Arkansas’ Broyles remembered as coach, mentor at celebration
FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. » Frank Broyles was remembered as a championship coach, father, mentor, athletic director and guide for caregivers of those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease during a memorial celebration Saturday at Arkansas’ Bud Walton Arena.
Broyles, who led Arkansas to its lone football national championship and later served as the athletic director for more than four decades, died Monday at the age of 92.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was among the speakers at the memorial. Jones and former college and NFL coach Jimmy Johnson were among the members of the undefeated 1964 Arkansas football team that was named the national champion by the Football Writers Association of America. Alabama was the AP national champion that season.
“I wasn’t really important to coach Broyles in what we’re celebrating here today,” Jones said while looking toward Broyles’ family members. “Coach Broyles was totally essential to my life, though.”
Broyles won almost 71 percent of his games in 19 years with the Razorbacks. He became the athletic director in 1974 while still the football coach, eventually retiring from the gridiron to focus on administrative duties following the 1976 season.
Jones said Broyles’ ability to raise money for building projects, and a trip to the Houston Astrodome before one bowl game while in college, had a direct influence on his desire to build the $1.2-billion Cowboys Stadium — which was renamed AT&T Stadium in 2013.
“Forty-five years later, I’m in Dallas, Texas, and I’m thinking about maybe building a stadium,” Jones said. “And when I was thinking about building that stadium, because of something that happened to me 40 years ago, I didn’t have to ask, ‘Who does that,’ I didn’t have to ask if it could be done.”
Broyles died from complications of Alzheimer’s just as his wife, Barbara, had in 2004 following a battle with the disease. He later remarried Gen Whitehead in late 2005, and he started the Frank and Barbara Broyles Foundation CareGivers United — an Alzheimer’s education organization.
The memorial also featured a video tribute that had comments from several coaches over the years who Broyles had hired at Arkansas, including former Razorbacks basketball coach Nolan Richardson and football coach Lou Holtz. It also highlighted Broyles’ friendship with former Texas coach Darrell Royal, who died in 2012.
Kentucky’s Baker has ‘substantial’ ankle injury
LEXINGTON, KY. » Kentucky coach Mark Stoops says senior wide receiver Dorian Baker has sustained a “fairly substantial” ankle injury and is awaiting word from doctors on its severity.
Stoops revealed Baker’s injury after Saturday’s second scrimmage. The 6-foot-3, 211-pounder from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, is listed as one of the starting receivers; Baker had 14 catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns, with one TD each in Kentucky’s final two contests.
School mistake costs Hooiser eligibility
BLOOMINGTON, IND. » Indiana University has apologized to defensive back Bryant Fitzgerald for a mistake that will cost the freshman his first year of eligibility.
In a statement issued Saturday, athletic director Fred Glass acknowledged the school’s compliance office failed to properly advise Fitzgerald of his eligibility requirements.
Indiana appealed to the NCAA on Aug. 3. It was denied Friday.
Glass also says the school has changed the process to ensure a similar mistake will not occur in the future.