page_title: Arkansas Razorbacks football
section_title: Lou Holtz era (1977–1983)
hierarchical_section_title: Arkansas Razorbacks football / History / Lou Holtz era (1977–1983)
caption_attribution_description: Lou Holtz in July 2007. Cropped version of Image:Lou Holtz.jpg.
context_page_description: The Arkansas Razorbacks football program represents the University of Arkansas in the sport of American football. The Razorbacks compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. The program has one national championship awarded by the Football Writers Association of America and Helms Athletic Foundation in 1964, one national championship awarded by the Foundation for the Analysis of Competitions and Tournaments in 1977, 13 conference championships, 45 All-Americans, and an all-time record of 716–504–40. Home games are played at stadiums on or near the two largest campuses of the University of Arkansas System: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, and War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
context_section_description: After Broyles left coaching and became athletic director at Arkansas, he hired New York Jets head coach Lou Holtz to take his former position. Holtz served as head football coach from 1977 through the 1983 season.
  Holtz led the Razorbacks through a 10–1 regular season in 1977, losing only to #2 Texas. The #6 Hogs were invited to play in the Orange Bowl against #2 Oklahoma. The Sooners had a chance to become national champions with a win over the shorthanded Razorbacks, who had suffered a season-long rash of injuries and player suspensions. Prior to Christmas, the university announced that star running back Ben Cowins, leading receiver Donny Bobo, and back-up running back Michael Forrest would all be sent back to Fayetteville. Following the suspensions, numerous African-American players on the team threatened to boycott the game. The always-quotable Holtz said two days before the game, "I'm one step short of suicide". The Razorbacks found an unlikely hero in Roland Sales, who rushed for 205 yards on 23 carries and two scores. Sales also led the Hogs in receiving in the contest. In addition, Holtz used third-string running back Randy Richey, who added 98 rushing yards and a touchdown on only 5 carries. The Hogs ended the Sooners' hope with a 31–6 victory. This game is notable as one of the biggest upsets in Razorback football history. Ironically, University of Arkansas alumnus Barry Switzer coached the Sooners in the contest, and late in the game, future Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt played quarterback for Holtz. Arkansas was selected as a co-national champion for the 1977 season by the Foundation for the Analysis of Competitions and Tournaments (FACT), along with Notre Dame and Texas, but the university does not claim this title.
  In 1978, the Razorbacks went 9–2 during the regular season, losing back-to-back games at #8 Texas and #11 Houston. A 49–7 win over #16 Texas A&M did give the Hogs a Fiesta Bowl berth, but the Razorbacks and UCLA Bruins would battle to a 10–10 tie. In 1979, Holtz's Razorbacks won a share of the Southwest Conference (sharing with Houston). The 10–2 Hogs defeated nemesis #2 Texas in Little Rock, but lost an outright conference title to #6 Houston in Fayetteville. Earning a bid to the Sugar Bowl, the #6 Hogs were set to play #2 Alabama with a chance at the national championship. Instead, Alabama defeated the Razorbacks 24–9, winning their sixth claimed national title. The Razorbacks would continue to succeed under Holtz, winning the 1980 Hall of Fame Classic following the 1980 regular season and defeating #1 Texas by a score of 42–11 in 1981. Despite winning another bowl game and finishing 9–2–1 in 1982, a 6–5 season in 1983 would be the end of the Holtz era.
  At the time, athletic director Frank Broyles stated that Holtz had resigned and was not fired, but two decades later Broyles acknowledged that Holtz was indeed fired because his actions were negatively affecting the fan base. Holtz would subsequently be hired by Minnesota. Reports also cited his political involvement as a major reason for his firing: controversy arose over his having taped two television advertisements from his coach's office endorsing the re-election of Jesse Helms as Senator from North Carolina at a time when Helms was leading the effort to block Martin Luther King Day from becoming a national holiday. Holtz left the program with a mark of 60–21–2. His teams reached six consecutive bowls (1977–1983), but only won one split conference championship. Holtz used a very conservative option offense.
caption: Coach Holtz was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame on May 1, 2008.
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