Christian approach central to success, A- State coach says
Gus Malzahn grew up in Arkansas and knows that anywhere in the state is Razorback country, so Arkansas State’s new head football coach wasn’t trying to create a conflict when he spoke Friday night at Hot Springs Convention Center.
“I’m not here to convert any of you Arkansas Razorback fans,” Malzahn said jokingly during the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ annual banquet in Horner Hall. “I do believe that this state is big enough for two teams.”
Malzahn spoke mostly about his journey from a first- year head coach at Hughes to three state championships at Shiloh Christian and Springdale and his years as an assistant coach at Arkansas, Tulsa and Auburn before accepting the head- coaching job at Arkansas State Dec. 14. FCA, he said, played a major role in his decision making and ministering.
“In 1994, I rededicated my life to Christ,” Malzahn told the crowd. “I discovered that FCA was the perfect avenue to save kids. ... In Springdale, we saved a lot of kids, we had an FCA meeting every Thursday night and it was packed. On Friday morning, Rick Schaeffer ( former University of Arkansas sports information director) led us in prayer. It was a special place.”
Malzahn said he came close to the strong Christian life- style he had at Springdale in three years at Auburn. He shared with the crowd a phone call after Auburn beat Oregon for the 2010 national cham- pionship.
“We had just kicked the game- winning field goal and confetti was falling all around us,” Malzahn said. “It was an incredible feeling. We stayed on the field for over 45 minutes before we went into the locker room.
“I sat at my locker and ( head coach) Gene Chizik’s phone began to vibrate every few seconds. This went on for a long time. Eventually I had enough of the constant ringing. I was about to turn the phone off when coach Chizik ran over and picked up the phone. He got a huge smile on his face and said, ‘ Thank you, Mr. President.’ I had almost hung up on the president.”
Malzahn said Auburn had a strong FCA presence and that wants to build the same Christian environment at Arkansas State.
“Six of our coaches are former national- championship winners,” Malzahn said. “Every single coach is a Christian man. Winning will take care of itself, but when you come ( to Arkansas State) it’s a Christian environment and that is what we want to build.”
Malzahn also said he wanted to build his team around Arkansas athletes. Part of the reason for the “A- State Ambush,” a five- day recruiting blitz across the state to all 215 football- playing schools, he said, was to let Arkansas know that the Red Wolves are serious about making the college as recognizable as the University of Arkansas.
Malzahn also pointed to former Lake Hamilton quarterback Phillip Butterfield as an example of the students Malzahn wants to bring to Jonesboro.
“Phillip is a great man,” Malzahn said. “To show you how good he is, I tried to recruit him to Tulsa when I was there.”
Earlier, fellow Dallas Cowboys star Cliff Harris, honoree of Saturday’s FCA golf tournament in Hot Springs Village, praised Malzahn.
“Gus said that he tried to build his coaching staff with Christian men,” Harris said. “I can tell you that Gus is not just someone who talks the talk but he is someone who walks the walk. He is an incredible man.”
Harris became choked up as reflected on the 13 years of the banquet and golf tournament.
“Seeing all of you here is a reflection not on me, but on ( former Cowboys coach) Tom Landry.” Harris said. “He started this. My name may be on the sign but he is the one that came up with it.”
Harris, a former Hot Springs resident, played 10 seasons with the Cowboys after signing as an undrated free agent out of Ouachita Baptist in 1970. He played on Super Bowl- winning teams in the 1971 and 1977 seasons and made three other Super Bowl appearances. A six- time NFL All- Pro, Harris is a member of the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor.
Harris joked to the crowd that a significantly younger person had looked up his stats on the online encyclopedia website Wikipedia. “He told me, ‘ I guess you were pretty good as a player.’”
Jessieville head football coach Don Phillips received the FCA Huddle Leader of the Year award. Micah May presented the award, praising Phillips for his help in reviving spirits after a tornado last year ripped through the Walnut Valley community.
FCA students Kaylee Cragg and Dale Smith of Fountain Lake, Courtney Teeter of Lake Hamilton and Brandon Natzke of Jessieville also were recognized at the function.
A live auction raised $ 3,975 for FCA.