Hood runs after a loose ball during a game against Alabama State on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1998, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Friday night commences what should be an autumn full of Arkansas Razorbacks honors.

The Razorbacks will induct nine into their Sports Hall of Honor on Friday night at the Springdale Holiday Inn's Northwest Arkansas Convention Center.

Football honorees include Kendall Trainor, an All-American place-kicker for Coach Ken Hatfield from 1985-88 and an outfielder for Coach Norm DeBriyn's baseball team, which makes him the UA's only athlete who played in both the Cotton Bowl (1988) and the College World Series (1987); Lynn Garner, an All-Southwest Conference linebacker who starred for Frank Broyles' Sugar Bowl teams in 1968 and 1969; and Steve Korte, the muscular All-SWC offensive guard for Lou Holtz's 1981 and 1982 Razorbacks.

Honored from men's basketball will be Derek Hood, the All-SEC forward and league rebounding leader for Coach Nolan Richardson's Razorbacks from 1996-99.

From baseball will be Mike Loggins from Crossett, the All-Southwest Conference and 1985 College World Series All-American outfielder.

Niall Bruton, one of the great Irish NCAA champion milers (1991-94) under John McDonnell, will represent men's track and field and cross country.

All-American heptathlete Deedee Brown-Campbell (1999-2002) from Lance Harter's women's track and field program, women's NCAA diving champion Robin Ford (1983-85) and two-time NCAA men's diving champion Ronny Meyer complete the honorees elected by UA letterwinners.

Meyer is remarkably remembered given the men's swimming and diving program was disbanded seven years after his 1985 national titles.

Banquet tickets and information are available through the Razorback Foundation at 479-443-9000.

This 2015 autumn also marks the 50th, 40th, 30th, and 20th anniversaries of Razorbacks football teams with achievements to celebrate.

If not for losing a 14-7 heart-breaker to LSU in the Cotton Bowl, Frank Broyles' 1965 Razorbacks would have matched his 1964 11-0 national champion Razorbacks. Both teams won the Southwest Conference at 7-0, including epic triumphs over Texas.

The 1975 Razorbacks (10-2) won Broyles' last SWC and Cotton Bowl championships. They demolished the unbeaten and allegedly invincible Texas A&M Aggies 31-6 in December at Little Rock before thrashing Georgia in the Cotton Bowl.

Under Hatfield, the 1985 Razorbacks went 10-2 and thanks to Trainor's field goal defeated Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl.

Arkansas took its lumps during its 1992-94 maiden SEC seasons, but in 1995 Danny Ford's 8-5 Razorbacks stunned the league. They won the SEC West, which included 20-19 and 30-28 shockers over Alabama in Tuscaloosa and Auburn in Little Rock.

All four teams deserve their anniversaries celebrated.

So far only the 1975 Razorbacks have publicly announced a reunion. It will be held Sept. 18 weekend when the Razorbacks play host to Texas Tech in Fayetteville with a Friday night gathering at Mermaid's Restaurant in Fayetteville, and the team will be recognized the following day during the Razorbacks' game against Texas Tech.

Members of the 1975 Razorbacks seeking information on the reunion should contact Richard LaFargue, their All-SWC center and reunion organizer, at [email protected].

Sports on 09/02/2015

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